Joe Musgrove’s Astros backtracking will infuriate Dodgers fans

Back in 2017, the Houston Astros unapologetically broke MLB’s universal code. They can say they weren’t the only ones. They can say they were just following orders. But they can’t deny that they pushed farther than any team had before them in order to capture a ring over the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Back in the day, the team did not behave with any sort of shame; the television monitor was visible over Jose Altuve’s shoulder in the World Series video, after all.

Even after Houston’s transgressions were revealed, most Astros went into either immediate defense mode or embraced their own villainy, like catcher Evan Gattis, who even tried to pull the Dodgers into his team’s narrative.

Joe Musgrove was just a second-year right-hander and top prospect on that ’17 Astros team, and didn’t factor significantly into their postseason run, posting an 8.10 ERA in 6.2 innings across three series that year.

At the time, he didn’t seem too bothered by what he’d participated in, flashing his metaphorical teeth in a video that circulated Dodgers Twitter (and picked up steam after he was dealt to the Padres). Now, all of a sudden, Musgrove has some regrets.

Joe Musgrove regrets Astros beating Dodgers in World Series

Remember Musgrove in 2017? Does Musgrove remember Musgrove in 2017? He was delivering NSFW messages to the Dodgers, not cowering in the corner. Sorry, dude, but you were definitely part of whatever was going on in Houston.

But, without further ado, here’s the new Musgrove, who now acknowledges that his ’17 ring is phony and the only real championship, for him, would come at home in San Diego.

"“After the no-hitter, that moment was massive for me, for the city, for everybody, but that’s not what I want to be remembered by,” Musgrove said. “I want to be one of the guys that help bring a championship to the city, especially my own hometown.”“I still don’t feel great about wearing that ring around or telling people that I was a World Series champion on that team,” he said. “I want one that feels earned and that was a true championship. So that’s the goal.”"

A championship in San Diego would doubtlessly mean more to Musgrove, due to his family ties alone.

Apparently, there’s another element of redemption baked into his current pursuits, though, after the right-hander did some serious growing up.

Either that, or he just wants to bury what his name means to Dodgers fans.

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