Police usher Astros' Crane away from scrum at owners meetings

Houston Astros owner Jim Crane elected not to discuss the sign-stealing scandal facing his club while attending Major League Baseball's owners meetings in Arlington, Texas.

"If you want to talk about baseball, I'll talk about baseball," Crane said, according to Jeff Passan of ESPN. "What else do you want to talk about?"

Crane was then escorted away from the media scrum to the meeting area by a pair of police officers, who are stationed at the hotel to serve as security, Passan adds.

The Astros are currently embroiled in a scandal involving alleged outfield cameras at Minute Maid Park used to steal and relay signs from opposing teams to their own players during the 2017 season. An MLB investigation remains ongoing.

Police have also approached reporters entering the building while hotel management requires reporters to buy a room in order to remain on the premises, according to Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle.

The restricted access to owners is apparently not limited to Crane but is being enforced in regards to all owners at the meetings, according to Newsday's Laura Albanese.

The owners meetings started Tuesday and are scheduled to conclude Thursday.