One interesting storyline for 2020 will be how many pitchers take justice into their own hands by throwing at Houston Astros players over their systemic sign-stealing.
That question is one that Ross Stripling grappled with. Stripling was supposed to be involved in a trade to the Los Angeles Angels, where he was highly likely to face the division rival Astros at some point during the season. The trade ultimately fell through, but not before Stripling had time to wrestle with the question of whether he’d do so, and he ultimately determined that he would if the circumstances made sense.
When he thought he was being traded to the Angels, Ross Stripling started wrestling with whether he would intentionally throw at an Astros hitter to retaliate. He concluded he probably would, at the right time, in the right place. I think it’s a fascinating question.
— Pedro Moura (@pedromoura) February 14, 2020
If Stripling is thinking it, so are many other pitchers, and we could see a significant amount of this once the regular season starts. Another Dodgers pitcher, Alex Wood, was asked on Friday about the possibility of pitchers plunking Astros hitters this season. Wood said he wouldn’t be surprised if it happened.
#Dodgers Alex Wood on possibility opponents will take it out on Astros by throwing at their hitters: "You would be hard pressed to say no. I mean, they messed with a lot of guys lives. I don't condone that type of behavior. We certainly don't play them. …" (cont)
— Bill Plunkett (@billplunkettocr) February 14, 2020
"and they'll get suspended more games than any of those guys got for the biggest cheating scandal in 100 years. It'll be pretty ironic when that happens because I'm sure that's how it will end up playing out." 3/3
— Bill Plunkett (@billplunkettocr) February 14, 2020
There is a sense among players that the Astros got away with what they did because MLB did not punish any players. Stripling and Wood may well have missed out on a World Series ring because of what the Astros were doing in 2017, so they have some added incentive to be angry, too.
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