MLB didn’t punish Houston Astros players, but players and fans are taking care of that
Rob Manfred made his way to Arizona on Tuesday, Scottsdale to be more specific, to take his flogging from media covering the Cactus League.
He knew it was coming, only 48 hours after the Grapefruit League media day in Florida. MLB’s commissioner rightfully apologized for his “piece of metal” foot-in-the-mouth moment, then stood at a podium for 30 minutes and fielded more than a dozen questions.
Each one of them involved the Houston Astros, or Manfred’s handling of the investigation into their cheating.
This scandal isn’t going anywhere. It’s going to get worse, especially when Mike Trout, the game’s best player, and LeBron freaking James, arguably the most recognizable American professional athlete, start chiming in.
The hot-button issue — no, not the buzzers the Astros have been alleged to use — is the lack of discipline handed out to Astros players. There was none from Manfred, who gave blanket immunity in exchange for them spilling the beans on the high-tech sign-stealing scheme.
MLB might not have punished the Astros, but the Astros are being punished.
By every MLB player who calls them cheats, by fans everywhere planning to give full-throated, blue-worded rebuttles when the Astros come to their town, and by LeBron freaking James.
Does anyone believe the Astros, besides the delusional Astros themselves and a loud and downright nasty segment of their fan base, legitimately won the 2017 World Series and should be recognized as champions?
Does anyone believe the Jose Altuve tattoo story?
How many believe that the Astros cheated as recently as last season?
Opposing players have openly said that they have lost respect for Astros players, both for the actual act of cheating and also for the way they have handled the fallout.
As Manfred was asked Tuesday, if a starter goes to Minute Maid Park and gets rocked and suspects the Astros are cheating, will MLB investigate the claim?
This scandal is going to get worse.
The Astros, only three years ago the franchise model losing teams wanted to emulate, are now the black sheep of the MLB family.
Many of their MLB friends aren’t going to be as friendly. The crowning achievement of their careers has been tarnished forever. They are going to hear from fans over and over and over again that they are despicable cheats, and that might be the one of the more kind thing they are called.
That will become a beatdown eventually, if it hasn’t already.
For those seeking some form of banishment, perhaps, or the Astros being stripped of the title, the good news is that the MLB Players Association is open to negotiating with MLB to allow punishment going forward.
So, if the buzzer thing proves to be true (don’t bet against it), harsher sentences could be handed out.
That’s when those out for blood will get what they want.
For now, it’s time to realize that the Astros are being punished.
Every time a competitor opens his mouth or fans cross the Astros off their list.
