Dodgers’ return to Houston stirs emotions for some – Orange County Register

The Houston Astros’ 2017 World Series banner is one of many visuals in and around Minute Maid Park that will never sit well with some Dodgers players or fans, given the sign-stealing scandal that came to light years later. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

HOUSTON — Seven years is a long time. But it’s not enough for some.

“I don’t like coming here,” Dodgers pitcher Clayton Kershaw said when asked about the team’s last visit to Minute Maid Park, site of three games in the 2017 World Series, including the crucial Game 5 that he started.

Kershaw repeated the same phrase four more times when asked if time had dulled the pain, softened the memories or helped him cope with the Astros being exposed as perpetrators of a sign-stealing scheme.

“I don’t like coming here,” he repeated, referring to a protest outside the stadium.

“I don’t like arriving and seeing the 2017 ring in front of their stadium.”

The Dodgers have already returned to Minute Maid Park three times: for two games in an empty stadium during the pandemic-shortened 2020 season, two more in front of limited crowds in 2021 and now three games in front of a packed stadium this weekend. With baseball moving to a balanced schedule (each team plays every other team in both leagues), they will now go there every other season.

“I probably can’t deal with things that affect me in general in the long term,” Kershaw said. “So I think reliving some of those things — some people would say that’s healthy. It doesn’t help me. It doesn’t make me feel good to talk about it. It’s not like it’s life-changing — like something terrible in my family. I don’t want to put it in a category like that.”

“As far as careers and jobs go, it’s a place I just don’t like.”

Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said his feelings about the 2017 World Series have “softened over the last few years.”

“It definitely brings back memories, not good memories,” he said of his return to Houston. “But that’s baseball. You can’t change that. I think you just have to try to move forward.”