Joey Votto, six-time All Star and 2010 National League MVP, made an appearance yesterday on The Dan Patrick Show. He spoke about his home run streak, social obligations when a runner hits first base, and how baseball has changed over the course of Votto's career.AdvertisementThe Houston Astros was one of the other topics. Patrick specifically asked Votto if it was time for the 2017 Astros scandal of sign-stealing to end.Vottos response:Reds' first baseman, Alex Rodriguez, answered a resounding "Yes!"Votto is someone I admire as much as anyone. Votto is a certain-fire Hall of Famer and a living relic of mid-2000s baseball who still believes in making contact and batting average. It is amazing to see how he has survived and thrived with these beliefs in an era where almost all other outcomes have been compromised. All this is to say that I have nothing against Joey Votto. Before I explain why Votto is wrong about Houston Astros, I will make it clear.Thank you very much, I will continue to heckle the Astros. As long as Altuve and Gurriel or Bregman remain on that team, I'll continue to heckle them.Votto's argument against heckling Astros is understandable.It baffles me that the Houston Astros were the only ones doing this.AdvertisementI have been stating for years that I believe other teams were involved in sign-stealing. We know that the Boston Red Sox were punished for stealing signs in 2018, the same year as their win in the World Series. The extent of their cheating system was almost entirely centered around one of their video operators, who has since been banned for life from MLB games. Rob Manfreds believes that this wasn't nearly as bad as the Astros sign-stealing scandal. Dont get me wrong. I cannot stand the Red Sox's conduct and believe they should have received harsher punishments. However, that doesn't negate the actions of the Houston Astros. The same applies to the New York Yankees with their unopened letter and the allegations against the Dodgers, Brewers, and the Dodgers. Yes, there have been accusations, but they are not supported by any evidence.Despite the fact that the Astros stole signs from the Dodgers and Brewers, it doesn't mean they are guilty. This does not mean that we aren't responsible for booing those players and teams just as much as we have been booing them. It doesn't matter how many cheating teams there were. It doesn't make cheating less horrible. It's okay! It doesn't! That is a false defense. This is a non-defense. This is a way of admitting guilt and then saying it's okay, because you were only following along. Is that a valid argument when you are pulled over for speeding tickets? Officer, I see the sign says 65 but everyone was going 80. The officer won't respond with Oh, gee! You are probably right. You can leave. It is an awful argument. It is an absurd argument. It is an awful argument.AdvertisementVotto has an interesting point though. Votto says that he believes Altuve when Altuve says he wasn't involved in sign-stealing. Altuve may not have come out and stated that he took part in the sign-stealing, but until then, we should not heckle him. We do know at least that Altuve was aware of the scandal, and did nothing to stop it from happening. Altuve was, at best, an accomplice to cheating.Baseball is my favorite sport. I love the integrity of the game. As much as I hate the Astros scandal players, I cannot stand the Red Sox cheating scandal. You can rest assured that I will continue to slam the Astros and any other teams, including the Dodgers, Brewers and Yankees, who were caught stealing signs from past games. The Red Sox should be hated as much by fans as the Astros. Cheating players and teams deserve all the jeers, heckling, and hate they get. No, Mr. Votto. I will not stop booing the Astros. You might think that I should just let the scandal slide. Maybe they shouldve considered all the hatred they would get for cheating.
