Among other teams, the Houston Astros were accused of cheating during the 2017 and 2018 seasons, winning the World Series in 2017. Now, the league speaks out about the matter – one of the best teams in the entire league was stealing signs and able to wait on breaking balls that would lead out of the strike zone. Players were noted as purposely not swinging at certain pitches, and the infield was always in tune with the other team’s base running strategies. To say the league as a whole is upset, is an understatement. 

Players are speaking on their frustration with those years of them cheating their way to success. “I’m not going to let them forget the fact that they are hypocrites, they are cheaters, they’ve stolen from a lot of other people and the game itself,” All Star Pitcher Trevor Bauer stated. 

On field brawls, hitters being targeted by pitchers, and harsh words is something to be expected from teams playeing the Astros this season. Dodgers Pitcher Alex Wood also commented on the issue. “But it wouldn’t surprise me if something like that happened, just to be honest. It’s funny, because I’m pretty sure it probably will happen. Somebody will take it into their own hands, and they’ll get suspended more than any of those guys got for the biggest cheating scandal in 100 years. It’ll be pretty ironic when that happens, because I’m sure that’s how it will end up playing out.’’

The players on the Houston Astros have been put in a difficult position, having little say into what went happened in 2017. Tony Kemp was pulled up from the minors in 2017 and firmly did not agree with the sign stealing scheme. “Once I got there in September the system was already in place and I just tried to keep my head down.” 

Is there any need to take away their title from 2017? The answer is unclear at this point but one thing is certain and that is everyone who is a beloved Dodgers fan is devastated and disappointed with Major League Baseball. Maybe things would be different if they had played by the rules. “I think it’s a pretty safe assumption that if they weren’t cheating, we would have won the World Series,” Wood said. “It’s hard to think like that, but I don’t think that would be an unpopular opinion throughout baseball. We were so good in ’17. I mean, we were so freaking good,” Wood explained.