The Dodgers waited 28-weeks to deliver their in-person message to the Houston Astros (aka Houston Cheetos) for robbing them of the 2017 World Championship. Oh sure, many Dodgers players voiced their disgust of the cheating Astros players and organization shortly after MLB commissioner Rob Manfred released his report that forever labeled the 2017 and 2018 Astros as cheaters. But make no mistake, actions always send a much stronger message, and throughout the history of MLB, players have policed their sport and profession.

Dodgers right-hander Walker Buehler had a brief verbal exchange with Astros third baseman Alex Bregman after setting down the Astros in order in the bottom of the first inning of Tuesday night’s game at Minute Maid Park. But that was only a warm-up for what would take place in the sixth inning.

MLB relievers were once called firemen for being summoned into games to stop the other teams’ rallies. But last night, it appeared that Dodgers right-hander Joe Kelly took on the role of arsonist, as he threw several pitches up, in, and behind both Alex Bregman and Carlos Correa.

One might argue that Kelly wasn’t even on the Dodgers in 2017, and that would be correct. Instead, he was pitching for the Boston Red Sox, who lost to the Astros in the American League Championship Series, denying Kelly and his teammates the opportunity to play in that year’s World Series. Seemingly, Kelly was the perfect pitcher to deliver a message to Houston.

There may have been an additional reason for the Bregman and Correa pitches. Prior to their at-bats, Astros left fielder Michael Brantley stepped on Kelly’s right foot during a close play at first base. When Kelly stayed at the bag for a few seconds glaring at Brantley, someone on the Astros bench (sounding much like Astros manager Dusty Baker) was caught on videotape yelling “Just get on the mound, little (expletive deleted regarding Kelly’s mother).”

Here are a couple of quotes from Joe Kelly that give fans a little insight into the man published in The Athletic on February 27, 2019:

“I have a lot of downfalls, but my major one is going from 0 to 100 faster than I should.”

“If we’re wearing the same uniform and someone runs up on you, I’m gonna have your back right away, even if I don’t know your character.” “When the pressure gets big, I want to attack it. When the anxiety is up, I want to be the guy to lead.”

After a 2019 bench clearing brawl with the New York Yankees:

“If I think I’m in the right and someone’s gonna get in my face, it’s not gonna be just a bunch of talking crap … But I’m not gonna take my time if I feel like I’m in the right for something to happen. I’m always gonna be the aggressor…”

Were the pitches thrown to Bregman and Correa messages, or just pitches that just got away from a pitcher with well-documented command issues? If message pitches, were they delivered for the Astros cheating, or in reply to the expletive from the Astros bench; or both?

Only Kelly knows for sure. But regardless, he is now definitely very much inside the Astros’ heads.