Red Sox, Astros Face ALCS Controversy.

Josh Calloni, Reporter

Though the playoffs have ended, it does not mean there can not be a little bit of drama to end the 2018 season.

During the ALCS, both the Red Sox and Astros faced a little bit of controversy, however, both were very different. Starting off with the Red Sox, some fans thought they noticed foreign substances on the arm of a few Red Sox pitchers. The pitchers, closer Craig Kimbrel, and set up man Matt Barnes, seemed to have a dark shade of brown on their arm. This is usually what appears on pitchers arms when they are using pine tar. Pine tar is legal for hitters to use on their bat but illegal for pitchers to use on the ball. It gives them an extra grip, which in turn, gives the ball extra movement. Barnes’ incident came in Game 2 of the series, and Kimbrel’s in Game 4.

“The Red Sox did not cheat, I think it was just sweat. TV makes things look different, you can not just assume,” junior Zach Russell said.
As for the Astros, they were accused of something much different. Electronic sign stealing, as it was chalked up to be. Sign stealing is apart of the game, and usually, can be put more on the pitcher than the opposing team, if the pitcher is tipping pitches. According to some, the Astros had some sort of electronic device streaming the game, as well as an employee on the opposing side of the field relaying signs. This is not legal, and has gotten other teams in trouble before. However, no accident like this has ever been done in the playoffs, at such a high leverage.

“The Astros should lose a draft pick; the Cardinals lost one because of them, so they should too,” junior Ashton Ranney said.

It is still to be seen if the league will look into either of these incidents, but if they decide to, the punishments will vary greatly. The two Red Sox pitchers, they would receive roughly a five game suspension and some sort of fine for using pine tar, and the league would most likely close the book on that case. However, for the Astros, something more serious could be done. Heftier fines, suspensions and even in more extreme cases, like this one being in the playoffs, loss of draft picks could be handed out. The loss of the draft pick would, more than likely, be an early round pick in the upcoming 2019 draft.

It remains unclear if the league will investigate these instances.