LOS ANGELES — Every time the Houston Astros come to town (this marks the third time since “THAT” happened), a familiar and justified wave of emotion surges through Dodger Stadium. Boos rain down, trash can memes circulate, and the sting of 2017 resurfaces like it happened yesterday. And let’s be clear: that anger was—and in many ways still is—warranted.
But maybe, just maybe, it’s time to let go.
That’s not to say forget. The Astros’ cheating scandal tainted a World Series that should’ve been ours, and no punishment, no apology, no spin from MLB ever fully repaired the damage. But as the 2025 Dodgers prepare to face a very different-looking Houston squad, manager Dave Roberts put things into perspective with a simple, grounded truth: “Most of those guys are gone. It certainly doesn’t have any bearing on this series this weekend.”
And he’s right.
This isn’t the 2017 Astros. George Springer is in Toronto. Carlos Correa is in Minnesota. Gerrit Cole has been a Yankee for years. Even Alex Bregman, one of the last of the old guard, is now in Boston (with Walker Buehler, no less). AJ Hinch is managing the Tigers. Ringleader Alex Cora is running the Red Sox. The current roster is largely made up of new faces—talented, yes, but disconnected from the scandal that ignited baseball’s biggest firestorm in decades. The only position player who remains from those days is Jose Altuve. Say what you want about his lack of leadership at the time, but it’s pretty clear that he was one of the few Astros who wanted nothing to do with trashcan conspiracy.
So why are we still booing these guys like they stole a ring?
The Past Isn’t This Team’s Fault
Fans have every right to express themselves. We’re passionate because we care. But holding a grudge against a completely different group of players feels more like emotional muscle memory than targeted outrage.
Dave Roberts, who stood in that dugout through it all, isn’t approaching this series with a revenge mindset. He’s focused on the now—on winning games, managing injuries, and guiding this 2025 squad through a season of sky-high expectations and rotating challenges.
He isn’t fueled by bitterness. He’s fueled by baseball.
The 2025 Dodgers Have Bigger Goals
Let’s be honest: the Dodgers have their own mountain to climb. Max Muncy just hit the IL. The rotation is patching itself together week to week, with Tyler Glasnow, Blake Snell, and others working back from injury. Dave is managing bullpen usage, infield adjustments (hello, Tommy Edman at third), and rehab schedules like a juggler at a circus.
So while Astros fans may still get under our skin with smugness or willful amnesia, we’ve got more important things to focus on than vendettas. Like reclaiming a title this year with the squad we have now.
If the Dodgers are staying focused, we can too.
Letting Go Doesn’t Mean Forgiving
Let’s be clear: letting go of the grudge doesn’t mean rewriting history. What happened in 2017 happened. It robbed Clayton Kershaw, Justin Turner, and the rest of that core of a fair fight. It haunted Kenley Jansen’s legacy. It rewrote baseball history.
But moving on doesn’t mean absolving anyone. It just means freeing ourselves from letting them live rent-free in our heads.
Time to Boo… Differently?
Want to boo the Astros because they’re the opponent? Go for it. Want to hate losing to them because it feels personal? Absolutely. But let’s redirect that fire toward supporting our guys now—not carrying the burden of something that’s been scattered across the league like confetti in a wind tunnel.
Because as Dave Roberts reminded us, “It doesn’t have any bearing on this series.” The best revenge isn’t yelling louder.
It’s winning now. On our terms.
Final Thought
The 2017 Astros will always be a painful chapter in Dodgers history. But this 2025 team is writing a new one—led by Shohei Ohtani, Freddie Freeman, Mookie Betts, and a battle-tested manager who isn’t interested in settling old scores. He’s focused on new ones.
Maybe we should be, too.
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