LOS ANGELES — A pandemic did not prevent Dodgers fans from firing in-person invectives at the Astros.
A group of people clad in Dodger blue and carrying an assortment of signs gathered outside Dodger Stadium prior to Saturday’s series opener between the two clubs. The fans yelled and banged trash cans toward the Astros team buses as they pulled into Dodger Stadium. About an hour and a half before the game, an airplane flew over Dodger Stadium dragging a sign that read "Houston Cheats Bang Bang."
Signs ranged from profane to punny. One said “Cheaters never prosper” along with a reminder that the Astros have a 22-23 record. Another simply stated “we hate you.” The Astros defeated the Dodgers in seven games to win the 2017 World Series — completing a season where they electronically stole signs during home games at Minute Maid Park.
“Obviously they were our World Series rivals from a couple years ago and they’re a really good team, but I don’t think there’s anything extra,” Houston first baseman Yuli Gurriel said through an interpreter. “It’s just a good baseball team and you want to beat a good baseball team.”
Some signs memorialized reliever Joe Kelly’s comments to Carlos Correa during a benches-clearing incident on July 28 at Minute Maid Park. According to Astros manager Dusty Baker, Kelly told Correa “nice swing, b---ch” after a strikeout, prompting the benches to clear. Earlier in the inning, Kelly threw a pitch at the head of third baseman Alex Bregman.
Kelly is currently serving his five-game suspension for his actions that night and, therefore, unavailable to pitch during this two-game series. Kelly was reinstated from the injured list on Thursday after a month-long stay with right shoulder inflammation. The appeal to lower his suspension from eight games to five was heard while he was on the injured list.
Following Kelly’s antics, Baker proclaimed the actions “bad baseball.” The manager was fined an unspecified amount for his team leaving the bench. Baker said on Saturday that he was not expecting a repeat scene between the two clubs this weekend.
“I never expect any anyway,” Baker said. “Expecting it doesn’t do any good. We just have to go out there and beat them. We need victories. I’m not anticipating any extracurricular activities. I think Joe Kelly is serving his suspension, he’s not available.”
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts was suspended one game after the benches-clearing incident. On Saturday, when Roberts arrived to the ballpark, he saw the group of rabid fans awaiting the Astros.
“I loved it. I loved it,” Roberts said. “I think they have every right to do whatever they feel to express their feelings and I thought it was great. It just shows the passion that Dodger fans have.”
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