MLB should IMMEDIATELY strip Astros players of championship rings & titles - Stephen A. | First Take

Rob Manfred's exclusive ESPN interview: • Rob Manfred’s exclusiv...
Stephen A. Smith calls for MLB to take away Houston Astros players' 2017 championship rings and titles.
#FirstTake #MLB
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[@philly_sports1558]

It's weirdly poetic that this story initially broke in 2019. 100 years after the Black Sox scandal.

[@nram5661]

Wonder what will happen in 2119

[@jasonedwards6501]

You know what's even more poetic? The very first time Houston made the World Series? The White Sox Swept them.

[@CSDonohue11]

Humm Weird Huh My Dude. Tell en Brody

[@Edwardsjm]

No coincidence

[@chatman2a]

Zenigundam You spewed a ton of verbiage there, but what’s your point?

[@ObiSain]

Should’ve stuck with just stealing bases

[@PhilAVega]

Very good

[@justinr1513]

@@joshuachamp Nah he can stay, you leave.

[@MuffyCakeMan]

@don monfort When you make that much money you have a say.

[@ObiSain]

Thanks Justin and Phil

[@Luis-me6dq]

don monfort it was a player-driven cheating scandal. they weren’t forced to do it

[@BNA_Est.1988]

Pete Rose somewhere punchin air right now

[@ghostnutz1]

Lol f em all. Filthy sport

[@chrisgreen9934]

I seen Pete about a month ago and got his autograph on old rc can of him. I know a guy Jim Owens who played on the reds late in his career and that was Pete first roommate in the pros! Pretty cool experience

[@taydafranklin7800]

@cjkone978 agreed wholeheartedly

[@PhilAVega]

😁

[@TotalCruiserBabe]

@cjkone978 i mean, when you gamble and diddle kids... that'd be a yikes

[@jordan12118]

Strip Altuve of that MVP award too

[@elvisfan6475]

He should be banned for life

[@jorgez9402]

Kenneth Salyers the MVP award should be taken away and there should be a suspension , but he shouldn’t be banned for life that’s ridiculous.

[@jordan12118]

Kenneth Salyers That’s a bit too far

[@trugambit7484]

Why is it bad? You are trying to stop cheating then make him the example like they did Pete rose. I hate baseball btw and cheating only helps kill the sport

[@anasabbas98]

Tru Gambit just cuz u hate the sport dont mean it needa be gone u pathetic loser

[@resentc1376]

Every baseball fan believes altuve knew what pitch was coming.

[@omardabo1287]

Dude just look at his celebrating when he was approaching home plate. He was grabbing his jersey and saying guys don't take my jersey off bcuz we are on national television and there's a camera hidden inside my jersey. And then he ran immediately into the locker room. All the Houston players knew about this and they should take their rings and trophies away

[@shaunoneil1528]

He said in the interview right after that he was thinking and sitting fastball, but he somehow manages to perfectly time the off speed pitch

[@coolbrounderscore]

Just pointing to that at bat doesn’t really tell us anything. Were you watching the game when it happened? Chapman couldn’t locate his fastball. Everyone within a half mile of the stadium knew he was backed into a corner and was coming in with another slider (Chapman is basically a two-pitch guy, relying on pure speed to get guys out). He hung it and Altuve unloaded. So yes, Altuve knew what pitch was coming, but so did everyone watching at home and we didn’t need buzzers.

[@resentc1376]

coolbrounderscore yeah there is no way it was cheating.

[@coolbrounderscore]

@@resentc1376 You think so? I think it's possible he was cheating, but just looking at the outcome of the at bat isn't good evidence one way or the other. If Chapman can't locate his fastball he's basically forced to throw a slider when he needs a strike. Any batter is going to look slider in that context.

[@seulgarcia1981]

Imagine this coming baseball season when the Astros play away. The magnitude of fans booing them. Mind blowing. 🤯

[@P0IZEN]

MLB Pitchers on Twitter already hinted they will be head hunting with pitches.

[@axis1296]

@@P0IZEN let them....... a lot of blood will be shed! My Astros gonna kill all yall

[@Only2GendersCommonSense]

*BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!* 😯

[@seulgarcia1981]

@@Only2GendersCommonSense a little preview. 🤯

[@Only2GendersCommonSense]

@@seulgarcia1981 I'm warming up.

[@abeferszt2408]

"I did not have sexual relations with that woman"

[@abeferszt2408]

😂😂😂

[@carlosm.6348]

abe ferszt you laughing at yourself is gold 😂

[@abeferszt2408]

@@carlosm.6348 That's how I role lmao

[@bigdawg0076]

Edward Yamada 🤣🤣🤣🤣💯

[@abeferszt2408]

@@bigdawg0076 LMAO HAHAHAHHAHAHA

[@goldengod4538]

The players weren’t complicit. The manager was complicit. The players were the ones who wanted to do it. They have to punish the players too.

[@mariohernandez231]

Can you suspend a whole team?

[@supreme1572]

According to the report Carlos Beltran and Alex Cora were directly responsible and everyone else was just complicit.

[@mabus7458]

@@supreme1572 complicit is just as guilty. Suspend the entire team. Remove the trophys and hold ownership accountable

[@universe-ie2mk]

just a reminder. pitchers and catchers report for most teams in 25 days.

[@plaidomelette4358]

25 days and counting til Manfred unleashes on them.

[@PeterTea]

Strip them of the title!

[@kmena05]

Nah

[@bunchofscumbags3222]

If you want to strip the Yankees titles too, then sure

[@Jry088]

I urge every stadium to give out trashcans to fans whenever Asterisk visits their stadium.

[@Thedirtylittlesecret]

Jerry Huang or have them banging on trashcans that would be great.

[@dehautdesign]

I agree with that.. They made Star players, hall of famers,, look like minor leaguers... wow.. didn't think about that before.

[@blackmanwithcomputer]

Kershaw is used to looking like that in the postseason.

[@SilentC90]

@@blackmanwithcomputer way easier when you know what pitch is coming

[@blackmanwithcomputer]

@@SilentC90 Of course, but what happened to Kershaw is nothing new, but the year.

[@johngarcia7891]

blackmanwithcomputer Kershaw had been dominant that postseason actually. He threw 7 innings in game 1 allowing just one run and threw 4 shutout innings in game 7. Kershaw has NEVER lost a game in which he was given a 4 run lead. The Astros knew what was coming. That tarnished his legacy for sure. Dodgers should’ve taken game 5 and would’ve won in 6 at the very most

[@blackmanwithcomputer]

@@johngarcia7891 What I'm saying is that he chokes. Not as bad this time, but he chokes

[@hurleygonzalez]

What an bad reputation that the Astros will for now on behold. And an utterly embarrassment to the mlb organization.

[@tonyoso1391]

Speak English.

[@Wasrael]

@@tonyoso1391 shut up sell out

[@isaiahling9716]

So you are telling me, my Yankees got beat by a bunch of cheaters?

[@juanthompson8016]

@@tonyoso1391 learn English

[@PhilAVega]

Very true

[@KarloBacolod]

The Houston Asterisks will forever be one of the most hated sports franchises in the country. Watching that Altuve highlight pisses me off every time. Should be a mob outside of Asterisks' front office.

[@leosdreamon681]

Kmac LA I’m glad it makes you angry Lol

[@htownrockets7084]

Still got the ring so your opinion don't matter. Dodgers and Yankees didn't win anything

[@KiwiGambles]

@@htownrockets7084 good to know their own fans support their cheating. Typcial houston fans

[@Oppaiman100]

😂 Houston Asterisks

[@victorgaribay5070]

@@htownrockets7084 so did the astros

[@trabo2]

Imagine the jokes at this year’s Espy awards 😂

[@eureka0521]

whos the host?

[@rafterscott]

Ricky Gervais should host.

[@rafterscott]

@Meli S. Fair, but I was referencing his straight up savagery at the Golden Globes.

[@PhilAVega]

😁

[@onevato]

ALL THE BLEACH IN THE UNIVERSE WONT GET RID OF THAT ASSTERISK TAINT

[@alainbrouillaud484]

The batter has a TREMENDOUS ADVANTAGE when he knows what type of pitch is coming. THIS ASTROS MUST BE STRIPPED OF THEIR TITLE!!

[@abad-enoughdude._.3919]

This is common sense. But you have the MLB saying that you can't prove they benefitted from cheating. They must think everyone else is stupid.

[@BryanX64]

Yankees fans are morons. The sign stealing wasn't found to have actually helped when you ACTUALLY look at the numbers.

[@abad-enoughdude._.3919]

BryanX 64 I think you're doing a great job of showing everyone how moronic Astros fans are, thanks.

[@boochtron]

no

[@joelgarcia6534]

Stunnershades _ the Yankees scored 3 runs in 4 road games in Houston,but they were robbed...right...Dodgers lost 2 home games,including game 7 where they scored 1 run....but they were robbed.....right!!

[@krlm2280]

Makes me appreciate the Washington nationals even more especially juan juan Soto's antics

[@fratersol]

they probably cheating too

[@krlm2280]

@My Friend good news my friend

[@tobycalk8315]

Nats were cheating also. Every team does it. Astros just got caught

[@joaquin4497]

Toby Calk what’s wrong with cheating then if everyone does it? Isn’t it an even playing field if everyone’s doing it?

[@bobheck7303]

@@fratersol STUPID!

[@yakuzaohtani3631]

They screwed the Yankees and Dodgers! CC’s last game was heartbreaking! Knowing he was giving it his all to battered who knew everything he was about to throw at them, same goes to Kershaw and Darvish! MLB needs to take that title away!

[@yeahok542]

yeah yanks should give there 2000 ring back with all those players on that team that were in steroids

[@Truckerdaddy]

Still no evidence to substantiate the claims for 2019. So until there is evidence of cheating in 2019 it was legit.

[@wholesomealexx1134]

@@yeahok542 Almost everyone took steroids back then and even today you have pitchers saying they'd rather face roided up dudes than someone who knew every pitch that was coming. It's two completely different situations. I do not agree with stripping them of the championship though just pointing out the discrepancies.

[@skinnynick3371]

yeah ok like who?

[@yeahok542]

@@skinnynick3371 clemens pettite 2 aces right there

[@aiwash2766]

As a person who lives in Houston but never was an mlb fan, I hope this franchise is burned to the ground, I seriously hate cheating in sports and this is just awful

[@jasminewashington5953]

I agree with you. It's sad you have players that have a god given talent basically just cheating their way into winning. I know I'm not a Houston Astros fan, however, I would be really disappointed to the fact that they cheated in 2017

[@TheNarutodbzss19]

@iban lomeli don't forget the Patriots

[@johnyreyes3567]

Dude. You're being influenced. Almost every team in the league does this. The Astros are just taking the bullet for the MLB

[@anthonysantana2000]

Johny Reyes this is the most overblown scandal Ive ever seen literally every team cheats people should accept that we talking about billion dollar sports team's they are all trynna cheat the public is just so gullible and think it's all on the up and up

[@likeabross6205]

I'm also from Houston, but sports are fun to watch, I very much dislike what the Astros did and I'm incredibly disappointed. I won't be supporting the team monetarily, but the game still brings me enjoyment. I still like to watch the Astros play, and regardless of the cheating it's still fun to watch. People are way to hysterical over this. The Astros cheated and it sucks for everyone involved but move on, pros cheat all the time and I'm not trying to justify but it's the nature of competition.

[@davidellis5141]

The Astros title should be vacated. It's tarnished beyond repair.

[@skolnation4206]

Zenigundam that was so stupid and he had him the bullpen smh cost them for sure I don’t know too much about baseball but I know in that situation I’m going with my best player The ace to bring me home

[@J98131]

Zenigundam thank you! You’re a real one

[@jordan12118]

Zenigundam Stop swaying the subject. For all you know they could’ve cheated in the 2019 playoffs too. They deserve to have that World Series taken away

[@shinoobigod3363]

You have to catch a team cheating before they win a championship. If they win championships before you catch them thats the league's fault. Only thing they can do is punish them with is loss draft picks and fines.

[@BryanX64]

Just like the Yankees steroid rings right?

[@Hanover-ek4jy]

Altuve batting 360 at home, Away 111 postseason!

[@phoenixgamer3480]

Ted Joseph Brian McCann is probably even fishier than Altuve and Correa, because in the 2017 postseason, he hit .300 at home, but just .037 on the road.

[@DSVII]

"You can't vacate the titles." Lance Armstrong: Hold my testicle

[@historybuff4662]

"You can't vacate the titles." Louisville men's basketball : Hi remember us? :)

[@williammcalpine2718]

“You can’t vacate titles” Jackie Robinson West little league team entered the chat.

[@historybuff4662]

William McAlpine “You can’t vacate titles.” Kevin Harvick after winning his race last year would argue that.

[@EhsonDibs]

Bill Belichick laughing maniacally somewhere right now.

[@thefollowing8127]

Right! The stink made over some old film watching at training oh and the Magic Air Changing Footballs with Bill Nye the unscience guy as Scientific Proof !

[@BenDover-qs7vs]

If anybody disagrees with the taking of the players rings, you’re insane. They ruined and cheated the game of baseball

[@historybuff4662]

As a astros fan I agree with this. Never been so hurt in my life. And I have had my heart broken by a girl. This hurts way most because you have rooted for this team all your life. And then bamf out of nowhere this hits you hard. I feel bad for the Astros fans that have rooted for them and feel hurt by this.

[@Thedirtylittlesecret]

History Buff as a Dodgers fan I don’t even care for this World Series trophy 🏆 but I understand to at least fix the integrity of baseball it must be given to the Dodgers. I feel bad for the Yankees they got screwed out of it.

[@casualnoob7316]

It makes you wonder if the Yankees had won that series who would have won the World Series that year? 🤔

[@historybuff4662]

@@Thedirtylittlesecret I don't think they will give it to anybody if it is stripped. It will just be vacant for that year.

[@Thedirtylittlesecret]

History Buff i think your right.

[@frankieee909]

So glad trout won mvp over bregman

[@NCA_Azzy]

...but Altuve win it over Judge, so...

[@NCA_Azzy]

@My Friend what?

[@ESBP626]

Sad part is they still gnna consider themselves champs even tho the world thinks they are a joke

[@AntonioGonzalez-nc8tq]

Their roster is still stacked

[@nelsoncastro39]

Gonezo Tho and had to cheat to win

[@Mike1122.]

Gonezo Tho they weren’t better than the 2017 dodgers, no sports book had them favored. They are a sad bunch of cheats, whose fans base is pitiful actually accepting a tainted title. If my team had cheated, I would be the first one saying they should give it up, they didn’t earn it. The game is suppose to be played the right way and the Astros are a laughing stock of a joke.

[@Truckerdaddy]

@@Mike1122. no sports book had the Nats for 2019 but look at that they won. Dodgers didn't even show up to game 7 of 2017. Case in point McCullers threw 24 straight curveballs and they couldn't hit them.

[@smyersfishingadventures]

@@AntonioGonzalez-nc8tq How stacked are they really, how much better would other position players on other teams across the league be if they knew the pitches that were coming. I can assure you many, many more would have tremendously improved numbers (not to mention the pitchers higher ERAs).

[@grafnberg3749]

Beginning of the vid: Max I think your argument sounds absolutely and utterly insane. Right away SAS disagreeing hahaha

[@UHOH_415]

Give the Astros the Tigers Roster 😂

[@zachmaudie9686]

In a few years they might have it cause they are losing draft picks plus nobody is gonna want to play there

[@DiarraHarris]

As a Tigers fan I'd take the Astros line up right now.

[@alexismatos124]

As a Tigers fan, that would be going too far 😂

[@taydafranklin7800]

As a Giants fan I'll take that roster and this outfield cameras

[@oblivion85]

Now come on...you're acting like if the Astros drowned baby kittens. Lol

[@skippayless3203]

Altuve is a disgrace to the game of baseball and should be banned from the MLB for life

[@marcohinojosa4348]

For what idiot? Look at his stats, he was getting better and better after his rookie season. Before Cora became the bench coach he was already batting in the .300's. Gtfoh with the rest of the dumbasses that can't read stats....

[@skippayless3203]

Marco A. Hinojosa ik he’s a great player ...I’m saying there’s no room for people like him in baseball if he wants to cheat

[@ASAPBlazed]

Marco A. Hinojosa look his stats in the playoffs at home vs road plus they say he was wearing a buzzer during the walk off

[@skippayless3203]

JJ Inirio facts

[@marcohinojosa4348]

@@ASAPBlazed They said Reddick was wearing a buzzer too, but look at his stats....

[@austinclark007]

"If you're not cheating, you're not trying." - Eddie Guerrero

[@upkz762]

That was a heel character though

[@Truckerdaddy]

I miss Eddie.

[@Sunset309]

Lmao I miss Eddie man

[@wordtoyobamawhatsbrakingni4572]

Lmaoo

[@ish7957]

That's the WWE

[@squo2001]

If MLB doesn’t strip titles they should at least force a rename to the Houston Asterisks.

[@MrKnightcastle]

😂🤣😂🤣

[@JuJu916JuJu]

It's funny because the Astros owner is part owner of the mlb lol. All owners are part owners of the entire sport

[@elvisfan6475]

They should all be banned for life. We need a new baseball commissioner.

[@troyhung4307]

50 Game Suspension for Astros Players or lifetime ban from HOF. These players are worse than Barry Bonds

[@elvisfan6475]

Should all be banned for life

[@JamesG12]

Minimum one year suspension

[@asu85255]

Much worse cheating than Barry Bonds and Bonds was crucified.

[@ninjashep5264]

The main issue is they didn’t realize they were cheating until several years later. What can the MLB honestly do? The Astros won the Championship, the memories were felt, the happiness was felt, and the results after the Championship have already taken place. The only thing they really can do is “Take the Championship away” but what good will that honestly do several years later?? It’s unfortunately far enough into the future that not much can really be done about the situation now

[@brosario9480]

MLB needs to send a clear message to these guys! suspend or strip 2017 astros & 2018 Red Sox their ws title! Do it for the baseball loving community!!

[@indigo9434]

Well the thing is that it hasn't been proven the Red Sox did it in the postseason, and there's a difference between using the technology the MLB provides and illegally implementing your own.

[@melallura1637]

@ B Rosario, I totally agree with you. the problem is will mlb go to the extra length and dig deeper to prove the astros and Red Sox shady World Series title.

[@WLOUIS1024]

The commissioner needs to consider this argument.

[@Thedirtylittlesecret]

Matthew Brooks i never thought of that but i agree!

[@jtorres5381]

"And we are here in September 2020, thank you for joining us on ESPN sunday night baseball, where the Astros sit in last place in AL west and are 29th in Hitting and 30th in slugging, and are on pace to loose over 110 games."

[@nukeboy4939]

You wish lol, we still a top team regardless, with a great farm system.

[@jtorres5381]

@@nukeboy4939 k budd we will see starting fresh with new coaches and staff and no more help cheating. You will create a new way to cheat ill give you guys that. When it comes to creativity you guys are commited.

[@smyersfishingadventures]

@@nukeboy4939 your top hitters, are top hitters because they knew what was coming, most MLB hitters would be excellent hitters if they knew what was coming, the biggest issue for a huge majority of MLB hitters is changes in speed, but when you know what to expect it makes it way easier for a professional. Why should we assume that Houston cheaters would hit better than other teams if the other teams could cheat the same way, if everyone was doing it, Houston may have been an average or even losing team, if all cheating was equal.

[@historybuff4662]

@@SmartDew I'm still an Astros fan. But not happy with the team and proud of what they did. But I will root for them till my dying day because I don't abandon my teams unlike you and some fans do apparently.

[@icepick859]

Not going to happen. Their road records show that they are a great team with extraordinary talent. Anyone who thinks this team is suddenly going to be in last place like the Tigers is on crack. Get real. With stealing signs or not Correa, springer, brgman, al tuve, brantley, gurriel are ALL top notch players regardless of how you feel about them.

[@BNSFGuy4723]

“It was a PERFECT phone call”

[@andrewokamoto]

Jose Altuve will probably break one MLB record next year: Hughie Jennings 51 hit by pitch in a season

[@granthartford]

Agree 100% VACATE

[@ForCedar777]

Well Read Productions You are 💯 correct. The whitey announcer is 💯 wrong!!! I am saying that as a white man. And, I can’t believe that I am agreeing with Stephen A again, TWICE IN A WEEK...

[@willtrill20]

Baseball will be known as the sport where everybody CHEATED

[@victorpetrescu6586]

Happens in every sport on every team to varying degrees except basketball because the refs do the job for the superstars already.

[@justincosing9971]

Except that’s just not true at all

[@victorpetrescu6586]

@Tony Stark what are you talking about? I think the Astros title should be stripped and the players should be punished in some capacity. Either through hefty fines or forced community work. All I'm saying is that cheating isn't something specific to baseball and it's a major problem for most major sports. Look at point shaving, steroids, fake crowd noise, salary cap manipulation, rigged refs, hunting for injuries, etc.

[@victorpetrescu6586]

@Tony Stark oh, i see. Yeah, I agree. He sounds like an astros fan for sure haha

[@zacharypeery4082]

No wonder George Springer was hitting EVERYTHING during the series....cheats

[@FitchKiddz]

Lmaooo right

[@johnyreyes3567]

And while he was away? The dude is just a beast. No evidence on the electric devices whatsoever

[@nram5661]

And I kept thinking in the WS how the Astros were hitting EVERY SINGLE THING. Especially against the Dodgers in the Darvish and Kershaw games. It seemed like they knew what was coming every time and did.

[@zacharypeery4082]

@@johnyreyes3567 keep riding his stick lame...dudes a cheat like the rest of them

[@FuzzyFromYT]

Baseball 2 days in a row... ON ESPN?? WHAT

[@thasaviorwilson4456]

What bout New England patriots

[@brycenedwards648]

For what? Their was no prove that it was a deflate game.

[@BuddhaLove77]

ThaSavior Wilson You are 100%!! Notice how they studiously avoid the Pats and their cheating!!!

[@josecervantes2029]

They dont care because it's the Patriots

[@thebigbronkowski]

When you can prove the Patriots were stealing signals using cameras and TVs IN REAL TIME let me know

[@jamesrawlins735]

@@brycenedwards648 He's probably referring more to Spygate, where New England videotaped NY Jets defensive coaches signals from an unauthorized location during a Sept. 9, 2007 game. It's not illegal to videotape opposing teams, but there are regulations of where you can videotape from. There was also some reports that the Patriots videotaped the Rams walkthrough practice prior to Super Bowl 36 in 2002 (the one that the Patriots won).

[@elkompa4a544]

100% agree with Stephen A Smith vacate the title and have the players return their rings

[@jromero011]

And league MVP should be taken away as well!

[@jayrose7851]

I agree the trophy and rings should be confiscated!

[@tizzytank579]

What they can do is say that in 2017 and 2018 there was no world series winners.

[@tizzytank579]

@@shaunm4208 I'm a sox fan

[@dirtybirds2323]

Comment Cop hmm atleast 2017 clearly the dodgers 2018 it’s a toss up

[@phoenixgamer3480]

@@tizzytank579 If they didn't want to just simply hand 2017 and 2018 to the Dodgers or Yankees, they could at least simply vacate 2017, if not both 2017 and 2018, just like the 2005 Heisman Trophy, which remained vacated, rather than giving it to Vince Young, who was the runner-up.

[@ronfigg1]

As a Dodgers fan, I completely agree with Stephen A! I agree with CC that the Yankees got cheated too! We should have had a Yankees/Dodgers World Series!

[@chrismathgenius]

I'm glad you're a Dodgers fan with common sense. I've seen some saying that the Dodgers should be given the World Series title when the Astros were guilty of doing this in the ALCS as well.

[@humanresources3811]

What happens when altuve comes up and hits home runs? No one is going to trust it. Get him out of the game now. Why is this even in question?

[@elkompa4a544]

Agree

[@24cincyreds]

@Josie Whales Mike Trout doesn't cheat

[@dfdsurf3804]

if Altuve honestly performs 2020, and earns his spot, so be it. Although what other MLB team would have him on their roster? Bottom line his days are numbered and the sad part, he possibly could have been one of the greats.

[@dfdsurf3804]

@MovieClips guilty as charged

[@dudedude7650]

MovieClips probably won’t happen lol he’s been a great player since he came into the league stop talking about things you know nothing about

[@robberonbrent]

Who’s excited to boo the Astros just for the heck of it?

[@secretpersond8324]

I won't be attending a Astros game for the rest of my life. away or home game!

[@jay7949]

@@secretpersond8324 good, see ya

[@tori8984]

Too stoned to care

[@greggrimsley5337]

Make the Astros wear giant red astrics on their uniforms.

[@greggrimsley5337]

Houston Astrics

[@marvincrooker5549]

50+ years I was a die hard Astro fan. I an heartbroken. I waited and supported them for over 50 years. Finally, finally a world series championship, and now this. I can't see myself ever watching baseball again. My apologies to the 2017 Dodgers.

[@CarolynPA]

Astros, red sox and mvp altuve should voluntarily give up their titles. Can they really walk by their trophy cases and be proud after being exposed?

[@JamesG12]

The kind of person who would go to these levels to cheat like this don't have the same feelings like you and I. They still look at themselves as legit Champions.

[@TheNarutodbzss19]

Like the New England Patriots

[@crawfish19]

Carolyn L Ik pretty sure Altuve is proud of what he did when he sees how much money he has.

[@Cisco_Crypto]

Well then the Patriots need to be stripped as well

[@TheNarutodbzss19]

Thank you finally a sensible comment lol we pick and chose when to show our moral grounds. Yankees and Patriots who have cheated MULTIPLE times it's perfectly ok 😁 Astros? StRiP tHeM oF ThEir RiNgs

[@neal6473]

Houston we have a problem.

[@runrafarunthebestintheworld]

Just vacate the title and have No champion for 2017. The Astros story doesn't feel so good anymore. It's just ridiculous to give the trophy to the teams that where affected because they couldn't take them down. It's like saying "Thanks for participating in a World Series and coming in second place"

[@forrealforreal8723]

I don’t remember the last time a agreed with Stephan A Smith this much

[@jaimegarretson7284]

They should be banned from the playoffs for about 5 years like that everybody's contract is up and then you treat them players just like the NFL is treating Kaepernick totally invisible

[@znwyankfan]

Congratulations to the Washington Nationals for winning the 1st world series since '16

[@roosterboost123]

Agreed! 2019 Washington Nationals will go down in history...as a very few teams won the Chip without Cheating!

[@Old-Boy_BEbop]

Strip the Asstros and the Red Tampons. both teams that compliment each other.

[@dacarl7728]

Defcat Why the Red Sox

[@taze27]

"It's only cheating if you get caught." - Al Bundy

[@DailyVikings]

Crazy thing is that nobody would’ve known anything if Mike Fiers didn’t snitch.

[@AntonioGonzalez-nc8tq]

You might not like it but coming from a Houstonian and an Astros fan, that 2017 team bringing a championship to Houston after the devastation it endured from Hurricane Harvey that year meant so much to millions of people living in the area. Almost a hundred fatalities, hundreds of thousands of homes damaged and destroyed, and communities are still recovering and rebuilding from the damage. It sucks that this cheating scandal is coming out now but that team will have always have a special place in Houston's history. Everybody lies and that's just how humans are.

[@fse2520]

It was crazy that Judge didn’t get 2017 MVP in the first place after hitting 50 home runs despite his mid season slump, now it’s more obviously who the best AL player that year was.

[@christhecommentator3411]

“ How do I reach the media !! “ - Eric Constellas

[@SenorSkriggle]

Astros: “yes we were caught stealing signs during the regular season.” MLB: “have you guys tried PED’s? That’s how you build a franchise.”

[@csmith3243]

Coming from a Braves fan I feel bad cheering for the Spystros during the World Series, GG Washington 🤘

[@collydub1987]

Should be stripped immediately. If a kid cheats on his SAT the result doesn't just stand simply because it occurred. He doesnt go around with an asterisk beside his score. His score is void. Ridiculous from Max.

[@AaronToThe]

I really like hearing these two talk about baseball cause the legit know what they’re talking about. I just wish they’d talk about baseball on the show more.

[@AlexanderFaker]

Aaron Alaniz they talked during this same episode about how baseball isn’t as interesting as it used to be and how basketball and football kind of passed it up as being America’s National Pastime but how this scandal drew more attention back to the game. Could be more talk coming

[@kagisosegami2104]

Strip them of their title for the sake of the game and future viewers they cheated beyond comprehension. I can unfortunately see some of these players reputation and status of hall of famers dwindling before our eyes cheaters don’t win long term it’s all short term gain

[@ralphabreu5022]

Rob Manfred should suspend the entire Astros team for the entire 2020 vacate their 2017 world series championship

[@phoenixgamer3480]

Ralph Abreu Or at least ban them from postseason play, if not the entirety of the 2020 season 🤣🤣🤣

[@qqlifestyle3766]

ESPN and SAS need to mutually agree to stop SAS from talking about baseball

[@plainbagel9192]

If they dont vacate the championship then put Rose into the HOF

[@TheOneKeyToLife]

Stephen A “IMMEDIATELY” Smith

[@BlackShogun1]

Integrity of the sport there is no more Integrity in the sport we just need to deal with it...

[@faze_happyg0524]

All fans need to come together!

[@Turbo9987]

I suspect a lot of Astros getting beaned this season

[@ononegunna]

Turbo9987 me too especially in LA and NY

[@Turbo9987]

Let me rephrase: I EXPECT a lot of Astros getting beaned this season.

[@SithLordNefaar022]

That one is better, practically guaranteed now, EVERY1 gonna be gunning 4 their heads 😎

[@justineverett720]

Yea and there gonna be alot of fight when that happens so

[@hqco3rdmedbattalionfmfpac953]

Turbo9987 no , they will be nailed by pitches ⚾️🇺🇸⚓️

[@ngagenokia]

THIS IS WORSE THEN PATRIOTS GATE

[@ngagenokia]

@Ryan Randone it was in the news long

[@angelcanez4426]

They need to send a message make sure it doesn't happen again. They should prevent them from signing international players this year.

[@RobertBrianGabriel]

from trash cans to electronic buzzers. what an upgrade for real time information on what kind of pitch is coming.

[@AngelRamirez-dy6ix]

Let the dodgers and Yankees play each other for 2017 and 2018 ws championship. That will make baseball good ratings.

[@jasminewashington5953]

That's right👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏

[@SulfuricPro]

Lol. Gotta reassemble the rosters from them years and play each world series 2.0 and then go back to normal after. One will be in January. One will be in February .

[@boochtron]

nah

[@ronnyjoe230]

Strip strip strip!!!

[@Miguel-dy3fh]

"You have a point, I just disagree with it." - Max Kellerman 2020

[@chophosho5935]

Why can't you change championship? If someone is cheating in Olympics they make sure they are stripped of theirs medals. Pure bs.

[@thegentleman5409]

0:00 lol

[@JackGeezy85]

At this point Manfred needs to strip the Astros of the title and claim Dodgers are champs.

[@mirraco323]

JackGeezy Can’t do that. It will just be vacated.

[@kameron2k]

Who’s to say the dodgers would have even faced the astros without the cheating? They would have had a different opponent. Who knows if they would have won. I think they should just vacate, we’ll see.

[@ViPER5RT10]

Nobody needs to claim anything...why do you people insist on the other teams magically getting the title?? They aren’t gonna want it anyways! Just erase the 2017 title from the history books and be done with it.

[@JackGeezy85]

I know for a fact the Dodgers would've swept the Yankees, maybe win in 5. Dodgers were that good that year. From top to bottom 2017 Dodgers one of the most dominant teams MLB has ever seen. Nearly beat a team that was cheating vs them.

[@dirtybirds2323]

JackGeezy exactly took it to 7games and battled it out already every game I mean gm5 was the best in any WS so dodgers deserved that title that year

[@slydogger]

Another point mentioned in other vids is knowing when an off-speed pitch is coming will benefit an above average base stealer. Shoulder buzzing I’m stealing.

[@jacobrawleigh6410]

I agree with what Stephen A Smith said word for word. My grandfather played in the majors and he used to tell me how much it broke his heart about the steroid usage. I can't imagine what his reaction would be if he were here to see this.

[@zorack7030]

The one time Stephen A Smith has been 100% correct, Strip the title

[@misteree78]

They should also be forced to wear dunce caps the whole season.

[@phoenixgamer3480]

misteree78 And change their name to the Asterisks...........permanently, that is.

[@benscholz1664]

Loved what he said about chapman😂😂😂. I’m a yankee fan btw

[@InvestBetter.]

In a perfect world, this would be an imperfect solution: 1. Manfred would take the 2017 title away from the Astros, and all the rings from the players 2. All the players would be suspended for the first 30 games of the season. Therefore, they would lose all of their first 30 games by forfeit. Every team playing them would win by forfeit, and the Astros would start the season 0-30. This would pretty much ensure that the Astros miss the playoffs in 2020. 3. This is an imperfect ruling because it would give the teams they play in March/April an unfair advantage of getting free victories. The teams that play the Astros later in the season would basically have an unbalanced schedule, with no free wins to pick up in March/April. So if you were lucky enough to have the Astros on your schedule early, you have a 2-3-4 game advantage over teams that did not.

[@humanresources3811]

If altuve and bregmen are allowed to continue playing, I will never watch another baseball game

[@Jry088]

They're not punishing any players... That's a shame

[@Adriantx17]

Yankees should give there titles back too for all the players they had on roids

[@louieslimane3]

every pro athletes are on roids. roids should be legal at this point

[@Adriantx17]

@@louieslimane3 every team is stealing sighs should be legal at this point

[@jsmcguireIII]

Like Bonds, Altuve is a GREAT player who took that one step that destroyed everything already exceptional about them.

[@HiFiPlayer]

I agree 100% with Stephen! Strip the Astros of an undeserved cheated world series title. Why? So every player will know if they cheat and get caught the punishment can be this severe. Example: Lance Armstrong stripped of all his titles. Baseball is bigger than the Astros and they should take away that WS title to keep the integrity of the game.

[@joeparker7508]

Pat's too then in football

[@justinjustin4513]

Adam Castagnetti in my mother’s pants!!!!! Feast up fellas!! Buffet style 🍴

[@Onlyrealmusic4life]

Or we could just force the team to re-name itself the Houston Cheaters. I'm sure the people of Houston would love to have that as their mascot.....

[@jerseyboy84]

Facts! 100% Stephen A. Hey max, there is NO 1994 world series winner. There shouldn't be one for 2017

[@Greendragonranger671]

I agree with Stephen A. Smith The Player should get the rings,mvp, and championship trophy taken plus a fined