Boston Red Sox: Rob Manfred in serious bind with sign-stealing punishment

The baseball public is not satisfied with the punishments doled out for the Astros, which may impact MLB’s investigation into the Boston Red Sox.

It seems we can’t go for more than an hour without another player sounding off on how the Houston Astros stole signs, stole the 2017 World Series, stole Aaron Judge‘s AL MVP ring, kidnapped the Lindbergh baby, shot Larry Flynt, and Lord knows what else, and essentially got away with it. Even LeBron James has put in his two cents on the topic, and some Little Leagues have banned the use of the name “Astros”.

As all of this is happening, we still await the results of Major League Baseball’s investigation into the 2018 Boston Red Sox, with their own sign-stealing scandal hanging over a championship team. While the results of the investigation are expected to be announced sometime within the next two weeks, the precedent set by their handling of the Astros’ situation has to weigh heavily on whatever punishment the Red Sox receive.

Commissioner Rob Manfred has caught criticism from players and media in recent weeks, some of which is well-warranted. The result of the punishments doled out by Manfred to the Houston Astros is that both owner Jim Crane and ex-manager A.J. Hinch received what amounted to an unpaid vacation, while the players involved received immunity.

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What has to be even more jarring is that any players who might try to seek “retribution” on the field have been explicitly warned not to do so – meaning that the victims of Houston’s sign-stealing might end up with more fines than the perpetrators themselves.

As much as this may feel like a slap on the wrist…which it is, no question about it…there is a possibility that the Astros’ investigation would still be ongoing had Major League Baseball not decided to give the players immunity for speaking out. Officially “stripping” a World Series title perhaps would have sent a message, but little else.

After all, the games in 2017 had already been won and lost, the champagne spilled in the locker room, the championship paraded down the street. Major League Baseball does not have a time machine to reverse what happened that year.

But the baseball public is gathered around the gates of the Astros and the Red Sox, and they want blood.

Thus, baseball is stuck between a rock and a hard place. If Manfred chooses to drop harder punishments on Red Sox players and lower-level staff, it will look like a double standard when no such sanctions were levied against the Astros.

On the other hand, if Red Sox players similarly get off scot-free, it will reinforce Manfred’s image as a hapless and soft commissioner who needs to leave his post immediately.

This, of course, depends on what comes out of the investigation, and comparisons between the level of the two teams’ chicanery will be inevitable. However, it is safe to assume that some serious time will go into determining the appropriate punishment for everyone involved in the Boston Red Sox sign-stealing.