Although it’s been six years since the Houston Astros cheated during their championship season in 2017 and the majority of players and coaches from that club are no longer within the organization, they continue to receive backlash for their sign stealing scandal.
In 2019, it was revealed the Astros were electronically stealing signs throughout the 2017 season and into the playoffs. The following year, MLB concluded that also ran into 2018 and issued suspensions to manager AJ Hinch and general manager Jeff Lunhow.
The organization was also fined $5 million and forfeited their first- and second-round picks in the 2020 and 2021 MLB Drafts. However, no players were punished, which is a decision MLB commissioner Rob Manfred now regrets.
The decision to not suspend or fine players, while upholding the Astros’ title, is one that has not sat well with opposing players or fans, and may have created even further backlash.
Players involved with the 2017 Astros continued to get booed for their actions, most notably when they come to Dodger Stadium, and the organization as a whole is still the subject of ridicule.
The latest joke came from NFL broadcaster Al Michaels during Thursday Night Football with the Cleveland Browns facing off against the New York Jets.
Al Michaels had time for the Astros 😂 pic.twitter.com/oA2gVyLF8P
— Dodger Blue (@DodgerBlue1958) December 29, 2023
During the game, there was a consistent banging noise from the fans while the Browns were on defense. As the sound started to get louder, Micahels said, “Somebody’s pounding on that trash can, I think the Astros must be in town.”
Michaels quickly said an “I’m sorry,” for his joke, but it came with some laughs that continued as he called the next play.
During the 2023 season, the Dodgers signed Jake Marisnick, who was part of the 2017 Astros. Marisnick told his new teammates he was open to taking any questions from them about the scandal and revealed some players made jokes to him about the cheating.
In 2022, the L.A. Kings trolled José Altuve with a look-a-like segment, placing his photo next to a trashcan inside Crypto.com Arena, more commonly known as Staples Center.
Altuve was, of course, a key member of that Astros team and as one of the players still within the organization, he receives a lot of the current anger for it. Alex Bregman was also reminded of the cheating during a Spring Training matchup when a security guard mockingly banged on a trash can while the third baseman was hitting.
Even the St. Paul Saints of the Independent League got in on the jokes by distributing “Astro the Grouch” bobbleheads to fans.
The jokes around the Astros may never end, and questions around the legitimacy of their 2017 World Series will always stand.
J.D. Martinez joked about Astros
J.D. Martinez has played 13 years at the Major League level with the Houston Astros, Detroit Tigers, Arizona Diamondbacks, Boston Red Sox and the Dodgers.
Martinez made his MLB debut with the Astros but did not find much success there, which led to his release. The Tigers signed him for the 2014 season, and Martinez became a completely new hitter.
When the Tigers came to Dodger Stadium in 2023, Martinez homered three times in two games against his former club, but he said there wasn’t any extra added motivation behind his at-bats.
“No, no. I love Detroit, can’t say that about Houston — just playing — but Detroit I love,” Martinez said. “But no, Detroit, they were the team that gave me a chance when no one else did. They were the only ones knocking back in 2014 when I was released, so they always have a special place in my heart.”
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