The Astros this postseason have embraced their role as the villains after their sign-stealing scandalGETTY IMAGES
MLB "has to love getting the Astros in the ALCS," as sports "always need an enemy and people still haven't let go of Houston getting busted for its sign-stealing scam," according to Jimmy Traina of SI.com. Having a team "most people can root against is always good for ratings," and the Astros are "embracing their role as villains." Traina: "So while MLB can't admit, I'm sure executives did a little fist pump when Houston finished off the A's" (SI.com, 10/9). In Boston, Peter Abraham notes baseball "could have used a feel-good story in October after a season defined by manufactured crowd noise, quirky rules, and a constant fear the pandemic would drag it all down." But instead, it "gets the villainous Astros four wins away from advancing to their third World Series in four years" (BOSTON GLOBE, 10/11).
EMBRACING THE ROLE: In Chicago, Paul Sullivan notes Astros manager Dusty Baker had "nothing to do with the scandal," but has "embraced their reputation as baseball’s biggest villains." Baker said, "The role of the villain was given to us. It’s not something we took on, even though some of it was probably merited. Or most of it was merited. I’ve been a villain for most of my life, so I might as well join the group” (CHICAGO TRIBUNE, 10/11).
BLAME THE COMMISH: The AP's Tim Dahlberg noted MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred is the "one who allowed" Astros SS Carlos Correa and his "fellow cheaters to play this season without as much as a slap on the wrist." And he is the "one who expanded the playoffs so much that a losing team like the Astros somehow found a way to get in." Dahlberg: "We’re four wins away from the travesty that could be an Astros-Dodgers World Series. Eight wins away from the Astros making a total mockery of a season that was struggling for legitimacy to begin with." All with a "team of cheaters acting like they’ve been wronged instead of the other way around." Dahlberg: "To see them winning in the playoffs is distasteful. To see the attitude they’re taking into the American League Championship Series against Tampa Bay is disgusting" (AP, 10/10).
RAYS TO THE RESCUE? USA TODAY's Bob Nightengale writes the Rays see themselves as "America’s team." First, they "eliminate the Evil Empire, the rich and powerful" Yankees to open their weekend. Now, they have won Game 1 of the ALCS over the Astros, the "first step to assure the team that everyone loves to hate doesn’t return to the World Series." Rays P Blake Snell said, “After we beat New York, I got a lot of things, 'Good luck. Go do your thing.’ A lot of people are more engaging with the Rays." He added, "There are a lot of people rooting for us. ... Hopefully, we can have more fans" (USA TODAY, 10/12).
