As some of our best have written, the Houston Astros stole more than just signs. Indeed, without their sign-stealing antics; the Los Angeles Dodgers might be flying a World Series flag from 2017 right now. And as they say ‘flags fly forever’.
ESPN Los Angeles morning show host Travis Rodgers got to thinking about it, and it irked him a little bit. Obviously he’s upset that his team – the Los Angeles Dodgers – were robbed. However, Rodgers brings about a more interesting perspective. What about the fans down the road who will look at the list of champions and not know the manner in which the 2017 World Series may have been taken (stolen). Have a listen to the sound byte below.
The Astros' sign-stealing scandal will not only impact the Dodgers but the future of Major League Baseball, via @TravisRodgers.
The Morning Show with @keyshawn, @LZGranderson, & @TravisRodgers podcasts ? https://t.co/hr8t0m6xjN pic.twitter.com/YCaI8qERPX
— ESPN Los Angeles (@ESPNLosAngeles) January 14, 2020
First, Rodgers is open to the idea of vacating the championship. He says if for no other reason, it will let people have context to know what really went down. Without that, he hypothesizes that people may eventually forget if they were young during this time period.
“Vacating is really interesting, because I’m going to remember what they did every time I see the Astros. I’m going to remind everyone that they ripped off the Dodgers. I’m going to make it my cause to let everyone know, that’s what happened. But 20 years from now, 30 years from now; it’s just going to be a list of World Series winners. If it’s all the sudden ‘2017: No Champion’ it’s going to be what do you mean? Huh? What happened? It’s not for you or me, it’s for the people that are baseball fans 25 years from now so they have context.”
Without question, you know that I feel like the sign-stealing affected the outcome of the 2017 World Series. The Dodgers of 2017 were the best team I’ve seen in 35-plus years. And it came down to a game seven in which the Dodgers didn’t win. Rodgers says that the series was swung by cheating.
“Clearly, this is something that affected the 2017 World Series.”
So Dodgers Nation, do you agree with Rodgers? How should baseball go about handling the championship awarded in 2017? Let us know in the comments below.
NEXT: Mike Piazza Disgusted with Astros Sign Stealing Scandal
