Ex-Dodger Darvish: Astros should be stripped of title

Field Level Media
17 Feb 2020, 02:35 GMT+10

Former Los Angeles Dodgers right-hander Yu Darvish said Sunday that the Houston Astros should not have the right to call themselves 2017 World Series champions.

Darvish, who was rocked by the Astros in Games 3 and 7 of that World Series, spoke with reporters Sunday at the Chicago Cubs' spring training facility in Mesa, Ariz.

"It's like the Olympics," Darvish said, per ESPN. "When a player cheats, you can't have a gold medal, right? But they still have a World Series title. It (feels) weird."

Darvish took issue with his performance at the time, going so far as to question whether he was tipping his pitches. Now, he has another question.

"Was I tipping, or were they stealing?" Darvish asked last month.

Darvish said he felt badly for the pitchers who lost their jobs as a result of the Astros gaining an unfair advantage.

The 33-year-old came under fire after posting a robust 21.60 ERA in his two appearances in the World Series. He gave up four runs in 1 2/3 innings to take the loss in Game 3 in Houston before surrendering five runs in 1 2/3 frames to receive the loss in Game 7 in Los Angeles.

Darvish signed a six-year, $126 million contract with the Cubs a few months later.

Major League Baseball conducted an investigation and declared that the Astros stole signs throughout the 2017 season, continued to do so for only part of the 2018 campaign and not in 2019.

The Dodgers not only lost the 2017 World Series to the Astros, they also dropped the championship series in 2018 to the Boston Red Sox, who are being investigated to determine if they stole opponents' signs electronically -- a violation of baseball rules.

--Field Level Media

Watch latest videos

News RELEASES

Publish news of your business, community or sports group, personnel appointments, major event and more by submitting a news release to Chicago Chronicle.

More Information

null in null

Business

Section

New Zealand PM seeks stronger ties with China amid security talks

New Zealand PM Luxon in China to boost trade and tourism

BEIJING/WELLINGTON: New Zealand's Prime Minister Christopher Luxon commenced his visit to China on June 17, seeking to strengthen trade...

U.S. on edge as Israel-Iran conflict escalates

Dow Jones drops 44 points as Wall Street takes a breather

NEW YORK, New York - U.S. stocks made only minor moves in both directions,Thursday, as investors fretted about the Israel-Iran conflict...

Luxury giant Kering bets on outsider de Meo to lead turnaround

Kering picks Renault's de Meo to fix Gucci, slash soaring debt

PARIS, France: Luxury group Kering's decision to tap Luca de Meo as its next chief is being seen as a daring but necessary attempt...

Trump family enters telecom with branded phone, mobile service

Trump Mobile launched with $499 phone, plan priced at $47.45

NEW YORK CITY, New York: The Trump family has unveiled a new venture in the telecom sector — and it's drawing as much scrutiny as it...

Starmer: US-UK trade deal to be finalized 'very soon.'

UK, US nearing final stage of trade deal, says PM Starmer

KANANASKIS, Alberta: With key tariff deadlines approaching, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said this week that finalizing the...

Aircraft orders expected as Paris airshow opens, despite recent crises

Paris airshow opens amid global aviation uncertainty

PARIS, France: The Paris Airshow kicked off on June 16, attracting attention with expected aircraft orders, but overshadowed by the...

Illinois

Section