"I'm depending on the league to try to put a stop to this seemingly premeditated retaliation that I'm hearing about," Baker said Saturday morning. "And in most instances in life, you get kind of reprimanded when you have premeditated anything. I'm just hoping that the league puts a stop to this before somebody gets hurt."
The deluge of criticism toward the Astros did not abate Saturday, with Chicago Cubs star Kris Bryant calling the organization "a disgrace."
It comes a day after reigning National League MVP Cody Bellinger said the Astros "stole" the 2017 championship from the Los Angeles Dodgers and second baseman Jose Altuve "stole" the American League MVP from New York Yankees outfielder Aaron Judge in 2017. Cincinnati Reds starter Trevor Bauer went on an eight-minute harangue of the Astros, saying: "I'm not going to let them forget the fact that they are hypocrites, they are cheaters."
Asked whether he would consider throwing at Astros batters, Dodgers pitcher Ross Stripling told reporters: "I would lean toward yes. In the right time and the right place."
Stripling's comments echoed the sentiments of Cleveland Indians starter Mike Clevinger, who two weeks ago said: "I think players will deal with it the way it should be across the league. I don't think it's going to be a comfortable few ABs for a lot of those boys, and it shouldn't be. They shouldn't be comfortable."
When MLB determines the intent of a pitch is to hit a player, it typically levies a suspension for between three and five games. Dodgers pitcher Alex Wood balked at the idea that Astros players were not disciplined for the sign-stealing scandal -- they traded honest testimony in interviews with MLB for immunity from punishment -- but others could be for throwing at them.
"Somebody will take it into their own hands, and they'll get suspended more games than any of those guys got for the biggest cheating scandal in 100 years," Wood said. "It'll be pretty ironic when that happens, because I'm sure that's how it'll end up playing out."