Houston Astros Continue to Feel the Hate Following Sign-Stealing Revelations

MLB spring training has seen Houston Astros run the gauntlet of fans angered by the relevalation surrounding their sign-stealing behavior, which resulted in a number of the team’s management being fired last month.

The Astros were the subject of a large investigation by the MLB who found the Astros guilty of illegally using a camera to steal signs from catchers to pitchers during the 2017 season and the opening salvos of 2018.

General manager Jeff Luhnow and manager AJ Hinch were fired having been suspended without pay for a year. Houston Astros were also hit with a $5m fine and they will forfeit their first and second round draft picks in 2020 and 2021.

The Astros opened their exhibition schedule against the Washington Nationals last week, the side who beat them in postseason four months ago, and unsurprisingly their side was booed incessantly throughout.

Indeed a fan who was displaying a sign berating the Astros’ behavior saw the ‘offending’ item confiscated

On top of this backlash no less than seven Astros players have been hit by pitches during spring training, suggesting that MLB sides are not ready to forgive the antics of their opposition this season.

MLB World Series Futures from MyBookie

Los Angeles Dodgers +305

New York Yankees +350

Houston Astros +900

Atlanta Braves +900

Perhaps surprisingly the climate of animosity hasn’t affected the MLB betting all that much, with the Astros sitting pretty as third favorites in the World Series futures market behind the Los Angeles Dodgers and the New York Yankees.