Did the Astros cheat again? Best memes and tweets from Phillies fans
By Mark Powell
Houston Astros catcher Martin Maldonado was caught using an illegal bat in Game 1. But did he really cheat?
Houston isn’t far enough removed from the sign-stealing scandal to survive more cheating allegations. Thankfully, the nugget FOX revealed on Saturday night isn’t nearly as serious.
Per the broadcast, catcher Martin Maldonado was forced to go back to his old bats, after he used some limber courtesy of good friend and future Hall of Famer Albert Pujols. While Pujols was allowed to use said bats thanks to a grandfather clause in MLB’s policy (he was using said bat prior to 2010), Maldonado is not allowed as he started playing in 2011.
Mark Berman outlined the issue with Maldonado’s bat via Twitter: “Per FOX: Martín Maldonado used a bat last night Albert Pujols sent him that MLB considers not within the rules. It was grandfathered in for Pujols because he had been using it prior to 2010. So Martín back to using his bats.”
Best memes and tweets about Astros so-called ‘cheating’
In short, no the Houston Astros should not be chastised for cheating again. This is not up to par with sign stealing, as Maldonado’s mistake was just that — an accident. However, Maldonado did secure a base hit and RBI in Game 1, something he’s not exactly known for.
Had the Astros won Game 1, then Phillies fans would have every right to be angry. Thankfully, the baseball gods did not gift us another scandal.
Yet, that didn’t stop Phillies fans and MLB pundits from pointing the finger in Houston’s direction.
wait they literally caught the astros cheating LAST NIGHT?????
— Matt Mullin (@matt_mullin) October 30, 2022
The illegal bat thing is more funny than malicious because it tells us Martin Maldonado thought the bats themselves were grandfathered in, not Albert Pujols the person. Like whichever team has Pujols is lucky enough to be able to share these bats, is that what you think man
— Marc Normandin (@Marc_Normandin) October 30, 2022
Martín Maldonado used a bat gifted to him by Albert Pujols for Game 1. Turns out the bat has been illegal since 2010 but Pujols had it grandfathered in.
— Jomboy Media (@JomboyMedia) October 30, 2022
Maldonado is back to his usual bat for Game 2 tonight.pic.twitter.com/9U6e6vMT52
Let's just brush under the table that Maldonado was using an illegal bat. No penalty?
— Depressed Phillies Fan (@mlb_phanatic) October 30, 2022
Verduch: "The MLB found that Martin Maldonado used an illegal bat sent to him by Albert Pujols, along with several kilos of cocaine earmarked for sale on the Houston streets. That's a ball, 2-1."
— CogginToboggan (@CogginToboggan) October 30, 2022
Smoltz: "So how about that Altuve, huh?"
Martin Maldonado had an RBI in Game 1 of the World Series USING AN ILLEGAL BAT. And all that happened is they told him to change his bat. WTF
— It's About To Get Realmuto (@MyPhilsBurner) October 30, 2022
Now batting Martin Maldonado @phillies pic.twitter.com/msfFQcKyxZ
— Rob Duvall (@rduvall24) October 30, 2022
The mental image of Martin Maldonado finding out Pujols had an outlawed-grandfathered-in bat model in July, hatching a scheme, and putting a reminder on his phone for if they made the World Series to break into Albert's garage and swipe a half-dozen bats
— Martin (@martfreed_) October 30, 2022
Martin Maldonado using an illegal bat that’s crazy bro the Astros really cheating that bad
— Homey Samuel (@iSuckAtMLBTS) October 30, 2022
Martin Maldonado has been using an illegal bat and is not suspended. Great call @MLB
— AOC Bets (@RustyTrombone34) October 30, 2022
Let me make sure I got this right...
— Bowman Collector (@b0wman_chris) October 30, 2022
Martin Maldonado used an illegal bat (barrel was larger than requirements) in game 1 of the World Series.
Not only did they breeze right over it, but hes allowed to play in today's game?
Theres no reprocussions? @MLB @CardPurchaser
Maldonado had no ill intent in using Pujols’ bat. If anything, he thought it might be a nice change of pace or bring him good luck. Instead, it’s done the opposite.
dark. Next. FOX casually admits the Astros cheated and still lost Game 1