Additional Thoughts About the Houston Astros in 2024

First and foremost, I'm not sorry for using this photo as the main image for this story. Also, for all of you Astros fans out there who are in their feelings, as a Rangers fan, I still don't forgive your team for cheating another out of a World Series title in 2017. Some of you Astros fans are probably wondering why I'm always bringing this up and I should just let it go. I don't give a hoot if the scandal happened 20 years ago. If you don't have any integrity for the game and unwilling to take full responsibility for your actions, then why should we, the baseball community, cut you any slack? The majority of the baseball community and most MLB players who took the time to castigate them weren't in a forgiving mood when it comes to these cheats, because that's what they'll forever be known as: cheaters. They'll always have the Cheater label attached to them forever. Almost a year ago, I shared my thoughts about the Houston Astros' cheating scandal. If you would like to read it, I'll provide a link of that below. In the previous story, I explained how the cheating scandal was exposed and thought the punishment handed down to them from Major League Baseball was far too light, absolving them from any responsibility. In case you were wondering what their punishment was, they were fined $5 million, gave up two draft picks (first and second round), and suspended both Astros general manager Jeff Luhnow and field manager A.J. Hinch for the entire 2020 season. They were later both relieved of their duties. As far as the players, they were given a slap on the wrist. Translation: they didn't face any consequences from MLB. I still maintain to this day that their 2017 World Series title, rings, and bonuses should be returned, because they didn't earn it. That would be the most noble thing to do to send a huge message to the other 29 teams and since they still refused to take any personal responsibility, apologize to their fans, the City of Houston, and baseball fans everywhere, my pure dislike of them has been even deeper. I also believe that the Astros owner, Jim Crane, should've be fired. He was no innocent soul, either. Neither is Justin Verlander, with whom I'll talk about in a bit. I'll never acknowledge these jokers as World Series Champions and I'm not being petty. I know I'll be hit with the whole "You're just jealous" schtick. Whatever. I feel that baseball fans, including Astros fans, say that to me whenever they can't come up with anything else to add to their argument. If I can condemn and shun Barry Bonds for using steroids to falsely claim the home run record, then I can harshly condemn the Astros for their cheating ways.

The 2024 MLB Postseason is in full effect and so far, I got my wish by seeing the Detroit Tigers, who previously hadn't been in the postseason in 10 years, sweep the Texas Rangers' main rivals in the Wild Card Round. Fun fact: the Astros have now lost seven straight home playoff games dating back to last year. I called it sweet karma, because the Astros thought they were the badasses of the American League. They were just embarrassed by a much younger Tigers team. Us Rangers fans are always keeping tabs of our rivals and we love to gloat any time they lose. A.J. Hinch is now the current manager of the Tigers and even if they were to win the World Series, I'll never acknowledge Hinch as a World Series winning manager. Your past will always follow you forever. There's no escaping it. Justin Verlander, a player that I once respected, previously pitched for the Tigers. I've since lost all respect for him, because he was a complete hypocrite. He was the same person who was so vocal about putting teams on blast for potentially stealing signs and also chastising players who might have used PEDs (performance enhancing drugs), yet when his own team was accused of stealing signs and other cheating tactics, he played the victim and acted like what his team did wasn't a big deal. Verlander isn't innocent at all. In fact, none of the players who were part of the 2017 and 2022 World Series runs aren't innocent, either. I don't care if many of them have either since been traded to other teams or retired. Like I stated earlier, I'll never acknowledge them as World Series champions or World Series MVPs. They'll also have the Cheater label attached to them for the rest of their lives. The only people I feel bad about when it comes to the aforementioned cheating scandal are the prospects, most Astros fans who were cheated out of an experience, and children who looked up to these players. Cheating in any sport is an unforgivable act. I've never looked at the Houston Astros the same way ever again. It's based on the trust of fans and expect all athletes, regardless of sport, to play their respective sport with fairness and integrity.

No matter how many division titles, American League pennants, or World Series titles they win, the baseball world will always see the Houston Astros as the most disgraceful team in Major League Baseball. There's no two ways about it. Their legacy, or whatever is left of it, will leave a mark on MLB and one that baseball fans will remember forever.