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SPORTS Wednesday 22 January 2020
Beanballs, boos, lost legacy? Astros, MLB brace for fallout

By BEN WALKER ing, did ya?"
AJ Hinch, Alex Cora and THE ASTERISKS
Carlos Beltrán lost their jobs For a century, it's been the
in the wake of the Houston Black Sox — no one ever
Astros' sign-stealing scam, calls them the 1919 White
leaving three teams with- Sox. Already, the label of
out managers three weeks Houston Asterisks is draw-
before the start of spring ing attention. That could
training. last a long, long time. MLB
On and off the field, the fall- isn't about to strip the Astros
out from one of the biggest of their World Series crown
scandals in Major League and give it to the Dodgers,
Baseball history is bound to or take away Jose Altuve's
carry over. A look at what's MVP trophy and hand it
on deck for the Astros and to Aaron Judge. But could
MLB: this affect Altuve's market-
THE FIERS FACTOR ability? And how about the
Whistleblower or whiner? first Hall of Fame test case
Fact is, when A's pitcher in a few years — Beltrán's
Mike Fiers went public, resume includes nine All-
MLB was forced to act. If Star selections, three Gold
he speaks anonymously, Gloves, 435 home runs, glit-
most likely his comments tery postseasons and now,
get whisked into the whis- also, prominent mention in
pers bin. Fiers won't have Commissioner Rob Man- Jose Altuve signs autographs for young fans during the baseball team's FanFest at Minute Maid
Park on Saturday, Jan. 18, 2020, in Houston.
to bat against the Astros, fred's report as a ringleader Associated Press
and it'd be too obvious to in the sign-swiping she-
bunt up the first base line nanigans. Fans are usually
and try to run him over. Will willing to forgive someone
Houston hoot and holler at who admits wrongdoing.
its ex-teammate? We won't Denying or stonewalling
need to wait long to see doesn't often turn out so
if there's any ill will — the well. Witness Pete Rose's
Astros' first road game of path. Barry Bonds and
the season is at Oakland Roger Clemens are shut
on March 30, the start of a out of Cooperstown; Mark
three-game series. Count McGwire eventually came
on those Athletics fans in clean and was welcomed
the outfield bleachers at back into the majors.
the Coliseum to bang their WHO'S NEXT?
drums loudly to signal ridi- A spy in the Wrigley Field
cule, not pitches. scoreboard, cameras at
GETTING EVEN Shea Stadium. We're cer-
Cleveland ace Mike Clev- tain to hear tales about
inger hinted at drilling Hous- past cheating schemes.
ton hitters. Others will, too. Jack McDowell says Tony
There was plenty of tough La Russa rigged a system
talk when Michael Jordan with the White Sox in the
tried baseball and more 1980s. MLB put everyone on
when juiced-up sluggers notice with these penalties
teed off in the Steroids Era. and that should have an
"Can you imagine if Nolan effect — for a while, any-
Ryan knew you were relay- way. Yet in this high-tech
ing his signs? You'd prob- world, it'd be foolish to think
ably be missing a head," someone won't try to game
Mike Piazza said last week. the system sometime.
So will the beanballs fly? In the meantime, will MLB
Not likely. That kind of re- change the rules on the
taliation just isn't a big part sport's most obvious non-
of the game anymore. secret, the pine tar and
Wouldn't be a shock to see other sticky substances that
some guys hit in the ribs pitchers use to get a better
and backside, perhaps on grip on the ball? Maybe
those wayward curveballs that's OK, shaky control
that now serve as purpose in cold, damp weather
pitches. But Alex Bregman doesn't benefit anyone.
& Co. are bound to hear Remember, though, Fiers
taunts everywhere they himself came under scru-
play outside Minute Maid tiny for a shiny patch on his
Park, especially when they glove after pitching a no-
swing way over a slider: hitter for the Astros against
"Didn't know that was com- the Dodgers in 2015.q