MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred Sure Makes it Sound like Investigation Involving Astros is Enormous

The MLB's investigation into the Houston Astros' sign stealing scandal doesn't project to have an end in sight, but that won't be due to the league delaying the process and taking its sweet time.

On the contrary, Rob Manfred claims that the league's probe is one of the most comprehensive and meticulous that the commissioner's office has ever launched.

According to MLB insider Jayson Stark, about 60 witnesses have been interviewed and nearly 76,000 emails remain part of the investigation.

Manfred calls the Astros probe “the most thorough investigation the commissioner’s office has ever undertaken.” Nearly 60 witness interviews. 76,000 emails. But said it’s impossible to predict how long it’s going to take. More interviews need to be scheduled.
— Jayson Stark (@jaysonst) December 11, 2019

Those 60 witness, according to Manfred, aren't nearly enough.

"That review has caused us to conclude that we have to do some follow-up interviewing," the commissioner said Tuesday at the Winter Meetings. "It is my hope to conclude the investigation just as promptly as possible, but it’s just really hard to predict how long something like that is going to take.”

Sixty witnesses have been interviewed during the investigation into the Astros' electronic sign-stealing, a probe that has produced 76,000 emails, a "trove" of instant messages and the need for follow-up interviews - https://t.co/IcyjOXrSC9
— Chandler Rome (@Chandler_Rome) December 11, 2019

At this time, Manfred is not presenting hypotheticals in terms of what disciplines may loom in the Astros' future.

"At this point in the investigation it would be wholly inappropriate for me to speculate about what types of discipline might be in play," Manfred continued. "I’m going to get all the facts in front of me and make a decision as promptly as possible on discipline."

MLB has interviewed 60 witnesses and obtained *a lot* of emails as part of the Astros investigation.https://t.co/QwUd2h9WKs
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) December 11, 2019

We obviously want justice to be served as soon as possible given the abundance of evidence that appears to incriminate the Astros, but we'd rather a thorough investigation be conducted to ensure that all those in the wrong are punished.

The inquiry is making strides, but Manfred is clearly urging unsatisfied fans to be patient.