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Spring training is usually a fun time for Major League Baseball players, a time spent sharpening their skills for the upcoming season while playing lighthearted games in front of crowds made up of fans who are more concerned with catching some rays and enjoying the day than worrying about who wins the actual games.
The crowds for these games are often made up of people who like to have dinner around 5 p.m. and might have their grandkids in town visiting during a school break.
If you’re a player, you’re outside all day under a warm sun, chewing on free gum or seeds, and hanging out with some really good friends.
I mean, what a way to get prepared for another season of work!
Well, that is unless you’re a member of the Houston Astros this year because this spring training has been anything but fun as the players continue to be harassed for cheating their way to a World Series title back in 2017.
And this weekend was a rough one for the Astros, who might be getting ready to snap, or least take their frustrations out on a trash can or two.
In case you missed it, fans have continued to let them have it in Florida. A video emerged this weekend of a heckler giving them the business while the players hung out in the dugout during a rain delay in a Grapefruit League game. Somebody on the bench could be heard snapping back at the fan, which means yeah, this team is absolutely getting ready to snap.
Then during Sunday’s home game against the Cardinals a fan sitting behind home plate heckled Jose Altuve while he was in the on-deck circle. The fan yelled about how Altuve should give his MVP trophy to Aaron Judge, which angered some fans sitting around him.
Again, these have just been heated moments at spring training games, where fans are basically there for a good day-buzz and some nachos. Imagine what it’s going to be like when the Astros travel to Yankee Stadium for real games in front of a real crowd?
Last week I suggested the Astros turn full heel and be the villains everyone wants them to be. That’s not going to happen, but it should.
Because it’s going to keep getting worse.
Right now the fans, like the players, are just getting warmed up.
Sunday’s biggest winner: The NBA.
Zion Williamson and LeBron James squared off for the second game in five days on Sunday night and it was another really fun matchup that will hopefully be a playoff matchup in the first round next month. The best moment came when Zion threw down a big dunk… and then seconds later LeBron reminded everyone he’s still the best in the game. Too good.
Quick hits: What did Brady say?… XFL player throws flat at ref… Did Ariza go too far?… And more!
– Tom Brady had everyone trying to read his lips after he said something to Julian Edelman at a Syracuse hoops game on Saturday.
– A XFL player got called for a penalty over the weekend and reacted by… throwing the flag at the ref. That earned him another penalty.
– Did Trevor Ariza do the right thing by checking Trae Young during Saturday night’s game?
– Alabama WR Henry Ruggs has a ridiculous dunking highlight reel.
– A Kentucky basketball fan hit a half-court shot for $10,000 and celebrated spectacularly.
– Tony Romo got PAID by CBS and fans had reactions.