The Houston Astros have become a public punching bag for opposing players and teams as they have faced criticism on a daily basis since pitchers and catchers began reporting for Spring Training last week.
That’s held particularly true in the clubhouses of the Los Angeles Dodgers and New York Yankees, two teams that had fierce battles with the Astros en route to their 2017 World Series title. Though, the likes of Kris Bryant and Mike Trout have also spoke candidly about the matter.
From the Dodgers, Cody Bellinger had the most pointed criticism. He alleged the Astros stole a championship from the Dodgers, cheated for three seasons, and punctuated his remarks by sharing a belief Jose Altuve illegitimately won the American League MVP Award over Aaron Judge.