Astros rejected from grassroots level on up
The Houston Astros won’t have their 2017 World Series title taken away. Their name, on the other hand, won’t be sticking around in some Little Leagues across the country.
Little League decisionmakers from California to Pennsylvania have started a movement banning the “Astros” name from their youth teams as a result of the organization’s electronic sign-stealing scandal.
The scandal, coupled with the team’s perceived lack of contrition, has drawn ire from MLB players and the general public alike.
Recently, a pair of Little Leagues in California – Long Beach and East Fullerton – both outlawed the use of the “Astros” nickname among their teams.
“Parents are disgusted,” Long Beach Little League president Steve Klaus told the Orange County Register. “They are disgusted with the Astros and their lack of ownership and accountability. We know there’s more to this scandal. What’s coming tomorrow? With the Astros, you’ve got premeditated cheating.”
Bob Bertoni, who leads the District 16/31 Little League in Pennsylvania, told The Associated Press his league of about 4,000 players will not include the Astros this year.
“I think about our Little League pledge, that’s the first thing that comes to my mind: part of the pledge is, ‘I will play fair and strive to win,’ ” Bertoni said. “Our kids emulate and idolize major league players. I don’t think we as an organization should be idolizing teams that have decided not to play by the rules.”
In a statement, Little League International said volunteers operating local programs have the authority to name the teams.
WILLIAM BRETZGER/THE (DELAWARE) NEWS JOURNAL
In the Astros’ first spring training game against the Nationals at their shared ballpark, two men in Nationals gear sitting behind the Astros dugout briefly held up crudely drawn signs just before first pitch. One read: “You see my hate?” in large block letters. Another said: “Houston” with an asterisk below it, suggesting the Astros’ 2017 World Series title should be permanently blemished because of the cheating. The signs were confiscated by stadium personnel.
The Astros’ tainted 2017 World Series title has created mistrust between fans and a sporting institution and caused superstar players threatening bodily harm.
Certainly, this scandal is testing the concept that there’s no such thing as bad publicity. The cross-country consternation has come from MVPs such as Cody Bellinger and Mike Trout while MLB commissioner Rob Manfred and Astros owner Jim Crane have made comments to keep the story ablaze.
Some memorable quotes since spring training began:
❚ “Our opinion is, you know, that this didn’t impact the game. We had a good team. We won the World Series, and we’ll leave it at that.” – Crane
❚ “I feel if I knew what was coming in ’17, I probably would have hit 80-plus homers.” –
Yankees’ Giancarlo Stanton ❚
Manfred, via ESPN. He later apologized for the comment.
❚
Trout, via ESPN. ❚
Bellinger, whose Dodgers lost to the Astros in the ’17 World Series after Judge’s Yankees lost to them in the ALCS.
❚
Nick Markakis.