The Houston Astros have been at the center of controversy in recent weeks after Major League Baseball determined the organization electronically stole signs over the course of the 2017 season.
Historic punishments were levied by MLB commissioner Rob Manfred at the completion of his three-month investigation, ranging from a $5 million fine, the loss of draft picks, and former general manager Jeff Luhnow and manager A.J. Hinch each being suspended for the entire 2020 season.
The Astros illegally stealing signs has many wondering how differently the postseason would have played out that season under normal circumstances. The Los Angeles Dodgers, of course, fell to the Astros in seven games during the 2017 World Series.
While most players have already shifted their attention to the 2020 season, the thought of being cheated out of a championship is difficult to comprehend.
Former Dodgers pitcher Mike Bolsinger is now suing the Astros with the claim that the organization’s cheating derailed his career, via Bill Shaikin of the L.A. Times:
”That type of journeyman guy I am, a guy that might be on the fringe, you only get so many opportunities,” he said. “You can’t be a guy like that and go out there and have an outing like I did.”
Bolsinger isn’t sure how his case will play out but hopes to eventually receive another MLB opportunity:
“I just want to do what’s right. To me, what they did was wrong. At some point, you have to stand up. I don’t know what’s going to happen with me, if teams are going to want me. The message I really want to send here is that I want baseball to be played the right way. The integrity of the game has been hurt throughout the years. This puts it right on top, of the integrity being lost in this game.
“This is a game I’ve given my whole life to. I sacrificed a lot of stuff for this. I’m going to keep practicing, and keep staying in shape, and hopefully a team will look past all this and see that they have a guy who really just wants to play baseball.”
Bolsinger enjoyed his most successful season with the Dodgers in 2015, compiling a 6-6 record, 3.62 ERA, 3.91 FIP and 1.36 WHIP with 98 strikeouts over 109.1 innings pitched (21 starts).
He took a step back the following season and was subsequently traded to the Toronto Blue Jays at the Aug. 1 non-waiver trade deadline. The right-hander made 11 appearances for the organization in 2017, struggling to the tune of a 6.31 ERA across 41.1 frames.
Bolsinger faced the Astros twice that season, including on Aug. 4 in what marked his final big league appearance. He retired just one of eight batters faced, allowing four runs on four hits with three walks.
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