to people. Now, I realize that betting on baseball, and using electronic cheating for pitch tipping are different, but what I'm looking at is the end result - the harm that it does to the game.

Pete Rose, arguably the greatest hitter to ever play the game, is not in the Hall of Fame because as a Manager, he bet on games (I am not familiar with the specifics of his betting - whether he bet Reds games, or other teams etc). This garnered him a LIFETIME ban from baseball - not just from being a manager, not just from playing, but from EVERY aspect of MLB, which also has led to a lack of inclusion in the Hall of Fame.

What did betting on those games do as far as competition is concerned? Did he ever convince his players to "throw" a game to win a bet? I don't know, but if so, that would be pretty bad.

What determines the "harm" something did to the game? I am sure this is only opinion at this point from me, but here it is.

The Astros electronic pitch sign stealing system IMO is worse than what Pete Rose did. They systematically used illegal cameras and other electronic means (possibly body mounted sensors, like buzz strips etc) to signal the batter on whether a pitch would be off-speed or a fastball. Now, some people would say "Well, the batter still has to hit the ball" and while true, this "pitch tipping" is even more effective than that. Knowing exactly whether a pitch will be an off-speed pitch or a fastball is a HUGE advantage to a batter. Knowing that a pitch coming in at the knees is 100% an off-speed curve/slider/changeup and WILL drop out of the zone, allows the batter to know he can take that pitch instead of swinging away; the entire reason you have multiple pitches with the same zone location. Knowing if a pitch will be off-speed can signal a runner on 1st that this next pitch would be a MUCH better time to try stealing a base than if it were a fastball.

By having this cheating, there were 2-sides to the coin on this. The Astros gained an advantage in their offense (situational hitting, base-stealing etc) AND the opposing pitchers were damaged with regard to their numbers. How many journeyman relief pitchers who were brought up for just a 10-day option, pitched 3 nights vs the Astros and couldn't get anyone out because the Astros were cheating, then lost the chance of renewing that contract to continue their careers. Young pitchers who were relegated back to minors due to poor pitching performance etc.

Then you have the playoffs in 2017 to factor in. ALCS Games 1 and 2 of that series decided by 1 run at Minute Maid - then the Yankees win 3 straight; Dodger pitchers who were stellar at Dodger Stadium, and all playoffs all the sudden at Minute Maid couldn't get an out because their off-speed pitches were just not effective; especially in the pivotal game 5. Those Yankees and Dodgers pitchers and players were cheated out of possible championship experiences.

My feeling is that punishments were FAR too lenient. MLB needs to target players for punishment or there isn't a deterrent for doing this in the future. Now, do you strip the championship? I don't know, the damage already has been done, the championship has an asterisk next to it now, you can't give the parade and rings and "World Champion" to the Yankees or Dodgers players.

If integrity of the game of baseball is SO important to MLB though, as to warrant banning the greatest hitter the game has ever seen from being in the HoF because of something he did as a Manager, then there has got to be some sort of punishment available to give to these players that did untold damage to the game in 2017, and possibly 2018.