George Springer is returning to Dodger Stadium in the World Series eight years after his Houston Astros cheated their way to a World Series win over the Los Angeles Dodgers.
The Astros, whose cheating scandal came out two years later, won the 2017 World Series over LA thanks to illegal sign-stealing. While management was punished by temporarily losing their jobs, none of the players received any consequences.
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Springer, who played a key role in that 2017 World Series including winning the MVP award after hitting .379 with five home runs and an OPS of 1.471, is now a leading figure on the Toronto Blue Jays. He hit the game-winning, three-run home run in Game 7 of the American League Championship Series to send Toronto to their first World Series in over 30 years.
As Springer spoke to reporters on Thursday’s World Series media day, the cheating scandal was brought up. He tried his best to avoid the uncomfortable topic.
“I mean, at the end of the day, I have a job to do and have a game to focus on,” Springer said. “So that’s kind of the plan.”
While Springer will be able to avoid it for the first two games of the series, Games 3-5 will be played at Dodger Stadium in front of the fans that boo Springer, Jose Altuve and Carlos Correa any chance they get. He was asked about returning to Dodger Stadium next week in this World Series environment.
“I don’t have a choice,” Springer said. “The focus will be on the game and to play the game the best I can. It’s an incredible team on the other side of the field. Everyone knows that. Let’s just see what happens.”
Springer was also asked if he wears his 2017 World series ring, and if he’s heard from his former Astros teammates amid this run.
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“You know, that’s in the past,” he said. “This is about the now. I’ve heard from a lot of guys, you know, up and down, all over the place.”
It’s much easier for Springer to move on, as he has a World Series ring and MVP trophy to go along with that season. As for the Dodgers — or more so, the LA fans — they’d probably love to get some revenge on Springer over the next couple weeks.
Photo Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports
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20 Responses
“…eight years after his Houston Astros cheated their way to a World Series win over the Los Angeles Dodgers.” True, yet they cheated in every home game in 2017, against the Red Sox in the ALDS, and against the Yankees in the ALCS. Rob Manfred did a disservice to all of baseball with his pathetic ruling on this. 2017 championship should have been voided with no winner. The worst cheating scandal in MLB since 1919, this time with a verified finding of cheating (White Sox players were acquitted), and yet not a single player held accountable.
That said, what is Springer supposed to say, “Yea, everyone knows we cheated and we’re proud of it”? This is as silly as bringing up LAD letting Seager go after he won the MVP for the Rangers in their 2023 win in the on the field reporting immediately after the game. These attempts at “gotcha reporting” are kind of weak. Everyone should be focused on winning and talk about (or ignore) the other stuff after the series is over.
Game 4 of WS Dodgers up 3 games to 0 ….two outs in ninth Dodgers up by 5…Springer comes up….First pitch A 100 mph fast ball hits Springer in Ribs….cracking two of them…..Next batter strikes out swinging…..
Funny how it is just assumed by so many the doggers would have won in ’17. I mean after all they had won the previous 10 and proceeded to win the next 10 right? The ’17 Astros were really good. Probably better than the ’17 doggers. It proved out over the next 8 years.
Let it go. We lost fair and square.
Proved out over the next 8 years? Not in the MLB. Best in the weak AL for sure, but went 4 times in 6 years (’17 -’22) and won one where they didn’t cheat and lost two. Dodgers, including this year, have gone 5 of last 9 years, winning two, losing 1 and whatever you think about ’17. And we’ll never know who would have won had Houston NOT cheated in every home regular season and post season game. Without cheating, how good would they have been? So, your argument that they were really good that year is hard to defend. And no one – no one – says the Dodgers would have won in 2017, as the Astr*s beat the Red Sox and the Yankees in earlier rounds. Without cheating, they might not have even made the playoffs. We’ll never know. ’17 Dodgers had 104 wins without cheating as compared to Astr*s 101. You know, facts matter.
What everyone that understands baseball says is that Manfred messed up and should have vacated the 2017 championship, with no winner. Stealing signs with a runner on second was always part of the game. Putting HD zoom video cameras in the wall with a feed directly into the dugout was not and never will be part of the game.
Let it go. We lost fair and square. Move on.
We’d let it go but people keep bringing it up (see the article). Fair and square is rich as you’re defending a team that cheated at every single home game all year, regular and post season. So, LAD lost. Manfred had epic fail. Nothing fair and square about that in any definition of those words.
They cheated on the road as well, and “throughout the postseason” See MLB Report on Astros Investigation p. 3, para. 2. Imagine Alex Bregman stealing third base for the ONLY time in his career in the first inning of game 7. No honor.
It says that, but references earlier in the report how this was done at home games. They didn’t have control of the camera feed from center field on the road, only at home. Thus “throughout” in this instance doesn’t mean everywhere they played, but rather just for the duration of the post season. Agree 100% with no honor. Bad enough what the Astr*s did, but made significantly worse thanks to Rob Manfred for helping destroy the integrity of the game. A very simple “2017 championship is vacated” along with player suspensions without pay for at least a year would have gone a long way. Banning for life would have been appropriate, but the players union would have (erroneously) never agreed to that.
The Dodgers have every right to take care of business when they come back to Los Angeles. Springer should had been kicked out of baseball along with the players that were involved. They all cheated to gain a big advantage. The fact the Astro’s were paid their World Series winnings made many angry. The history books should had shown no winner that year.
Bang Bang. He shot me down.
Bang Bang. I hit the ground.
Bang Bang. That awful sound.
Bang Bang. My baby shot me down.
Also of note – after Toronto won game 7 vs Seattle cheater Springer said he was playing for”his country Canada”
Realizing what he said he was trying to fix it but started to mumble then just gave up.
Not defending him, but in his post-game interview on the field with Ken Rosenthal: “I’m so happy for our team, our fans, our city, our country. I’m just so happy.” Followed immediately by another question from Rosenthal. No mumbling, but rather crystal-clear dialogue. There is plenty to dislike about the entire 2017 season with that team and the lack of accountability, so no need to manufacture an offense. He plays in Canada, so that comment is perfectly acceptable and in line with what many players say. It’s a direct tribute to the fans who support the team. Canada hasn’t had a WS winner since Toronto last won it in 1993 for back to backs. And their country’s sport, hockey, they haven’t had a Stanley Cup champion also since 1993. Baseball is not a real surprise given one Canadian team and the balance in the AL East.
Still but hurt from Houston kicking you’re asses for so long doesn’t look like he’s cheating now
So, why would an Astr*s fan be trolling on a Dodgers’ site? Please remind me of their many accomplishments this post season. Oh, that’s right, they’re on a beach somewhere and have been for almost a month. But hey, there’s always next year.
I like the rent in this space. $0!
Read his words, he never even denied it. Platitudes about “I mean, at the end of the day, I have a job to do and have a game to focus on” Meaning I didn’t get busted and I’m playing tomorrow. Sure sounds like an admission to me. Would the D’s have won that series if it wasn’t for trash cans? I won’t pretend to know the answer to that one. Maybe, is as close as I’ll come.
Any way to add Joe Kelly to the roster at this late date? I don’t care if he gets anyone out, but he know where to throw the ball…
It’s so easy for fans of the biggest cheaters in MLB to trash the Astros. Just be thankful your team is allowed to get away with it.
The Springer Curse…
Manfred is the biggest villian in the whole scenario. His handling of the situation discredited the game. It is a total farce that the *stros got to keep the trophy and championship. The players should have not been paid their WS shares and should have been suspended for a year.