Frustrated Gamblers Target Baseball Players with Increasing Aggression
Revised Article:
Baseball players, particularly in Major League Baseball (MLB), are grappling with a troubling escalation of online harassment, and many suspect the rise of sports betting might be a significant factor. As revealed by the Associated Press, some athletes have bravely shared their experiences of encountering daily threats and abusive messages, both on and off the field.
Interesting Fact
- It's suspected that many of these abusive messages may stem from upset sports bettors whose wagers didn't pan out.
Lance McCullers Jr., a Houston Astros pitcher, recently enlisted 24-hour security for his family due to death threats he received. While he didn't directly pin the threats on betting, others in the league claim angry bettors are responsible for a large portion of the abusive messages.
Boston Red Sox pitcher Justin Wilson shed light on the pattern, stating, "You get a lot of DMs or stuff like that about you ruining someone's bet or something ridiculous like that. I guess they should make better bets."
Daily Reality for Some Players
Veteran players like Christian Yelich of the Milwaukee Brewers have shared how the harassment has morphed into a constant presence. Yelich expressed, "It's increased to the point that you're just: 'All right, here we go.' It doesn't even really register on your radar anymore. It's not just me. It's everybody in here, based on performance."
Legal sports betting is now active in 38 U.S. states, allowing fans to wager from their seats or phones during live games. Many players report hearing bettors heckling them from the stands regularly.
Toxic Social Media
Detroit Tigers outfielder Riley Greene opted to quit social media entirely following relentless abusive messages from upset bettors. "It sucks, but it's the world we live in, and we can't do anything about it," Greene stated. "People would DM me and say nasty things, tell me how bad of a player I am, and say nasty stuff that we don't want to hear."
In an alarming case last season, Cleveland Guardians pitcher Logan Allen disclosed that a bettor followed him home after losing a wager, resulting in a face-to-face confrontation.
Others have shared stories of unsolicited money requests on Venmo and continuous abuse through direct messages.
Action Needed
After McCullers received threats, the Astros reached out to both the league and local police in Houston. Authorities reported an active investigation. In response, McCullers promptly secured protection for his wife and two daughters.
Red Sox pitcher Liam Hendricks, who also faced threats, expressed his frustration over the negligible response from MLB security. "Nothing ends up happening. The abuse occurs again the next night," Hendricks said. "Enough is enough. At some point, someone has to make a stand. The more eyes we get on it, the more voices we get talking about it, hopefully it can push it in the right direction."
- The rise of sports betting in Major League Baseball (MLB) is a potential factor contributing to the escalation of online harassment experienced by baseball players.
- Many athletes attribute a significant portion of abusive messages they receive to upset sports bettors whose wagers didn't succeed.
- Social media platforms have become a breeding ground for abusive messages directed at baseball players, with some athletes like Detroit Tigers outfielder Riley Greene choosing to quit social media due to this toxic environment.
- Instances of bettors following players home after losing wagers or demanding money through unauthorized means such as Venmo have been reported, highlighting the need for action to address the ongoing issue of online harassment in sports.
