The Boston Red Sox beat the Los Angeles Dodgers in five games in the 2018 World Series, but the validity of that championship is now being questioned by some fans and reporters while Major League Baseball investigates the historic franchise for illegaly stealing signs during that title-winning season.
The MLB handed down harsh punishments to the Houston Astros on Monday after an official investigation concluded the team devised an effective system to illegally steal signs from opponents during their 2017 World Series-winning campaign. The Astros bench coach in 2017 was Alex Cora, who left Houston that offseason to join the Red Sox as their new manager for 2018. Cora, according to the league's report on the Astros, played a pivotal role in creating and implementing the sign-stealing operation.
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There is no timetable for when the league's investigation of the Red Sox will be completed. The league noted it won't announce any punishment for Cora until the investigation is done. Boston announced Tuesday it had "mutually agreed to part ways" with Cora.
The Red Sox held a press conference Wednesday to address the situation. Principal owner John Henry, chairman Tom Werner, President and CEO Sam Kennedy and Chief Baseball Officer Chaim Bloom represented the team, and this group was asked if the 2018 World Series was won fairly.
Kennedy's answer was brief.
The Red Sox won the first two games of that World Series at Fenway Park, then dropped Game 3 at Dodger Stadium in 18 innings. The Sox clinched their fourth championship since 2000 by winning Game 4 and Game 5 in Los Angeles.