Signs stolen from fans as they heckle Astros at spring opener

Fans hoping to heckle the Astros on Saturday were met with quite the coincidence: They got their signs stolen. In the Astros’ first spring training game since their sign-stealing scandal rocked baseball, some fans brought signs jeering Houston, and ballpark personnel confiscated them before the exhibition opener against the Nationals in West Palm Beach, Fla.

In a Series rematch, the Nats got hearty cheers, while everyone in an Astros jersey — including the mascot, Orbit — was booed. Houston did not use any players implicated in MLB’s probe.

Two men in Nationals gear sitting behind the Astros dugout briefly held up crudely drawn signs just before first pitch. One read: “You see my hate?” in large block letters. Another said: “Houston” with an asterisk below it, suggesting the Astros’ 2017 World Series title should be permanently blemished because of the cheating. The men didn’t get to show off their signs for long. A woman who worked for the ballpark quickly approached to take the signs.

The Astros and Nationals share a spring training complex.

Matthew Silliman, who held one of the signs, said he didn’t know they were forbidden. He said he’s been waiting to let the Astros know what he thinks of them.“It’s wrong,”he said.“They’re cheaters.”

Fans booed every time the PA announcer said “Astros,” and fans behind Houston’s dugout heckled Jose Altuve, Carlos Correa and Lance McCullers Jr. before the game. A few fans banged on their metal seats, attempting to mimic the banging on a trash can the Astros used to relay stolen signs to hitters.