With fans back in the ballparks this year, the Houston Astros have subjected to merciless boos and taunting all season, most recently this week while visiting the Los Angeles Dodgers, where fans tossed inflatable trash cans onto the field.
The sign-stealing scandal that they used in 2017 when they won the World Series is still a sore subject for fans, and even some players, but at least one player not on that team thinks it’s time to end all the Astros hate.
Cincinnati Reds slugger Joey Votto told “The Dan Patrick Show” earlier this week that it is time to move on.
“Yeah, there’s no question about it,” Votto said. “The idea that they were the only ones doing something wrong just baffles me.”
Patrick asked Votto what the conversation is like if Jose Altuve were to reach first base in a game against the Reds and if Votto would ever make a subtle dig at the trash can scheme.
“No,” Votto said. “He came out and said that he had no part in it. And I have to believe a person. I’m assuming he’s telling the truth so I’m going to believe him and then we move on from there.”
Votto also said he’s had lots of conversations with Altuve and the two talk about hitting almost entirely.
While the Reds slugger called for an end to the animosity, he said he would not want to be involved in a complex cheating scheme to know what pitch is coming himself.
“If there was a tip from the pitcher I would want to know,” Votto said. “As far as any complicated cheating strategy, I’m not for that. If I had the choice to know and not know that would be an advantage. I’ve been offered that before in my career and I’ve passed on it, simply because it’s unpredictable. Sometimes they get it wrong. They get the wrong pitch and you’re taking a pitch right down the middle and you’re thinking to yourself ‘I can’t deal with this randomness.’”
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