Good morning afternoon, Athletics Nation!
Last winter feels like a lifetime ago, after the interminable grind of 2020, but it’s only been one year since the biggest story in baseball was the Houston Astros cheating scandal. The Astros had used technology to steal signs from opposing pitchers and catchers, beyond the scope allowed by the general culture of the game and by the rulebook itself, and the scheme came to light thanks in part to the commendable whistleblowing of Mike Fiers.
In response to the cheating, Major League Baseball made an example out of the Astros by levying harsh penalties on — LOL just kidding, the league did almost nothing to punish Houston.