Rob Drake

I just Googled AR-15 & came up with "Defensive Sporting Rifle." Pretty funny. I have an SLR 2000 Bulgarian Assault Rifle. Basically a Bulgarian knock-off of an AK-47. Yes, I like going to the firing range with it. But "Sporting?" I got it strictly for home defense.

Anti-gun lobbyists are going to have a field day with Drake & MLB. His punishment is going to have to be pretty harsh.

Not sure what the Astros do with their assistant GM.

Astros fire assistant GM for 'inappropriate comments'

Chandler Rome 1 hr ago

WASHINGTON — The Astros fired assistant general manager Brandon Taubman on Thursday afternoon and issued an apology to a Sports Illustrated reporter whom they falsely accused of fabricating a story about his clubhouse tirade.

The Astros “proactively assisted” Major League Baseball in an investigation over the last two days, the team said in a statement disseminated on Thursday. MLB separately interviewed eyewitnesses to Taubman’s actions on Saturday in the Astros’ celebratory clubhouse.

As Sports Illustrated first reported on Monday night and the Chronicle later confirmed, Taubman yelled toward a group of three female reporters following the team’s American League pennant-clinching victory against the Yankees.

The 34-year-old Taubman yelled “Thank God we got (Roberto) Osuna! I’m so (expletive) glad we got Osuna!”

Osuna, the Astros’ closer, was acquired last July while serving a 75-game suspension for a violation of Major League Baseball’s Joint Domestic Violence, Sexual Assault and Child Abuse policy.

One of the women at whom Taubman shouted was wearing a purple domestic violence awareness bracelet. The Chronicle reported on Wednesday that Taubman’s ire was directed specifically at one woman, about whom Taubman had complained in prior conversations.

When Sports Illustrated’s story first published on Monday — one for which the Astros initially declined comment — the club issued a defiant denial that claimed reporter Stephanie Apstein attempted “to fabricate a story where one does not exist.”

“We were wrong,” the Astros said in their Thursday statement that terminated Taubman.

“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. “

Taubman joined the Astros in June 2013 after a career in investment banking. He received a contract extension last month and was second in command to general manager Jeff Luhnow on all baseball decisions.

Luhnow will address reporters at 6:15 CT at Nationals Park.

The Astros issued the following statement Thursday:

During the past two days, the Astros pro-actively assisted Major League Baseball in interviewing Astros employees as part of MLB’s investigation of the events published in the recent Sports Illustrated article. Major League Baseball also separately interviewed members of the media over the past 24 hours.

Our initial investigation led us to believe that Brandon Taubman’s inappropriate comments were not directed toward any reporter. 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.

Our initial belief was based on witness statements about the incident. Subsequent interviews have revealed that Taubman’s inappropriate comments were, in fact, directed toward one or more reporters. Accordingly we have terminated Brandon Taubman’s employment with the Houston Astros. His conduct does not reflect the values of our organization and we believe this is the most appropriate course of action.

We are thankful to Major League Baseball and to everyone that cooperated in the investigation. As previously stated, the Astros are very committed to using our voice to create awareness and support on the issue of domestic violence. We fully support MLB and baseball’s stance and values regarding domestic violence. We will continue to make this cause a priority for our organization.

Major League Baseball investigating umpire Rob Drake's tweet calling for civil war if Trump is impeached

Jesse Yomtov, USA TODAY Published 6:58 p.m. ET Oct. 23, 2019 | Updated 3:20 a.m. ET Oct. 24, 2019

Major League Baseball is looking into a now-deleted tweet from umpire Rob Drake warning of a civil war if president Donald Trump is impeached.

According to a copy of the tweet obtained by ESPN, Drake tweeted that he planned to buy an assault rifle "because if you impeach MY PRESIDENT this way, YOU WILL HAVE ANOTHER CIVAL WAR!!! #MAGA2020"."

MLB said in a statement to USA TODAY Sports that the league became aware of the tweet Wednesday and is now investigating the matter.

Drake has been an umpire in the majors since 1999 and was assigned to postseason games in 2010, 2012, 2014 and 2015.

The Twitter account was switched to private mode Wednesday night, but USA TODAY Sports reviewed other tweets from the account before the change was made.

Messages included a claim that Barack Obama was not born in the United States and a tweet to Hillary Clinton calling her an "(expletive) liar," demanding the truth about "#benghazzi."