There are a hundred questions a day that come out of the Astros’ sign-stealing scandal, most of them involving the cheaters themselves, as it should be, and the people in positions of power who enabled them for years.

Here’s what fascinates me:

What about Astros fans?

Remember, this was a franchise that had existed for more than a half-century with almost no discernible history. There was the Astrodome, which when it was built was billed as the Eighth Wonder of the World. There were two classic NLCS losses, in 1980 to the Phillies (maybe the greatest playoff series of all time) and in 1986 to the Mets (which featured Game 6, which some consider the greatest postseason game of all time).

There was one World Series appearance from 1962-2017 — a four-game sweep at the hands of the White Sox in 2005, after the White Sox had gone 88 years without winning one (including, ironically as it turned out, 1919 — which, until recently, lived alone as the greatest scandal in baseball history). There were some fine players through the years — Cesar Cedeno, Nolan Ryan, Jeff Bagwell, Craig Biggio.

Still, until 2017, you could argue the Astros were the very definition of a “nondescript franchise.”

Then they won it all in 2017. From 2017-19, they won 311 regular-season games. They were on a path that could’ve lifted them into the rarefied air of some of the best teams of all time if they could keep it up a few more years, add a title or two. Since 1903, very few teams not named the New York Yankees have reached that level of possibility. The great A’s teams of the late ’20s and early ’70s did. The Cincinnati Big Red Machine did. The Red Sox from 1903-18 (and 2003-18) did.

And here came the Houston Astros, looking to join the club.

Now, we know that will never happen — no matter how many games they can win with a still-excellent roster, even if they win another title free of buzzers and trash cans and whistling. It is possible they will have to make do for years — maybe for decades, maybe longer — with 2017, which is likely to not be vacated but will forever be tainted.

If you are an Astros fan, do you care?

In your heart of hearts, was it worth it?

It’s been interesting watching the way Patriots fans have behaved these past 20 years. We know for a fact the Pats have dabbled in nefarious behavior, and have been sanctioned for their loose interpretation of ethics and rules. We do not know — will probably never really know — how much things like Spygate and Deflategate contributed to the six Super Bowls they won between 2001-19. Maybe a lot. Maybe a little. Maybe none at all.

The Pats, too, were a nondescript franchise before any of this happened, a pile of uninspiring seasons and coaches and history, two Super Bowl appearances (in which they were turned into a grease spot by the Bears and hammered by the Packers). Before 2001, the term “Patriots Nation” would’ve evoked gales of laughter, because it would’ve been a population of about 179 people or so.

And … well, it’s different now.

And Patriots fans, speaking generally here, don’t care. They don’t care that fans of 31 teams think they are nothing but cheats and frauds. “Jealousy!” they scream. They don’t care that the Patriots have become the most hated team in professional sports. “Come get us!” they crow, to greater effect than Brodie Van Wagenen could ever hope to have. Patriots fans almost delight in being detested. They wear it easily, like their favorite No. 12 Brady jersey.

Will Astros fans follow the same path, especially when the team begins its tour of the American League this year, facing a litany of hard feelings and a roster of opponents craving payback? Is this destined to be their thing? Patriots fans answered this question long ago in the affirmative, but it’s worth asking the same of Astros fans:

Was it worth it?

I’m not sure you’ll ever see an announcement more universally greeted with smiles and warm feelings as the one Friday, when it was announced that Mike Breen (below) had won the 2020 Curt Gowdy Award and is headed for a permanent place in the Naismith Hall of Fame. That’s what happens when you’re not only the very best at what you do professionally, but also one of the very best people anyone will ever know.

Fordham basketball has gotten so little right the past 25 years or so. Sunday, though, they will hold a “Salute to Heroes” promotion for the Rams’ game with Duquesne at Rose Hill Gym. First responders and service members can receive up to four complimentary tickets. Go to fordhamsports.com and use promo code: HEROES.

The Rangers sure seem to be sabotaging their rebuilding plan by winning every night, and I’ve yet to meet one Ranger fan who minds even a little bit.

You’d have thought Brodie Van Wagenen would’ve learned his lesson about supplying bulletin-board material for the Mets’ NL East rivals. You’d have been wrong.

John Cobert: I’m not crazy about A-Rod owning the Mets, but if that’s what it takes to get him out of the Sunday night booth …
Vac: I could see that particular groundswell growing.

Dick Schlott: Were the umpires deaf during the Astros games? It is incumbent on the umpire crews to see and hear what is going on, including strange noises coming out of a dugout!
Vac: And to think, all these years, people thought you could only make fun of umpires being blind, not deaf.

@AJharpman1: Well, @jimcrane says the Astros cheating had no impact. If true, why did they do it for three years? Puh-leeeze. Strip the title and suspend the team.
@MikeVacc: I’m not quite there thinking MLB should make like the NCAA and force the Astros to vacate their title. But I’m also a lot closer than I ever thought I’d be.

Bo Feuerstein: From the retired-and-nothing-to-worry-about man: Every day I get up and can’t help but wondering why Brandon Steiner hasn’t tried to sell the dented garbage can with some dirt in it from Minute Maid Park? Bet Brett Gardner would have a blast with it.
Vac: Give it a week or two.