MLB’s 2024 World Series is going to be epic! It’s the twelfth time that the New York Yankees and Los Angeles Dodgers are going head-to-head. The two most storied and successful franchises in baseball history against each other. Plus, with Aaron Judge and Shohei Ohtani in one mound—no wonder everyone’s been calling it the ‘dream season.’ The LA Dodgers are coming with a wealth of post-season and regular-season success, but just one World Series to show. The Yankees have many wins but haven’t won in 15 years!

But both the teams coming in have one thing in common—they have been impacted by the cheating scandal by the Houston Astros. And it seems like the wounds of the season still haven’t healed –  Clayton Kershaw then called out the Astros for cheating. The Yankees’s vice president, Brian Cashman, brought out the blast from the past recently when he was reminded repeatedly about the decade-plus Yankee win drought!

Brian Cashman shares a refresher on Astros cheating in 2017

In the 2017 ALCS, the game between the New York Yankees and the Astros went to seven games. And Houston won all four games at their home. This is where their sign-stealing system was in full power. Plus the Astros, offensive numbers weren’t all that great batting at .187 with a .271 OBP. However, their cheating did leave a lasting impact that even to date those affected, like Brian Cashman, haven’t yet forgotten about.

During an appearance on MLB’s ‘High Heat’, Brian Cashman didn’t hold back to call out when everyone was pointing toward the Yankees’ drought. “I hate the 15-year thing because it completely forgets and discounts that some other organization cheated us when we were all the way in the end,” said Cashman, drawing attention to Astros.

Brian Cashman further added, “I hate that 15-year thing because I don’t think it accurately reflects history. But regardless, we’re proud to be where we are now.” According to him, if the Astros didn’t do what they did in 2017, the New York Yankees would be the ones advancing further that year. And it’s not just the Yankees who feel like they have been wronged. Even the Dodgers lost to the Astros in the World Series. Both the teams had a ‘what if’ story that season. And the real kicker is that Astros players didn’t suffer the consequences as such!

Astros’ punishment was harsh, and maybe, not enough!

When Major League Baseball took the covers off the cheating scandal by Houston, it surprised most. And it just dropped the hammer on the team, but most think the punishment wasn’t enough. General Manager Jeff Luhnow and manager A. J. Hinch were suspended for a year and then fired by the owner Jim Crane too. Then, the team was fined $5 million; they lost their chance for first- and second-round draft picks for the years 2020 and 2021, but was that enough?

Most questioned the punishment because Jim Crane remained largely exonerated. Even though he was the owner when such a breach occurred within the team. The fine seemed like a joke for a team whose value stood at $1.8 billion. Plus, losing the chance to draft first sure stings, but the team went on to win a World Series championship and the prestige that comes with it. So the benefits far outweigh the punishment given.

The biggest oversight was the players. They were protected from any punishment, although they were involved. Plus, the issue impacted other players like Clayton Kershaw and Kenley Jansen, whose reputation took a hit. Meanwhile, teams like the New York Yankees and Dodgers and more lost to the Astros and missed out on glory that year. While the loss of 2017 still hurts everyone it affected, now, both LA and New York have a chance to prove themselves.

Who do you think will come out victorious? Let us know below.