Nick Markakis wants the Astros to experience more than just chin music this season.
“I feel like every single guy over there needs a beating,” the Braves outfielder said Tuesday in response to Houston’s sign-stealing scandal. “It’s wrong. They’re messing with people’s careers.”
Markakis, 36, didn’t elaborate on what “beating” the league outcasts should receive, but he hopes it’s more severe than the slap on the wrist given by commissioner Rob Manfred.
“I think the punishing, I think everything has been handled the wrong way,” Markakis said. “You got players who did it [who got off] scot-free. I know there is a lot of political stuff behind it, but it’s wrong. We don’t want to see that. Everybody’s out there competing and trying to do things the right way.
“I know as players, we do not agree with what they did, we don’t stand behind them and never will we support them for their actions. I think they got off pretty easy. They’re going to be able to go out there and compete with no ramifications at all, which is wrong. I think the commissioner completely handled it the wrong way, but that’s the way he did it. And that’s the way we’ve got to live with it. But I know a lot of people disagree with him and the way he handled the situation, he should be embarrassed with himself.”
Nick MarkakisAPLike many of his peers, Markakis is bothered not just by how much the Astros benefited — winning the 2017 title and reaching last year’s World Series — but how many careers were damaged or destroyed because of it.
“It angers you, especially from a guy who has played the game the right way his whole career,” Markakis said. “No shortcuts. I know how hard this game is, I know how hard preparing for this game is. To see something like that is damaging to baseball.”
“What they did was bulls–t. They took a lot of opportunities away from people and possibly ruined people’s careers. Like I said, we’re all competitive. We want to compete and win. But when you take it to that level, there is no excuse. Like I said, bulls–t. They should have some ramifications for what they did.”
