An open letter to the MLB commissioner’s office

An open letter on how the MLB ruined the spirit and fairness of America’s past time for one young journalist, broadcaster and fan.

Dear MLB commissioner’s office,

I don’t think I have ever been more upset about the proceedings over the last few months regarding the game I love so much. But it is only fair to point out what your office has done right as well.

You dished out punishments that exceed anything we have seen before. This certainly sends a message to the front office of the team itself. You completed a thorough investigation and as a result have maybe weeded out some of the individ

uals responsible in AJ Hinch, Jeff Luhnow, Alex Cora, and Carlos Beltran.

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Unfortunately, that can only solve so much. And I guess it would be pure coincidence that your original report has now created a firestorm across the league.

After the firing of Carlos Beltran was when things started to take a turn for the worst. In this new day and age of social media, I am certain you are aware of what happened.

There is perhaps the possibility that the sign-stealing by the Astros became far more advanced in the years that followed the 2017 season? Players wearing buzzers as a communication device? Possibly more than just the Astros using advanced sign-stealing methods? And several accusations coming from almost anyone who touched a baseball in the last few years while former and current players left and right cry for justice.

Your so-called solution has now created a far greater problem. You are losing your integrity.

So many people – adults and children alike – look to your game as the archetype for sports as entertainment dating all the way back to the late 1800s.

This game is one of my first loves and it has been ever since I was young. But if I am being honest, my heart has continued to sink into this almost never-ending abyss that your league has created as accusations continue to run rampant.

This game has basically inspired my profession. I love to watch baseball, write about baseball, I even was the broadcaster for all 76 games of the Rocky Mountain Vibes inaugural MiLB season this past summer (And don’t even get me started on your proposed contraction of the minor leagues. That’s for another article).

My livelihood is this sport and I can’t even build up the courage to even talk highly of it anymore. There have been so many great stories sprouted from each season. Heck, when the Astros won* in 2017 it was in the wake of Hurricane Harvey and #HoustonStrong was the message that the Astros carried with them.

That all feels like a cruel joke now. Of course, they overcame those odds because they were cheating.

This is now reaching beyond just fans and players. You have a member of Congress calling for justice in this cheating scandal.

This isn’t going to be something that can just be swept under the rug. You still have a lot of work to do.

I just want this to stop. This scandal is by far worse than any of the individuals who took steroids to gain a competitive advantage. At least they still had to guess what pitch was coming.

This is dark times for the game of baseball and I can only hope that you recognize that. Now be proactive in fixing it.

The only reason you looked into anything in the first place was because Mike Fiers was brave enough to say something. If nothing was said, we would have just carried on.

But that’s just how you wanted it to happen right? Were you aware of what was happening and trying to just cover it up? Or did it really take two years to notice something?

I don’t know who to believe anymore. I don’t know what to believe anymore.

I feel like I have lost the trust in my favorite sport and I don’t know when I will be ready to believe anything the game does anymore.

There are so many rumors swirling and people likely using burner accounts to spread the truth of the matter.

The worst part of this whole thing is what is going to stop the players from doing this again? None of the players get punished because they have Union protection right? None of the players get fined or suspended or even banned for life.

What is going to stop them from doing it again? Or for the first time?

How can you stop this from ever happening again? The time for action, or re-opening the investigation, is now. And you better prove that actions are being taken before the 2020 season gets started.

A lot of the current Astros’ players don’t deserve to see the field once this season, or even ever again.

Your peers demand justice.

Sincerely,

Mitch Vareldzis