Champions* Again

Congratulations to the 2022 MLB World Series Champion Houston Astros.  Let’s hope (this time) that it isn’t found that the team cheated to get the ring.

As for me, I didn’t watch a single pitch.  Partly because MLBTV, which I pay for, needs their Fox Partners to make their money, so I needed to subscribe to MLBTV at $120 a year, but then, I need to sign up for Fox at $65 for the month or $299 for the year.  F*$K YOU!

Also, after the 2017 Astros win, I have ZERO love for that team and their opponent, the Phillies, I have never really cared for as an organization or the team’s fans.  That factors in as well.  When you can’t stand either team, what’s the point in watching?

Here’s the thing and maybe someone reading can help me clear something up….

In 1919, the Chicago WhiteSox made the World Series and conspired to throw games, causing scandal and ended up with the commissioner giving lifetime bans to 8 of those players.  The ban, still in place today, was for “destroying the lasting integrity and fairness” of the game and sport.

In 2017, after winning the World Series, it was found that Houston had cheated and used sign stealing and video monitors and cameras to cheat and win the World Series.

How is that NOT destroying the lasting integrity and fairness?

And after MLB investigated, it was found that all players knew, management knew, and the front office knew.

So, 8 guys tank and throw games and they are gone forever, but the 26 guys, 7 bench or bullpen coaches and 5 people in the GM’s office knew (including the General Manager himself) of this plan to steal and cheat, but that’s totally cool because they won?????

I would argue that what the 2017 Astros did is significantly worse for baseball than what the 8 guys (and statistically, only about 3 of those players had numbers that would suggest they tanked) did in 1919, but one half is punished and the other given a slap on the wrist, if punished at all.

All 26 of those players, all 12 of those coaches and front office staff should have been given the hammer.  Goodbye and gone. 

1. It is in line with what the 1919 punishment was, so MLB was easily justified if they would have banned all.  Oh, and they had legal precedent and an anti-trust exemption that would have taken Congressional vote to overturn and 2/3rds of Congress can't agree on price controls for life saving meds, I doubt they would overturn MLB anti-trust exemption, so the courts would have bene handcuffed to do much.  This is doubly true for point D.
2. Sends a message to other teams and players that if you want to fool around, you will find out.  
3. But, but… the record books.  Easy.  **** VACATED **** due to cheating.  Done.  Let the record stand that cheaters not only get banned, but erased from history and the record books.
4. Force ownership to sell.  Lack of institutional control.  1/3rd of the sale price is the fine that goes to MLB general coffers.  So, owner loses money or doesn’t make a billion on the sale.  Well, control your team and staff.  You sit in the big chair, you get the big responsibility.  Don’t want it, don’t own a team.

So, congrats to Houston, but 7 players from 2017 are still on roster, including the team’s top pitcher and two best hitters.  In a just world, they’d be sitting at home talking about what they could have been if they just didn’t cheat.  And Houston would be a mess and shambles of a team.  

That said, maybe Seattle wins the division.  Maybe Cleveland makes the series.  Maybe a lot of things.  But, we’ll never know.  It took the WhiteSox 90ish years to make it back to the top.  

Houston Astros, Champions* 2017 and 2022.

And I have already canceled my auto-renew on MLBTV.  Treat your paying customers like that for the playoffs and championship AND hand waving a cheating scandal instead of following your own protocols because… You don’t want to vacate a championship.  Great.  Good thing MLB never lost a championship due to owners greed…. OH!  Nevermind.  That was 1994.

I’ll always love baseball and the Brewers, but I’m less and less a fan of MLB, so they won’t get my money anymore.  

America’s pastime.  Now #3, behind NFL and NBA, but they complain they can’t “grow the fanbase.”

Wonder why!