World Series viewing turning into a participation sport
The internet dissected the game between the Houston Astros and the Philadelphia Phillies. Professional golf has gone through its own mini-crises because viewers called in potential rules violations. Legal online live-betting has created another incentive to decipher any in-game trends. In Game 2, the internet noticed that Astros starter Framber Valdez was rubbing the ball between pitches. World Series viewing is becoming a participation sport.
The Phillies found out about Valdez's cheating on Twitter. The Astros are leading the World Series 3-2. The team's video sign-stealing scandal from 2017 still lingers. Don Denkinger's call at first base in Game 6, helping the Royals beat the Cardinals, might have broken the internet. It's hard to believe the online sheriffs didn't catch the 2017 Astros in real time.
McCullers was accused of tipping his pitches during the World Series game 3 against the Phillies. Even one of the sport's most respected internet sleuths couldn't find a smoking gun. The manager Dusty Baker said he didn't see anything. The internet has decided something and it's hard to change its mind.
