The Houston Astros continue to face a harsh response across Major League Baseball for the way they handled their apologies for the sign-stealing scandal during a press conference on Thursday. 

Per The Athletic's C. Trent Rosecrans, Cincinnati Reds pitcher Trevor Bauer called the Astros "hypocrites" and said "f--k you" to the organization for thinking they don't have to abide by the rules. 

Bauer also praised Oakland Athletics pitcher Mike Fiers, who played for the Astros from 2015-17, for blowing the whistle on the cheating scandal. 

"If Mike Fiers doesn't come out and say something, nothing gets done," Bauer said. "Nothing—even though all the players know this s--t is going on; it's the worst-kept secret in baseball."

Fiers' comments to The Athletic's Ken Rosenthal and Evan Drellich in November led to MLB opening an investigation into the scandal.

"I just want the game to be cleaned up a little bit because there are guys who are losing their jobs because they're going in there not knowing," said Fiers, who signed with the Detroit Tigers in 2018 as a free agent before being traded to the A's. "Young guys getting hit around in the first couple of innings starting a game, and then they get sent down. It's (B.S.) on that end. It's ruining jobs for younger guys. The guys who know are more prepared. But most people don't. That's why I told my team.

"We had a lot of young guys with Detroit trying to make a name and establish themselves. I wanted to help them out and say, 'Hey, this stuff really does go on. Just be prepared.'"

Crane attempted to ease the burden on his franchise while meeting with the media Thursday, but he was roundly criticized for not accepting responsibility for the situation. 

"No," Crane said, "I don't think I should be held accountable." He also said it was the opinion of the organization that the cheating "didn't impact the game," but he contradicted himself shortly thereafter when pressed on that comment: "I didn't say it didn't impact the game." 

MLB's official investigation into the Astros revealed the team established an illegal sign-stealing system using a camera feed set up in the outfield that was used throughout their championship season in 2017 and a part of the 2018 season. 

Bauer, who is never afraid to speak his mind, has a history of feuding with the Astros. He used Twitter in 2018 to imply that Houston's pitchers were gaining an advantage by using foreign substances to doctor baseballs.