The Houston Astros managed to get four players into the All-Star Game, to be played on Tuesday at Coors Field, in Colorado.
Second baseman Jose Altuve, shortstop Carlos Correa, outfielder Michael Brantley, and closer Ryan Pressly all made it to the Midsummer Classic.
However, for a variety of reasons, none of them will play the game, as they decided against it.
Correa will be with his pregnant wife as the couple have some appointments to attend.
Altuve had this to say about his absence:
Jose Altuve on choosing not to play in the All-Star Game: “I really want to thank everybody that voted for me, that believe in me. I really need these four days. I’m putting my team first because I really think we have a chance to win this year.” pic.twitter.com/eJlZNT012Z
— Mark Berman (@MarkBermanFox26) July 8, 2021
He also mentioned some nagging injuries he wants to heal.
Pressly is on paternity leave, so he won’t be able to attend the festivities.
Brantley is currently nursing soreness on his right side, and has been for the last three weeks.
He said he wants to use the break to heal up and rest.
MLB’s official side reported that there’s still a chance the Astros could have a player named as a replacement, but none of the initial replacements named by Major League Baseball on Saturday were members of the organization.
Could it be that despite MLB’s efforts to have at least one representative per team, the Astros don’t have anyone playing in the All-Star Game?
Lots Of Players Have Opted Out
There is an increasing number of stars opting out of the All-Star Game in the last couple of days.
Los Angeles Dodgers star Mookie Betts will not participate, and Kevin Gausman, Brandon Woodruff, Jacob deGrom, Yu Darvish, and Buster Posey have also said no.
It could be, speaking about the number of absences, a general disinterest toward the game in response to the bad blood between players and owners because of last year’s ugly negotiations, and the upcoming ones.
It also could be that many players have decided to rest and rehab some nagging injuries, or simply use the All-Star break to recharge with the second half in mind.
We will never know for sure, and that’s the only certain thing.
The same goes for the Astros foursome: there is no way for fans to know whether they are skipping the game because fear of repercussions and booing by fans in Colorado for their association with the sign-stealing scandal.
Anything we can say or think about the matter would be pure speculation.
It Isn’t A Good Look For The Astros
But there is no denying that it isn’t a good look for Altuve, Correa, Pressly, and Brantley.
@blummer27 None of the Astros will go to the All-Star game,because of the cheating scandal.
This is a weak move.— Greg Myers (@Hunter_Downs) July 11, 2021
The Astros have proved they are among the league’s best offenses without the use of external help, but a sizable portion of fans and media still haven’t forgiven them for using a complex system with cameras to spy on other team’s signs, and then relaying them by banging trash cans.
The system was put in place in 2017, and some people think the punishment – which included the suspensions of general manager Jeff Lunhow and manager AJ Hinch, plus the loss of money and draft picks – was not harsh enough.
It’s certainly possible that Astros players want no part of the All-Star Game because of that, but they also deal with it in every road game.
But based on the potential absence of any Astros players in the All-Star Game, it’s possible that the prospect of being booed at a national stage was a factor in their decision to opt out.
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