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Bolsinger on lawsuit against Astros: 'Real accountability is needed'

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Former major-league pitcher Mike Bolsinger filed a lawsuit against the Houston Astros on Monday in response to the sign-stealing scandal that's rocked baseball this offseason.

On Friday, Bolsinger detailed his reasoning for the lawsuit in an editorial for The Washington Post.

"My opinion is that cheating brought the Astros lavish rewards and that real accountability is needed," he wrote. "I want my lawsuit to lead to positive change. In addition to seeking personal damages, I’m demanding that the ​Astros donate their ​$31 million in 2017 postseason bonuses to charity. Baseball is at an important crossroads. How​ the game responds to this scandal will define ​its ​credibility and ​its ​existence for years to come."

Bolsinger also took issue with Astros owner Jim Crane stating Thursday that the team has dealt with the cheating scandal and is moving on.

"Pardon me, but I disagree," Bolsinger stated. "The team hasn’t adequately dealt with its cheating during the 2017 season, when Houston won the World Series, and just announcing that you're moving forward doesn’t mean you can leave behind the damage you've done."

Bolsinger last pitched in an MLB game on Aug. 4, 2017, in a relief appearance against the Astros. He allowed four earned runs on four hits and three walks in just 1/3 of an inning and was designated for assignment by the Toronto Blue Jays shortly after.

MLB announced in January that the Astros were found guilty of implementing an illegal sign-stealing scheme during 2017, which included using electronics and banging on trash can lids to tell batters what pitches were coming. During Bolsinger's appearance, there were apparently 20 audible bangs on 29 pitches.

"The news was difficult to take," he added of finding out the Astros had cheated. "I was shocked - and angry. The Astros had robbed me of the opportunity to determine my own future on the mound. If I failed at my craft because I wasn’t good enough, that would be on me. I could live with that. But thinking about the cheating and the toll it ultimately took on my family - that was something I couldn't tolerate."

Bolsinger's overall numbers in 2016 and 2017 were not impressive, but he cited both an oblique injury that sidelined him for much of 2016 and his transition to a relief pitcher as factors.

The right-hander did show promise with the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2015, going 5-3 with a 2.83 ERA in his first 16 starts, including a sparking outing on May 23 against the San Diego Padres in which he retired 23 consecutive batters. He finished that season with a 3.62 ERA across 21 appearances.

Without a major-league job after 2017, Bolsinger moved to Japan where he's posted an 18-8 record with a 3.87 ERA across two seasons with the Chiba Lotte Marines.

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