The baseball world had a strong reaction to MLB’s punishment for the Astros cheating scandal

Baseball fans and the Astros both knew that a punishment was coming for Houston’s cheating scandal, and on Monday, MLB came through to hit the franchise hard for the systematic, technology-aided cheating.

MLB announced that (now former) Astros manager A.J. Hinch and general manager Jeff Luhnow would be suspended for one year. Both Hinch and Lunhow were subsequently fired by owner Jim Crane. The Astros would also forfeit first and second round picks for the 2020 and 2021 drafts. Plus, the club would face a $5 million fine. Former Astros bench coach and current Red Sox manager Alex Cora is also expected to face discipline.

The Astros used a live feed and had an employee bang on a nearby trashcan to relay off-speed pitches to the batter.

In all, it was a strong statement from MLB — though the league decided to go short of vacating the 2017 World Series title or punishing players involved. And as word of the punishments (and firings) hit social media, the MLB world had plenty to say about the news.

I’d like my career numbers against Altuve, Springer, and Correa erased from the record books. Seriously though, it’s bad. Can they do that?

— Phil Hughes (@PJHughes45) January 13, 2020

All Pete Rose did was bet on his own team to win…fairly

— Phil Hughes (@PJHughes45) January 13, 2020

https://t.co/HnVapJpxZw pic.twitter.com/AmKCXx4Fpx

— Noah Syndergaard (@Noahsyndergaard) January 13, 2020

Haha look at that pitch! Most of the time when a pitcher says, “Man, he hit a good pitch.” you roll your eyes. But @PJHughes45 , you were justified here.

— Trevor Plouffe (@trevorplouffe) January 13, 2020

😨😓

— Myles Straw (@myles_straw) January 13, 2020

https://t.co/U7bn8eqE83 pic.twitter.com/Fy95ffO152

— ❂ Mike 𝕊𝕌ℕ𝕊ℍ𝕀ℕ𝔼 Clevinger ❂ (@Mike_Anthony13) January 13, 2020

Didn’t really expect the punishments to be this harsh. Good for MLB stepping up. Still don’t know what’s more frustrating tho, an ex teammate of the WS title team talking publicly about his team cheating or so many guys being down to use a damn trash can lol. Should take the ring

— David Freese (@david23freese) January 13, 2020

🥃🐸 pic.twitter.com/vP5A0s59uT

— Trevor Bauer (@BauerOutage) January 13, 2020

No? 🤔 https://t.co/48Y7Yj98Zm

— Brock Stewart (@Brock_A_Stewart) January 13, 2020

THE TEXANS: hey check out this heartbreak…

THE ASTROS: no no check out THIS heartbreak…

— Shea Serrano (@SheaSerrano) January 13, 2020

Houston sports fans: 27 straight missed 3s. Chiefs running off 41 unanswered. Well at least we've got the Astros. They can't take that from us.

MLB: pic.twitter.com/NA5UjNuezg

— Beyonce has an uncle named Larry Beyince. Bruh…. (@DragonflyJonez) January 13, 2020

Since Altuve’s home run in Game 6 of the ALCS:

* Taubman went Taubman
* Astros went 0-4 AT HOME in a World Series
* Gerrit Cole, bye bye
* A.J. Hinch, bye bye
* Jeff Luhnow, bye bye
* Two 1st and two 2nd round picks, bye bye

That’s quite the heel turn by the baseball gods.

— Sean Pendergast (@SeanTPendergast) January 13, 2020

Worth noting, some rival execs still don't think Astros have been punished enough today.

— Andy Martino (@martinonyc) January 13, 2020

To be clear … Astros can concoct a digital sign-stealing scheme, win WS, get caught; MLB can begin & end investigation, take draft picks & $5 mil, suspend GM & manager (who are later fired), faster than an arbitrator can rule on Kris Bryant's service time grievance. Got it.

— Wayne Drehs (@espnWD) January 13, 2020

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