The Houston Astros committed baseball grand larceny to win a World Series four years ago. Stealing signs, banging trash cans, committing a cardinal sin against competition generally and baseball in particular. We haven’t let them forget it. They’re back in the Series beginning tonight.
What do you make of the Houston Astros?
After MLB’s investigation, the team fired GM Jeff Luhnow and manager AJ Hinch. No players were punished. Bench coach Alex Cora became manager of the Boston Red Sox the very next year. Houston kept the ’17 trophy. Cheaters prosper.
That’s the issue, and it’s far bigger than the cheating that prompted it.
We like our cheaters punished. We’ll probably forgive them eventually, because we like a good redemption story better than anything. (A lesson Pete still hasn’t learned.) But when folks commit grand larceny on a grand stage, and are punished for petty theft, well. . .
As recently as three weeks ago, White Sox reliever Ryan Tepera suggested the ‘Stros might have been stealing signs during the AL Division Series., "They've obviously had a reputation of doing some sketchy stuff over there,’’ he said.
Baseball has made a habit of cheating, to such an extent that cheating is part of its lore. I’ll see your slippery elm and raise you a corked bat. No one’s saying Gaylord Perry owes his HOF-ness to doctoring the ball. No one says he doesn't.
Pieces of cork from Sammy Sosa’s bats might still be living in the air ducts above the Cubs clubhouse.
On the other hand, MLB enjoys getting righteous about the integrity of its product. And yet it lets off the Astros, scot-free.
Are they villains that should continue to be vilified, or simply scoundrels following a time-honored baseball tradition?
Now, then. . .
THESE ASTROS SHOULD BE EASY TO LIKE. . . They play baseball the way we enjoy seeing it played. Jeff Passan, ESPN.com:
They led MLB in batting average. Struck out the fewest times. Fouled pitches off more than anyone. Swung and missed at the lowest rate in the league.
And of course, it’s very hard to root against Dusty, the most diverse, interesting man I’ve ever covered. He’s 72 and will never be any closer to winning his first Series as a manager. That’s also his HOF ticket. Wouldn’t you like to see that?
WHAT OUR BOBBY NIGHTENGALE makes clear this AM is that what the Reds need almost as much as a reliable bullpen is depth, across the board. He compared the Reds of ’20 and ’21 to the Braves of the same seasons. The Braves overcame substantial injuries (the wonderful Ronald Acuna Jr. in particular) to be playing Game 1 tonight. Adam Duvall, Jorge Soler, Joc Pederson, Eddie Rosario. Each of them has played significant roles for the past three months. The Braves bullpen is equally deep and has given them a match-up edge.
Not suggesting the Reds are the Braves. Suggesting that an aggressive offseason (stop laughing, wise guys) could keep the Club October-relevant in 2022.
I NEVER HAD AS MANY TOYS as Brian Callahan, Zac Taylor and the Bengals offensive coaching crew have now. I’d have had to live at Toys-R-Us.
How does one defend Chase, Boyd, Higgins, Mixon and, now, Uzomah? Not to mention Field Marshall Burrow, calling the shots like a tank commander. At some point in every game, there are going to be big matchup issues. In the second half at Baltimore Sunday, it was at almost every point.
Even if you scheme it right, you still have to win individual matchups. And you blitz knowing Burrow will make you pay much of the time. All of this came together and became obvious Sunday. For two quarters, the Bengals played just about perfectly. Their offense looked like the Chiefs, when the Chiefs were the Chiefs. Cincinnati’s offense is playing against its own potential now, dictating to defenses how the game will be played.
BUT OF COURSE, THIS IS THE NFL, a point I tried (and failed) to make to a few buds in the postgame delirium Sunday. If the Men go to Jersey and slip on banana peels, we’d be very surprised, but not shocked.
The Chiefs didn’t score a touchdown Sunday. The Patriots put up 54 on the Jets without a Brady in sight. Sunday morning, the Ravens were the darlings of the AFC. If you think you have Sundays figured out, you don’t.
It’d be just short of miraculous if the Jets beat The Men Sunday. They’re a bad team playing a backup QB. They just traded for. . . Joe Flacco. I’d almost consider taking the Bengals and giving the points. Then I remember what league I’m wagering on.
WHAT WOULD YOU DO? The Bucs did right by the fan who ended up with the ball from Tom Brady’s record 600th TD pass. ESPN:
Byron Kennedy, who was sitting in the end zone when Evans tossed the record-breaking ball into the stands, will receive two signed Brady jerseys, a helmet, another jersey autographed by Evans and Evans' game-worn cleats.
The team is also providing a pair of season tickets for the remainder of 2021, all of 2022 and a $1,000 credit to the official team store.
Wow.
Question: Would you have given Brady the ball for free? Ask to meet him, shake his hand, maybe get a photo, and leave knowing you did a gracious thing for the GOAT?
I would have.
I understand folks who’d say, “I’d sell it for everything I could. My kids want to go to college.’’
After all, the 756th HR ball Bonds hit was last sold at auction for $752,467.20. That’s a lot of coin. It’s in the HOF now, where it belongs.
But sometimes, the payoff for doing a good thing is priceless. Same as the memories Brady has given that Tampa fan, if only for the last year and a half. A baseball is just that, a trinket. I’m not a memorabilia guy. I have a few autographs: The late novelist Pat Conroy, singer-songwriter Steve Forbert, all four of the Nighthawks, an R-n-B band from my hometown. Roberto Clemente. Johnny Bench, on the jacket of a book we did together.
I’d gladly trade them all for a lunch with, say, Rod Serling.
You?
TUNE O’ THE DAY. . . A Mobster suggested I’m a Believer was a better TOD selection than what I chose yesterday, Life Could Be a Dream, to mark the Bengals W in Baltimore. I agree, so here you go.
When I was in 4th grade, a local AM station in DC what now is an entirely ridiculous listener poll: Who’s better, Beatles or Monkees? Heaven help me, I chose the Monkees.
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