The New Evil Empire: Houston Astros Look To Erase Stain Of Cheating Scandal With 2022 World Series Championship

SportsMoney The New Evil Empire: Houston Astros Look To Erase Stain Of Cheating Scandal With 2022 World Series Championship Maury Brown Senior Contributor Opinions expressed by Forbes Contributors are their own. 2020 Natl Sportswriter Of The Year Nominee, BBWAA, MLB, Motorsports Following New! Follow this author to stay notified about their latest stories. Got it! Oct 28, 2022, 12:03pm EDT | New! Click on the conversation bubble to join the conversation Got it! Share to Facebook Share to Twitter Share to Linkedin Signs like this one are bound to be in Philadelphia as the Houston Astros square off with the .

. . [+] Phillies in the 2022 World Series (Photo by Thearon W.

Henderson/Getty Images) Getty Images Every great story needs a villain. In 2002, Red Sox co-owner Larry Lucchino dubbed the New York Yankees the “evil empire” after the club was outbid for the services of pitcher Jose Contreras. Long the Red Sox’ nemesis, the name played well with the rivalry between the two AL East clubs: the Yankees were the team you loved to hate.

Fast forward to today, the start of the 2022 World Series, and the Yankees feel more like Dark Helmet than Darth Vadar. Yes, the team made the ALCS but got swept by the Houston Astros, Major League Baseball’s new evil empire. For those that don’t recall (and Dodgers and Yankees fans never will ), the Astros were embroiled in a sign-stealing scandal that rocked the league.

The players were allowed to speak freely without fear of being suspended about how in 2017 they used (and we’re not joking here) a garbage can lid to bang signals to the players at bat as they were relayed from the video playback room just behind the dugout. Yes, it was only for home games, but when Commissioner Rob Manfred issued his report in 2020 about the findings, it sent shockwaves through the league. During the first year of the pandemic, when no fans were allowed at the ballpark, the Astros played without hearing the boos from fans.

But the die had been cast: the Houston Astros were cheaters and have remained as such. One thing that cannot be denied is that the Astros are a damn good team and organization. No one goes to the World Series four out of six years on pure luck.

Since the sign-stealing scandal of 2017, just five players on that roster remain, and two of them are pitchers that didn’t stand at the plate to get those stolen signs: second baseman Jose Altuve, first baseman Yuli Gurriel, third baseman Alex Bregman, with pitchers Justin Verlander and Lance McCullers Jr. Dusty Baker, who has never won a World Series, has masterfully managed the team through the chaos, and may be the one aspect of the club that fans (even begrudgingly) worth rooting for. No matter.

Poll just about anyone in the U. S. and Canada and with Texas and some surrounding southern states, they’ll tell you that “anyone but the Astros” is who they’re rooting for and this year, that means the Phillies.

MORE FOR YOU The Inside Story Of Papa John’s Toxic Culture Pantera’s Reunion Shows Are Already Selling Out Estate Planning: 11 Strategies To Discuss With Your Financial Advisor The problem is, the Phillies are big underdogs in the Fall Classic . The Astros have not lost a single game in the postseason, having most recently swept the former evil empire, the New York Yankees. For FOX, who is airing the World Series, they have to hope that somehow the Phillies win one of the first games in the 7-game series.

Networks always hope for a Game 7 for all the marbles, but a dominant Astros team could up-end the cart. Having the Astros win a competitive World Series might be bad enough for many fans, but a sweep or 5 game series would start to see fans tune out. I’ve predicted the series will average 10.

7 million viewers via television and streaming, which would be down from last year’s Fall Classic . From the team to the front office, the hope for the Astros has to be that winning in 2022 will somehow remove the stain of the cheating in 2017. Anyone that’s gotten catchup on a white shirt that’s run through the dryer knows that stain may fade, but never leave.

And the Astros, are going to have that “cheaters” moniker, maybe for all-time. That’s a pity for those on the roster that were never involved in the scandal. It’s a shame that such a great team may not be respected for being as great as they are.

And certainly, the scandal is going to follow Altuve and Bregman when the day comes that they land on Hall of Fame ballots. It appears two cliches are opposing forces with baseball’s new “evil empire”: If you’re not cheating, you’re not trying. And… Cheaters never prosper.

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