Astros Fire Assistant GM Over 'Inappropriate Comments' To Female Reporters

By Bill Galluccio

October 25, 2019

The Houston Astros have fired assistant general manager Brandon Taubman less than a week after he made "inappropriate comments" in the clubhouse following the team's victory over the New York Yankees in the American League Championship series.

Stephanie Apstein, a reporter for Sports Illustrated, said that Taubman "turned to a group of three female reporters, including one wearing a purple domestic-violence awareness bracelet, and yelled, half a dozen times, 'Thank God we got Osuna! I'm so f------ glad we got Osuna!'"

Taubman was referring to Astros closer Roberto Osuna, who was handed a 75-game suspension following allegations that he assaulted the mother of his child while he was a member of the Toronto Blue Jays. 

The Astros initially issued a statement calling Apstein's account "misleading" and accused her of trying "to fabricate a story where one does not exist." After other reporters confirmed her story, the Astros were forced to apologize.

"Our initial investigation led us to believe that Brandon Taubman's inappropriate comments were not directed toward any reporter," the Astros said in a statement. "We were wrong. We sincerely apologize to Stephanie Apstein, Sports Illustrated, and to all individuals who witnessed this incident or were offended by the inappropriate conduct. The Astros in no way intended to minimize the issues related to domestic violence."

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