NATS-ASTROS: CHAMPS FACE THE CHEATERS
It will be champs vs. cheaters in a World Series rematch when the Washington Nationals and Houston Astros play their exhibition opener tonight in West Palm Beach, Fla.
The last time these teams met, the Nationals were celebrating their first World Series title in Houston after winning Game 7 at Minute Maid Park. Since then, the Astros have become the league’s villains, with a sign-stealing scandal sullying their reputation and casting a shadow on their 2017 title.
As the Astros prepare to take the field for the first time since their cheating scam was uncovered there’s much speculation about what kind of reception they’ll receive, though the players say they’re focused on baseball.
“Honestly, I haven’t thought about it,” shortstop Carlos Correa said. “But whatever it is, our job is to go there and play baseball. So, I’m not too concerned about that.”
There have been a handful of hecklers at Astros camp this week as the team assembled for the first time since Major League Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred found they used electronics to steal signs during their run to the 2017 World Series title and again in the 2018 season.
The investigation, which led to the suspensions and subsequent firings of manager AJ Hinch and General Manager Jeff Luhnow, found the Astros used the video feed from a center field camera to see and decode the opposing catcher’s signs. Players banged on a trash can to signal to batters what was coming, believing it would improve the batter’s odds of getting a hit.
New Houston manager Dusty Baker hasn’t spent any time concerning himself with how the Astros will be received today. “You can anticipate this or that, but you don’t really know until you get there,” he said. “So I’m not really worried about the reception.”
Notable
On the day Houston outfielder Josh Reddick said he and other players have received death threats in the wake of the team’s sign-stealing scandal, union head Tony Clark said safety had become an issue for some of his members.
“There are undoubtedly concerns out there based on some of the commentary that ... there’s a heightened sense of concern to make sure that themselves and their families are protected,” Clark said Friday after speaking with the Astros. “There’s no doubt making sure that our players and their families are able to go to and from the ballpark and perform safely is a huge piece of the puzzle.”
Clark spoke before Reddick told reporters that he received death threats on social media and that people have commented on pictures of his infant twins, saying they hope they get cancer. He said teammates have also received threatening messages and he thinks it will be “pretty scary” for his wife and children to join him on the road this season since club hotels become known.
• Diamondbacks reliever Archie Bradley won the final salary arbitration case of the year, leaving teams with a 7-5 advantage over players. The right-hander was given a raise from $1.83 million to $4.1 million. Arizona had argued for $3,625,000.
• Indians right-hander Carlos Carrasco is considered day to day after being diagnosed with a mild strain of his right hip flexor.
• Free agent relief pitcher Victor Alcantara was suspended for 80 games under the major league drug program following a positive test for the performanceenhancing substance Stanozolol.