Astros scandal may help MLB, experts say

The Houston Astros cheating scandal may be hanging over Major League Baseball like a dark cloud, but the sign-stealing scheme could actually boost interest in the game rather than turn fans away, experts said Wednesday.

With the 2020 regular season just around the corner, the sense of optimism that usually surrounds spring training has been missing as disgruntled players add their voices to the daily chorus of Astros condemnation.

Houston may be the team baseball fans love to hate this year and that could mean higher TV ratings and ticket sales as supporters of other clubs seek a way to voice their displeasure with the Astros.

Both Houston and MLB have been a large focus of the daily conversation in the sporting world for the last month with no end in sight.

Neal Pilson, the former president of CBS Sports who now runs his own sports TV consulting company, feels there will be a curiosity factor both from fans and media that will result in more people tuning into games.

“It will increase the amount of attention, focus and promotion for baseball and ... that’s good news for sponsors and team owners and television networks,” Pilson said.

MLB doled out one of the most severe punishments in baseball history against the Astros over the team’s illegal use of electronic equipment to steal pitch signs during their World Series-winning 2017 season.

The Astros were fined, forfeited draft picks in 2020 and 2021 and their manager A.J. Hinch and general manager Jeff Luhnow were each suspended one year before swiftly being fired by Astros owner Jim Crane.

But no Astros players were punished as MLB commissioner Rob Manfred promised them immunity as part of the investigation. That isn’t sitting well with opposing players, including some who feel the team should vacate their 2017 title.