Jeff Luhnow Wouldn't Commit to Retracting Statement Astros Made Against Stephanie Apstein

The manner in which Houston Astros general manager Jeff Luhnow has handled the dilemma surrounding now ex-assistant GM Brandon Taubman has been staggeringly nonsensical ,and that narrative continued ahead of Game 5 of the World Series on Friday night.

Luhnow met with Sports Illustrated's Stephanie Apstein, the correspondent who first reported Taubman's disturbing support of Roberto Osuna, and she asked him to retract the Astros original statement, in which they insinuated that Apstein fabricated her story.

The GM responded with palpable indifference to following through with her request.

We're honestly running out of adjectives to describe Luhnow. He might be terrific at his job, but his managing of the media and overall view on ethics is nothing short of reprehensible.

Earlier today Luhnow got caught in a lie, claiming that the Astros were, in fact, not conducting an investigation into Taubman's eruption after he asserted earlier in the week that the contrary would take place.

Apstein thoroughly deserves to have Houston's original statement retracted. She displayed upstanding journalistic integrity in her article and the Astros went out of their way to say that they were "extremely disappointed in Sports Illustrated's attempt to fabricate a story where one does not exist." She was not only discredited, but pretty much called a liar.

Not to mention that they distinctly claimed that Taubman's comments "had everything to do about the game situation," and that they "weren't directed at any specific reporters."

Need we remind you that Osuna blew the save that night -- Game 5 of the ALCS -- and the Astros promptly fired him a few days later after the report proved to be true?

We hate to call for somebody's job, but how many more times will the Astros braintrust allow Luhnow to make the organization look like one of the most contaminated in professional sports?

It's getting ridiculous.