Blue Jays: Randal Grichuk pulls no punches on Astros sign-stealing

Toronto Blue Jays outfielder Randal Grichuk pulled no punches when asked his opinion on the Houston Astros sign-stealing scandal.

Since the Astros sign-stealing fiasco went public a number of major league players have publicly voiced their displeasure and Blue Jays outfielder Randal Grichuk was no different. Grichuk did not mince words when he was asked if they should “Take the rings away?”

Grichuk said “I would like to see that. I bet the Dodgers would like to see that.” The outfielder admitted the entire incident is frustrating and saddening, hopefully, “the punishment hurts but he hopes they go hard and even harder in terms of penalty.”

The outfielder even went one step further lamenting on how cheating affects even the Triple-A kids trying to break into the majors.

"“I think what a lot of people don’t realize is how much it affects the game. Not just wins and losses, but guys at triple-A trying to get an opportunity, guys who are compared to them in arbitration. I think it’s just bad for baseball.”"

More from Toronto Blue Jays News

• Matt Chapman has been exactly what the Blue Jays needed
• Blue Jays: The goalposts are moving in the right direction
• Single-A Dunedin Blue Jays advance to the Championship Series
• Blue Jays: Comparisons for Alek Manoah’s Second Season
• Blue Jays: Adam Cimber, the unlikely decision King

Closer Ken Giles was a member of the Astros in 2017, however, he pleaded the fifth denying any knowledge of the sign-stealing. Giles also declined to comment any further stating, “The punishment has been sent out. My main focus is right here in Toronto.”

I have a hard time believing that someone on the Astros active roster wouldn’t have any knowledge of the events taking place especially when it was pitcher Mike Fiers who broke the story. Giles is trying to distance himself from the scandal which is probably for the best seeing he wasn’t directly affected by it.

Regardless of what side of the sign-stealing fence you sit on, it undeniably bad for baseball and definitely taints the Astros 2017 World Series title.

In my books, they are the *Houston Asterisks*.