Aroldis Chapman Responds to Jose Altuve's 2019 ALCS-Clinching Home Run and 2017 ALCS Loss to Astros
Ask fans in the Bronx about Jose Altuve, and they won't hesitate to call him a cheat and one of the more despicable men in all of sports. And while Gary Sanchez went ahead and trolled Altuve on Wednesday, don't expect the same to come from Aroldis Chapman.
Chapman faced Altuve in the now-controversial Game 6 of the ALCS, giving up the walk-off homer to the star infielder that eliminated the New York Yankees from the playoffs. However, no excuses are coming from No. 54 -- he didn't even bring up the sign-stealing scandal, which has swept our now haunted nation.
Did Jose Altuve know what was coming on the pennant-winning homer? Aroldis Chapman accepted responsibility for throwing the pitch, then added, “That’s a good question for him.”
— Bryan Hoch (@BryanHoch) February 13, 2020
Chapman also said that sign-stealing gave Houston “the extra edge” they needed in the 2017 ALCS.
Though he did say the Astros' cheating played a role in Houston defeating the Yankees in the 2017 ALCS, which went to seven games.
Chapman has every right to bash Altuve. Instead, he continues to beat himself up over delivering a meatball parm in Altuve's wheelhouse, which the slugger sent deep into the night at Minute Maid Park.
The Astros went on to the World Series, while Chapman and the Yanks were forced to watch things from home. Karma appears to have caught up to Houston, though, as the Nationals took home the title before the fallout of the scandal completely flipped the organization upside down.
Aroldis Chapman wouldn’t say outright that he believes Altuve had the sign but called his actions rounding the bases, clearly not wanting his jersey ripped off, “suspicious.” “It’s a popular video right now,” Chapman said with a smile...at the end of the day, I just don’t know.”
— Erik Boland (@eboland11) February 13, 2020
While Chapman won't come out and call out the Astros, countless players and MLB supporters sure are doing so. For Yankees Nation, they're hoping Chapman can let his play do the talking come next season ... preferably in late October.