Dodgers: Perception of the 2017 World Series altered by sign stealing

Just when it seemed Dodgers fans were over the 2017 World Series loss, cheating allegations have come out against the Houston Astros, re-opening old wounds.

The Dodgers lost the 2017 World Series but that seems like more than two years ago and most fans were over the loss by now.  Then allegations and proof that the Astros did, in fact, steal signs electronically began to make their way all over social media.  It’s important to note that sign stealing itself is not illegal, most players and coaches try to decipher signs from the opposing team and relay them to the batter, especially if a runner is on second base.

Stealing signs via electronic means is another story.  While MLB is still investigating the issue before handing out punishment, the common belief is that the Astros used the banging of trash cans or signs from the bullpen to let their hitters know when a changeup was coming.  This occurred during the 2017 season and most notably the 2017 World Series.  So what has and hasn’t changed about the 2017 World Series since these allegations came out?

Revisiting the Dodger core vs the Astros core

Back during the World Series, I wrote about how the Astros core had separated themselves from the Dodgers’ core when they were on the verge of another possible World Series title.  Since then the Astros lost the World Series and now the latest cheating allegations have brought the Astros core down from the pedestal.

After all, the Astros and Dodgers have suffered the same fate in each of the last two seasons.  Both clubs lost to the Boston Red Sox in 2018 and the Washington Nationals in 2019.  Although the Astros’ core of Correa, Altuve, Bregman, and Springer have hit 49 home runs in their postseason career, 22 of those home runs came back in 2017 when electronic sign-stealing was going on for the Astros.

The Dodgers’ core, most notably Cody Bellinger and Corey Seager, have come under fire for their postseason play especially this year.  Given how the Astros’ core has had their own struggles in the postseason since 2017, all of a sudden the Astros’ core looks much less impressive.

Without the illegal sign-stealing in 2017, who knows if the Astros win the 2017 World Series, let alone even make it there.  While the Dodger core has much to prove in the 2020 postseason, their previous results in the postseason are suddenly very similar after the Astros have lost to the same two teams over the last two postseasons.

What will still be viewed the same from the 2017 World Series?

For one, the Dodgers still did lose the 2017 World Series and that will never change.  There will be no retroactive parades down Vin Scully Avenue and even if the Astros were stripped of a title, which remains unlikely, the Dodgers are not the 2017 World Series Champions.  The Dodgers had a chance to win in game seven at home and failed.

The Dodgers also blew a lead in game two thanks to Kenley Jansen.  While it hasn’t been proven if the Astros only stole signs illegally at Minute Maid Park, it’s extremely unlikely that they did the same on the road.  Jansen had a chance to seal a 2-0 series lead for the Dodgers and he failed.  Blowing game two arguably cost the Dodgers the series as they went to Houston tied 1-1 instead of up two games to zero.

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Another thing that doesn’t change from the 2017 World Series is that the Dodgers struggled to hit with runners in scoring position, especially in game seven.  While the team went 1-5 with RISP in their game two loss at home, the blue went just 1-13 and left ten runners on base in game seven.  The offense simply did not show up in game seven and while Darvish put the Dodgers in a hole early, the offense showed zero fight.

Unfortunately, the Astros’ apparent cheating doesn’t change the outcome of the 2017 World Series but how that series is viewed is definitely changed forever.  Rather than one of the best Dodger teams ever blowing a golden opportunity for a World Series title, they may have been up against the odds against a talented Astros club with some illegal aid.

How do the latest allegations against the Astros change how you view the 2017 World Series? Comment below!