data-mm-id=”_lq8i208uf”>Major League Baseball is now faced with a singular question: now what? Scandal has touched baseball once again, with the Houston Astros' sign-stealing raising all kinds of questions. How did they do it? How long did it go on for? How did it impact the outcomes of games?With new proof of wrongdoing emerging seemingly by the hour, the question now becomes what sort of punishment awaits the team for its transgressions. This isn't like the steroid controversy, where Hall of Fame voters could simply decide not to elect individual players to Cooperstown. When it's apparently a team-wide conspiracy that may have lasted several years and impacted who knows how many games, what can be done?Draft Pick Forfeiture The MLB Draft is perhaps the most difficult to nail of the four major sports. A majority of the selections are, at best, maybe two or three years from making an impact on the major league club that takes them. But the Astros' built their success on alleged sign-stealing and shrewd draft selections. Among the homegrown Houston products are Alex Bregman, Carlos Correa, and George Springer, all of whom were chosen in the first round. Denying the Astros' the ability to restock that prospect pipeline could be their nightmare. Houston was previously on the other end of a draft pick punishment, as they were afforded two selections belonging to St. Louis Cardinals when scouting director Chris Correa was found guilty of hacking the Astros' prospect database. Vacate The RecordsObviously, putting the 2017 New York Yankees and Los Angeles Dodgers (the teams respectively victimized by the Astros in the ALCS and World Series respectively) in a winter World Series redo isn't happening. But MLB could opt to go the NCAA-route and simply vacate Houston's championships and accomplishments from the stretch of alleged sign-stealing. Sure, everyone would still know who won the 2017 World Series, but it could perhaps caused the World Series banner to be removed from Minute Maid Park. Deny Home GamesThere's no real "death penalty" in Major League Baseball, or any of the other professional sport. Even the NCAA — which became famous for the practice — has been reluctant to use it, after employing it only five times in its history. Obviously that won't happen to the Astros, but baseball could force them on the road, which would penalize them a serious chunk of revenue. The more likely scenario for this situation would to force the Astros to forfeit home games for, say, international trips to Japan or London. TBL's own Kyle Koster outlined this idea in further detail earlier.Lifetime BansOnce investigations conducted by the league conclude, there will be a better chance to gain some clarity as to who exactly was responsible. Including Chris Correa, three people have been given lifetime bans in the Rob Manfred era, the others being former Atlanta Braves manager John Coppolella (for improper dealings with international free agents) and former New York Mets reliever Jenrry Mejia (whose ban was later lifted). That list could soon grow following neutral investigation into this situation.
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But the central defender s future with the Nerazzurri is uncertain amid an inability to come to an agreement with the club on a new contract.
Bastoni s contract expires in 2024 and he has been in talks with Inter on a new deal, but two of European football s giants are reportedly circling.
TOP STORY – BASTONI IN PSG AND CITY S SIGHTS
Powerhouse clubs Paris Saint-Germain and Manchester City will both attempt to sign Alessandro Bastoni from Inter in the off-season, reports Tuttosport.
The report claims Bastoni has been offered an improved deal by Inter but it does not meet his salary expectations, meaning no agreement ha…
Gregg Berhalter is not speaking to Gareth Southgate – or at least Southgate is not speaking to Berhalter – but the United States head coach knows the huge pressure his England counterpart is under.
Berhalter and Southgate have grown close in recent years as they have led their countries respective national teams, with the USMNT boss describing Southgate as a mentor after the two sides were drawn together at the World Cup.
The outcome of that draw has seen the pair drift apart of late, however, ahead of a meeting between the USMNT and England at Al Bayt Stadium on Friday.
I ve been WhatsApping him, but I haven t seen the blue checkmarks, so I don t know what s going on, Berhalter said with a smile on Thursday.
We kind of took a hiatus. We ll pick up …
Canada were eliminated from the World Cup after just two matches despite again playing their part in an entertaining encounter as Croatia won 4-1 at Khalifa International Stadium.
Back at the finals after 36 years away, Canada thrilled in their opening game against Belgium, only to be narrowly beaten.
It looked to be a similar story again on Sunday, although Croatia were ultimately deserving winners after two goals from Andrej Kramaric and one each from Marko Livaja and Lovro Majer overturned an early Canada lead.
Alphonso Davies opener was his country s first goal at a World Cup, but still it was a fifth defeat from five on the global stage, ending their hopes of progression as Croatia join Morocco on four points in Group F.
Croatia pick up their first …
Unai Emery says Aaron Ramsey could be back in action for Arsenal in the next two to three weeks.
Ramsey had to be substituted during the first half as Arsenal knocked Napoli out of the Europa League, booking a semi-final spot, on Thursday.
With the midfielder set to join Juventus when his contract runs out at the end of the season, there were fears Ramsey had played his last game for the club.
But as Arsenal continue to fight for a place in the Premier League s top four, Emery said Ramsey s hamstring injury is not as serious as initially anticipated.
His progress this season is amazing, Emery told Sky Sports of the Wales international, who joined Arsenal in 2008.
At the beginning [of the season], he was a little confused maybe, because he is i…
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Rangers were leading 2-0 against fourth-place Killie through goals by Ross McCausland and Abdallah Sima when VAR called for a penalty check after Rory McKenzie’s cross struck the arm of Gers defender John Souttar inside the box.
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The Football Association has condemned the actions of a fan at Wembley who wore a jersey referencing the Hillsborough disaster.
The Metropolitan Police Events Twitter account retweeted a picture on Saturday of a man wearing a Manchester United shirt that had the number 97 on the back and the words “Not Enough”.
Wembley was hosting the FA Cup final where Manchester City beat their rivals Manchester United.
— FA Spokesperson (@FAspokesperson)
Police said a man was arrested on suspicion of a public order offence and taken into custody.
On Sunday, the FA said in a statement: “The FA strongly condemns the actions of the individual who wore a shirt referencing the Hillsborough disaster ahead of the Emirates FA Cup final at Wembley Stad…
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Looking to punch their Copa del Rey semi-final ticket on Tuesday night, Getafe will welcome Sevilla to the Estadio Coliseum.
Getafe
Starting with the hosts, while Getafe might have found themselves at the heart of a La Liga relegation scrap last season, Jose Bordalas’ side have made a string of improvements this time around. Last seen extending on their Copa del Rey adventure as they secured a 1-0 victory away at Espanyol, the Blues are battling it out in the top-half of the table and the mood in their camp should be at a real high. Signing off 2023 with an action-packed performance away at former Spanish champions Atletico Madrid as they eventually snatched a 3-3 draw, Getafe have remarkably lost just a pair of their last 16 strai…
Sheffield Wednesday manager Darren Moore has left the club by mutual consent just three weeks after leading the Owls to promotion from League One.
Moore, 49, who guided the Owls to the Sky Bet Championship via the play-offs last month, departs Hillsborough after just over two years in the job. His backroom staff have also left, the club have announced.
Owls chairman Dejphon Chansiri told the club’s official website: “Both parties believe that now is the right time we go our separate ways.
Sheffield Wednesday can announce that manager Darren Moore has left the club by mutual consent
— Sheffield Wednesday (@swfc)
“The journey of Sheffield Wednesday with Darren has been in many ways unique and always as a team. In the football industry, jour…
Arsenal s top-four hopes were dented by a 3-0 defeat to an impressive Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park on Monday.
The Gunners were unable to reclaim their spot in the Premier League top four having been leapfrogged by arch-rivals Tottenham, who defeated Newcastle United 5-1 on Sunday.
They struggled to cope with the intensity of Palace – coached by former Arsenal captain Patrick Vieira – and shipped goals to Jean-Philippe Mateta and Jordan Ayew in quick succession in the first half.
After failing to take the chances that came their way, Arsenal were punished by a 74th-minute spot-kick from Wilfried Zaha that ended their hopes of mounting a late comeback.
Arsenal had the lion s share of possession in the opening quarter of an hour but they fel…
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Since losing 1-0 to Schalke in 2004, Dortmund have not lost any of their last 37 Bundesliga home matches played on a Friday, tying the Bundesliga record.
Only Werder Bremen had previously remained unbeaten at home on Fridays through 37 Bundesliga matches in a row, doing so from 1984 to 1991.
It was a deserved win and a very good start for us but then we shut the door and I told my players that Heidenhe…