The Houston Astros are still stealing signs. Just this time, those signs belong to the fans.
The Astros took the field on Saturday for their first game since baseball’s offseason was rocked by a cheating scandal concerning Houston’s past three seasons — including the 2017 World Series season.
Though the Astros were technically the home team in this spring training opener against the Nationals, the two clubs share the facility in West Palm Beach, Fla.
This brought plenty of heckling Nationals fans to the Ballpark of the Palm Beaches.
When the Astros were first announced — especially for Jose Altuve, Alex Bregman and Carlos Correa — the team was met with loud boos from the stands.
Astros getting booed at spring training pic.twitter.com/bIRQT5wQYz
— Gump Cathcart (@bubbagumpino) February 22, 2020
Other fans brought signs to heckle the Astros, and video hit Twitter showing a ballpark staffer confiscating a sign that read, “Houston *’S.”
And then the signs got confiscated by ballpark personnel who said signs weren’t allowed. #astros pic.twitter.com/XNrhkxxo5n
— Kristie Rieken (@kristieAP) February 22, 2020
The Associated Press spoke to one of the fans who had their signs confiscated, and he said that he wasn’t aware that the Astros were barring signs at their spring training games. Via USA TODAY Sports:
Matthew Silliman, who held one of the signs, said he didn’t know they were forbidden. He drove to the game from Tampa Bay and said he’s been waiting to let the Astros know what he thinks of them.
“I’m a big Nats fan and it’s wrong,” he said. “They’re cheaters.”
The game was eventually canceled due to weather.
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