During a recent game between the Houston Astros and Miami Marlins, a broadcaster’s remark about Jose Altuve stirred fresh discussion around the Astros 2017 sign-stealing controversy. This incident is the latest in a series of moments this season where broadcasters have reignited debates that many hoped had faded nine years after the scandal first broke.

The focus keyword, Jose Altuve Astros controversy revived, captures the lingering unease around Altuve’s reputation as it continues to invite scrutiny and commentary despite his ongoing performance. The controversy remains alive beyond fans and social media, now surfacing directly from voices in the broadcast booth.

How a Broadcaster’s Remark Sparked Renewed Attention

What began with a few pointed comments during a summer Astros-Dodgers game expanded into wider conversation when NESN commentator Will Middlebrooks recently addressed the Astros during a Boston-Houston matchup. Middlebrooks’ blunt observation,

“Imagine the Astros being mad about stealing signs… that’s part of the game,”

—highlighted the ongoing skepticism about the team’s past tactics. This comment came shortly after a benches-clearing incident, adding fuel to the smoldering controversy through televised analysis rather than social media outrage.

More recently, during Houston’s game against the Marlins, a broadcaster’s vivid phrase about Altuve drew sharp attention in the ninth inning. Marlins’ play-by-play announcer Rex Hudler said,

“Tried to sneak that fastball by Altuve, but you know what they say… You can’t sneak cheese past a rat.”

This analogy carries a double meaning; while Hudler appeared to praise Altuve’s quick bat and pitch recognition, it resonated with the lingering negative associations from the 2017 scandal, especially since “rat” has become a loaded term in baseball connected to cheating and betrayal.

Jose Altuve’s Talent and The Scandal’s Lingering Shadow

Jose Altuve remains one of the most respected hitters in baseball, known for his sharp instincts and ability to anticipate pitchers’ moves. However, his name is inseparable from the Astros’ sign-stealing accusations that rocked Major League Baseball in 2017. Over the years, Altuve has frequently faced boos and harsh criticism, a constant reminder of how deeply the scandal has affected public perception.

Hudler’s comment was meant to dramatize Altuve’s hit, but in the charged atmosphere around the Astros, it also revived the tainted reputation etched by the scandal. Fans continue to debate whether such remarks are compliments or subtle digs. A similar example is legendary pitcher Curt Simmons complimenting Hank Aaron in 1971, saying,

“Throwing a fastball by Henry Aaron is like trying to sneak a sunrise past a rooster.”

Simmons’ phrase was an unambiguous compliment, unlike Hudler’s layered analogy involving Altuve.

The reaction from fans on platforms like Reddit shows just how much the conversation remains active. One post highlighting Hudler’s comment gathered over 5,000 upvotes, demonstrating the audience’s deep engagement and interest, which frequently interprets broadcaster remarks through the lens of the Astros’ tainted history.

History of Astros Players Being Labeled ‘Rats’

The Astros and their players have been targeted with negative nicknames such as “rats” for years, dating back well before the current season’s rhetoric. This derogatory label is rooted in frustration and betrayal felt by rival teams and fans alike over the cheating scandal’s fallout.

These derogatory references first drew widespread attention when former Dodgers pitcher Joe Kelly publicly criticized the Astros in 2020. Although Kelly was not on the Dodgers’ 2017 roster that lost the World Series to Houston, he expressed intense anger at how Astros players handled responsibility for the scandal. Kelly lambasted the team for deflecting blame onto coaches and front office personnel instead of owning their role. He said,

“Yes, everyone is involved. But the way that was run over there was not from the coaching staff… It’s the players. So now the players get the immunity, and all they do is go snitch like a little b—-.”

Kelly’s statement spotlighted what many saw as an uneven punishment: coaches like Alex Cora, who was the Houston bench coach during the 2017 season, lost their jobs, while players cooperated with <a href="https://www.buzzineintl.com/category/baseball/mlb/”>MLB investigators and received immunity. Cora was later fired after MLB revealed his involvement, even though he went on to manage Kelly in Boston. Alongside Cora, Astros GM Jeff Luhnow and then-manager A.J. Hinch were dismissed, but the players walked with protected status, which frustrated opponents and observers alike.

This ongoing resentment from rivals keeps the Astros under a microscope and shapes the vitriol they encounter both on and off the field, with broadcasters often reflecting that tension in their commentary.

Broadcasters’ Role in Keeping the Scandal in Public View

The recurrence of sign-stealing discussions from commentators rather than just fans reveals how deeply the 2017 scandal has embedded itself in baseball’s narrative. It creates a restless feeling around the Astros, as no competitive success is free from the shadow of past actions. Broadcasters’ remarks, intentional or not, serve as periodic triggers that pull the scandal back into the spotlight, amplifying fan anxieties and skepticism.

While some broadcasters use metaphors and baseball slang to emphasize player skill, those same comments can easily be interpreted as stinging reminders about cheating. This double-edged dynamic complicates how Astros players are both praised for their talent and simultaneously referenced in the context of their infamous history.

For the Astros and Jose Altuve, this means continuously navigating a tense environment where every highlight and every hit may attract renewed scrutiny rather than unchecked acclaim. The 2017 scandal remains a persistent specter influencing media presentation and fan perception of the team long after the penalties were handed out.

What the Future Holds for the Astros and Altuve’s Reputation

As the 2025 MLB season progresses, the Astros are still contending on the field, but the weight of their past controversies continues to shape their public image. Broadcasters, players, and fans alike are locked in an uneasy cycle of revisiting the cheating scandal. This ongoing tension suggests that despite efforts to move forward, the Astros’ 2017 offense will continue to provoke debate for years to come.

For Jose Altuve specifically, the persistent association with sign-stealing complicates his legacy. His undeniable talent is often overshadowed by suspicion, leaving him subject to heightened scrutiny whenever he excels. Until the narrative fully shifts, broadcasters and commentators will likely keep the controversy alive, sometimes unintentionally, as emotions and frustrations surrounding the scandal remain raw within the baseball community.

The broader significance underscores how scandals in sports can never fully disappear, instead evolving into entrenched parts of a team‘s identity and media coverage. Fans and insiders are likely to keep dissecting these moments, keenly awaiting how the Astros respond both on the field and in their reputations.