By Nick Romeo — Reporter
Baseball and cheating have become synonymous, and the announcement of the Boston Red Sox punishment does nothing to quell that notion.
After months of anticipation, MLB finally handed down its ruling for the Red Sox and their cheating during the 2018 season in which they won the World Series.
Here are the highlights of the Red Sox punishment, as reported by mlb.com.
T.J. Watkins, a replay system operator, was suspended for the 2020 season. The Red Sox then forfeited their second-round pick in the 2020 Draft. And lastly, Alex Cora, the manager during the 2018 season, was suspended for the 2020 season.
According to the report, this cheating scandal was not as severe as the Houston Astros because the Red Sox were only found guilty of stealing signs when they had a runner on second base.
My question is this, why did it take so long for this report to be completed?
We’ve been hearing for months now about how the Red Sox report was to be released soon.
Personally, I was hoping that MLB was conducting a thorough investigation so they could go after the Red Sox harder than the Astros.
MLB had to provide immunity to players to unearth the truth behind the Astros scandal. What was the point of taking so long to complete the investigation if the Red Sox were going to receive a slap on the wrist?
As soon as the report was released, rumors of Alex Cora returning to manage the Red Sox in 2021 immediately surfaced. The one common denominator in both scandals escaped with a punishment that’s simply minor.
Yes, he was not aware of the cheating the Red Sox were conducting (so we’ve been told). Yet he was the architect behind the Astros cheating implementation, and he was the leader of the Red Sox locker room that went ahead and cheated in 2018.
If the Red Sox bring him back, it’s a slap in the face to all baseball fans.
This is a black eye for baseball, and even though the Red Sox may like him, they should do the right thing and never let that guy in that clubhouse again.
Baseball has had a hard time attracting young fans.
What does this message send to the young fans baseball hopes to bring into their world? Why would a young fan who already finds the sport boring tune into MLB knowing it’s littered with cheaters?
Baseball has a reputation, and that reputation will kill a sport I grew up loving.
From gambling to amphetamines, to steroids, to stealing signs. Enough is enough, and baseball needs to do something to keep its sport alive.
Follow Nick on Twitter @nromeo12
Photo Credit: Kavin Mistry