When Major League Baseball announced plans to have teams play a shortened 2020 schedule of games against divisional opponents and those in the same geographical region from the opposite league, plenty of intrigue went to the Los Angeles Dodgers facing the Houston Astros.
The matchups would mark the first between the teams since MLB found the Astros guilty of electronically stealing signs when they defeated the Dodgers in the 2017 World Series. Several players, namely Cody Bellinger and Justin Turner, were vocal about the Astros’ misconduct.
Although there was initial hope the pair of two-game series the Dodgers and Astros played would have some fans in attendance, they were played in front of an empty Minute Maid Park and Dodger Stadium.
In the absence of fans being present to boo the Astros, the Dodgers’ game operations crew worked in references to the cheating scandal. As compiled by ESPN’s Alden Gonzalez, DJ Severe and Dieter Ruehle played a slew of songs that were related to the Astros’ sign stealing:
There were no fans in the stands, and thus, no booing of the Astros at Dodger Stadium. But @DieterRuehle and @djsevere went in on them with their music choices this weekend. Their troll songs … pic.twitter.com/AYPJH3GMxk
— Alden Gonzalez (@Alden_Gonzalez) September 14, 2020
This wasn’t the first instance of DJ Severe and Ruehle using their creativity, as they combined for similar treatment when Madison Bumgarner made his first start at Dodger Stadium after a run-in with Max Muncy.
If not for Kenley Jansen imploding in the ninth inning on Saturday night, the Dodgers would have swept the Astros in all four games this season. Instead, they bounced back in the series finale and settled for taking three of the head-to-head meetings.
The first of which was in Houston and featured benches clearing after Joe Kelly and Carlos Correa exchanged words. Kelly received an eight-game suspension, which was reduced to five upon appeal, and he is currently serving the ban.
A group of Dodgers fans awaited the Astros’ arrival at Dodger Stadium, lining the entrance with signs and some carrying trash cans.
Roberts supports Dodgers fans
Several players rolled their windows down and gave some semblance of approval and acknowledgement to the group of fans that gathered at the Vin Scully Avenue entrance at Dodger Stadium, and manager Dave Roberts went on record with his support.
“I loved it,” Roberts said. “I think they have every right to do whatever they feel to express their feelings. I thought it was great. It just shows the passion the Dodger fans have.”
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