The Astros announced today that Jose Altuve has been placed on the injured list with a left hamstring strain. J.J. Matijevic had his contract selected to take Altuve’s place on the active roster. To make space on the 40-man, Taylor Jones was transferred from the 10-day to the 60-day IL.
Altuve had been removed from Monday’s game with the hamstring issue and then sat out yesterday’s game. Although it appeared that Altuve might just miss a few games, it now appears the club will give him a stint on the IL to get healed up. He’s off to a slow start this year, hitting just .167/.268/.250 in his first 41 plate appearances.
Matijevic, 26, will make his MLB debut as soon as he gets into a game. Selected by the Astros 75th overall in the 2017 draft, Matijevic was recently ranked the #39 prospect in the organization by Baseball America. Their report praised the power in his bat but noted that he needed to improve his first base defense. He’s off to a torrid start at the plate this year, hitting four home runs in his first 11 games and slashing .310/.420/.714. While primarily a first baseman, he’s also seen significant time in left field.
Jones was placed on the 10-day IL a couple of weeks ago with a lower back injury, though it now appears it’s serious enough to keep him on the shelf until at least June.
Do you think he cheated more less or the same as his teammates?
Dude, respectfully, what kind of question is this? A cheater is a cheater. Who cares.
What do you mean what kind of question is it? Do you think he cheated or not?
I think he uses a step stool to reach the sink
What a shame. Its been proven he didnt steal signs. He wasn’t going to rat his teammates out either. Guys a class act and would probably pull over to change your wife’s tires for her. One of the best guys in mlb ruined by the media
Proven how and by whom? He gave absurd and contradictory excuses when asked why he didn’t want his teammates to tear off his jersey, excuses that were given the lie by multiple photos of him with no shirt on, including his own shirtless vacation photos he posted online. “I’m shy.” “My wife doesn’t want me seen with my shirt off.” “A bad tattoo,” and blah, blah, blah.
Astros2017asteriskChamps
Ruined by the media. Man, that excuse is so tired and lame. People do bad things and it’s the media’s fault for reporting them. Shoot those messengers.
There was a guy who watched all the games and counted the number of trash can bangs then made a chart. Altuve was at the lower end of the list.
signstealingscandal.com/players/
Marwin Gonzalez straight up stole money on his deal with the Twins.
Tough to steal money when the Twins knew exactly what Houston was doing (as they were most likely doing the same too).
Who says they were “most likely doing the same too,” besides you?
Joey Votto says that.
Oh, I had it wrong: Votto said the Astros were not the only ones doing something wrong. Whoops.
The guy who posted that alleged record of trash can bangs who calls himself “Logger of Astros Trash Can Bangs” is a Houston fan.
And even he admits that there were 24 trash can bangs, 19 of them correct, when Altuve was at bat. As Papi Dada said above: “A cheater is a cheater.”
I don’t think he used the sign stealing for his at bats, but to say that’s all that matters in terms of responsibility is just so narrowminded. If Altuve fancies himself to be any kind of leader, and he was ethically opposed to what they’re doing, then he should have been able to put a stop to it, but he didn’t because he enjoyed the fruits of it too. Either that or he was a coward. He could’ve gone straight to the GM and said this stops right now or I’m out. He was their best player, he would’ve gotten his way, but I guess he just wasn’t anti-cheating enough to bother. Bet that ring looks nice on him, huh? Honestly, I think it’s worse if he didn’t cheat personally, because he doesn’t even have the “if you’re not cheating, you’re not trying” excuse. He was just a willful bystander that had no problem celebrating with his team of cheaters.
Sorry, but you’re wrong if you think it was that simple. Your opinion is influenced too much by what you think you would’ve done and the fact that you’re an outsider looknig in, just like the rest of us.
If your standard is no one can judge a situation unless they were personally involved in it, then okay, but somehow I doubt you apply that standard consistently. I mean, Mike Fiers was on the team, right? Was he on the outside looking in too? Of course it’s not as simple as him just deciding it stops, but being a leader isn’t supposed to be a simple job. I didn’t claim the accolades that he did, so it doesn’t matter what I would do. The fact of the matter is he had more weight to throw around in that org. than anyone else, he could’ve stopped it, but he didn’t. He didn’t have to even “rat” anyone out, he could’ve kept it totally internal with the people who already knew, but he didn’t. Was he afraid of being a rat, or was he afraid of taking responsibility and saying no to his teammates? I think it’s more the latter. So ultimately what I’m saying is that he showed no moral character in the situation whatsoever, and that’s not a leader. He doesn’t have the excuse that Fiers had that he was just a journeyman with no power over the situation, he was their MVP, he had the most power. Everyone in that org. was more replaceable than him, from the GM down. I’m sorry, him not wanting it to happen during his at bats just isn’t all that meaningful to me. He still basked in the success that he knew was tainted by cheating. He’s morally unimpressive at best, and a colossal phony at worst. He’s not a victim.
You’re excusing Fiers, but not Altuve? Ridiculous. You know why? Fiers could’ve spilled the beans in the middle of 2017 instead of waiting until after. After all, he had no problem doing it in general. If there’s no excuse for Altuve, there’s no excuse for Fiers. Did Fiers throw away his world series ring? I don’t think so. He allowed himself to reap the benefits. That’s not better at all. This isn’t as black and white as you’re making it out to be. I try to apply that standard as much as I can.
Not only that, but how do you know Altuve DIDN’T speak up and a few players like Marwin basically said “We hear you and respect you, but we want to win. You don’t have to use it”? You don’t know that at all. I don’t either. I don’t know what kind of person Altuve is because I don’t know him personally and neither do you. He could be a jerk deep down. I don’t know. What I do know is unless you were there, you don’t know what he said or didn’t say so it’s completely ridiculous to think he has no morals and call him phony based on the notion that he said nothing.
I’m not saying I’m excusing Fiers in general, I’m saying at least he has a better excuse/explanation why than Altuve does. How am I making things black and white when you’re saying the situations with Fiers and Altuve were the same? How is that more nuanced? This is like saying a rich person cheating on their taxes is morally equivalent to a poor person cheating on their taxes. One is more excusable considering they are in a more financially desperate position, and have less power to change their situation. Altuve would have risked his buddies being upset with him, Fiers would’ve risked his whole career.
I think it’s admirable you respect understanding a situation more in order to judge it better, but how about respecting the blatant differences in Fiers and Altuve careers and positions of influence? And cant you see how this standard might lead to very permissible outcomes? It’s essentially a blank check for all behavior, because most people are on the outside looking in, sometimes even people relatively close to the situation, there’s always stuff we’re blind to. And the people on the inside are a tad biased usually. This standard would lead to the end of moral responsibility.
Your initial comment came off as black-and-white to me, but that’s due to lack of me misunderstanding. Same for asking if you were excusing Fiers. I apologize. You’re right: it is a dangerous standard. However, when it comes to the belief that Altuve has no morals because he said nothing, well we simply don’t know. Yes, there is a huge difference between a Fiers and an Altuve. As for me trying to understand a situation before I weigh in and judge, there are times where I jump the gun and I’m humble enough to admit it. There have been times where I’ve said “I’d do this or that”, but the truth is I don’t know if I would or not. I’ve been in a situation where I should speak up, but looking back, if I had, I would’ve risked the wrath of some one who was my friend at the time. My situation and Altuve’s were/are completely different (mine was personal. Watching a friend change for the worse sucks. Maybe I just never knew the real him), but perhaps in that regard they’re not. I don’t know.
Making a complaint to your teammates and just going along with however they respond to that isn’t exactly the kind of “speaking up” I’m referring to taking action to make it stop, not filling out a comment card.
The only thing he could do that they wouldn’t be able to ignore is if he went public about it (after all, they ignored an MLB mandate). Perhaps he has no morals for not doing that. If that’s how you feel, so be it. You’re entitled to your opinion and I respect that.
You act like it wasn’t a league wide issue.
Let’s assume for the sake of argument that what they were doing was widespread, how is that an argument against anything I said? All it would mean is that my condemnation would apply to more people. People are not off the hook for cheating because other people are cheating too. My argument doesn’t depend on this being a normal or abnormal practice. I don’t care. In fact, it means less with Houston because they already had an uber talented team, they didn’t need to cheat, they were already better than most teams.
Which other teams’ managers and GMs got fired for the same offense? You keep saying other teams were doing it. Prove it. Post some evidence.
You think MLB wants said evidence out there? Theres no arguing with someone who believes the media. Good day sir
Right. The media has a special bias against your team.
Is it because they’re in Texas? Then why aren’t they biased against the Rangers?
How many players need to say the same thing before you realize it?
Angels. If you think you would of told 24 other grown men or 13 positional players what theyre going to do you are out of your mind. Its not all fun and games for mlb players. Dudes are trying to get paid. You clearly have no earthly idea about grown men/ teams. They would probably laugh at you
If doing the right thing was easy, it wouldn’t mean as much as it does. I’m not saying have no sympathy for the social difficulty of it, I’m saying let’s not pretend not having the drum bang during his at bats is the end of the discussion of whether he’s culpible as well. Of course they’re there trying to make a living, but that argent would apply the least to Altuve since he had more job security than any of them.
And I’m not particularly threatened by the idea of a bunch of professional jocks laughing at me.
Where is the Yankees letter? We all want to see it.
Very much so.
I”m a Yankee fan, and I want to see it too. Randy Levine was a fool to fight the release of the letter. But that’s typical Levine.
His post-cheating numbers stink
Whatever dude. He was terrific last year. Go sip you’re manfraud coolaid
Yup, 5.2 fwar and a 130 wRC+ is awful. If you people need something to still be mad at, at least put some effort into it, you just look lazy and stupid.
I think there are two categories of cheaters: guys who were good but obviously helped by cheating and those who were only good due to cheating.
You look at the Astros core and guys like Altuve, Correa, Bregman, and Springer were studs from the minors on through. Did the cheating help? Of course, that’s why they did it. Kind of like Tom Brady, good but cheated.
Huge difference from a guy like, say, David Ortiz. Dude was let go by the Twins then turns into the Hulk and starts smashing 50 bombs a year. No defense, no baserunning. Take away the roids and he probably doesn’t have much of a career.
Bonds is probably the best example of a guy who didn’t need to cheat, but chose to do so. I know some people will say steroids don’t give you a true advantgae, but MLB considers steroid use cheating so he technically cheated.
Agree 100%.
Dude had all the tools. His bat speed was insane coming out of college.
Him and ARod had no reason to juice. Two of the best players I have ever seen. Most likely it helped them very little.
Unbelievable… Can you please give the whole ‘Astros cheating’ thing a rest? And did you not know that many other teams were also cheating and that the Astros took the rap for everyone else because no other team got caught doing it? So please STFU and go troll somewhere else. bit.ly/3KeDkq5
Only fans of bottom-feeding loser teams who catch lightning in a bottle would defend this type of stuff. Mets and Ast(erisks)ros fans backing up one another? Who would’ve thought? It’s a match made for both of them! 27>1*+2.
Worry about that letter, pal. If it turns out the Yankees did more than we were all led to believe, you Yankees fans will have no room to talk. You might want to keep words soft and sweet.
*GALVESTON GOPHERS
Who?
It’s the Astros relocation plan. I was nice enough to keep them in the same state.
Let me know how it goes. If you’re move them, bring back the Expos.
@48-team: Once again; it’s never going to be funny; no matter how many times you change the town and team names.
@BobbyKidd1965
I assure you that it will all be over after I’ve posted 1986 different relocation plans.
Nacogdoches Numchuks.
“It appeared Altuve might only miss a few days”. Guess he changed his mind and opted for a few days by the pool instead.
Altuve has struggled, but what the heck happened to Tucker?
I know, it’s early, I was just shocked when watching the game last night that he only had 4 hits on the season (and 3 were in the first series)
Its early. Tucker struggled last april too. Everything is magnified when u slump in tbe beginning of the season
Bad luck. Dude his hitting the balls hard.
These fake injuries are BS. Guarantee you if Altuve was hitting .350, he wouldn’t be looking for a way to get to the IL.
Cheater cheater pumpkin eater
He was wearing a wire. MLb slapped them on the wrist. They should of all been banned for life. Just like the Black Sox.
What other statements of Carlos Beltran’s FAKE cousin do you also believe?