Astros hope to move on from cheating scandal as MLB restarts

first round of spring training was dominated by fallout from Houston Astros' sign-stealing scam.

Players were plunked in exhibition games and heckled at every turn. Fans held signs mocking Houston players, and one man even banged on a trash can at an early workout in a reminder of how Astros illegally stole signals during ir run to 2017 World Series title and again in 2018 season.

With a second stretch of practices just around corner after Major League Baseball committed to a 60-game season this week, will AL champion Astros be able to move on from cheating scandal after a layoff that lasted almost four months?

Are fans and opponents ready to forgive and forget? Or will anger toward this team remain for its past transgressions?

Astros owner Jim Crane, who fired manr AJ Hinch and general manr Jeff Luhw last winter after Commissioner Rob Manfred suspended both for one season as penalty for ir roles in scandal, hopes things will be better this time around.

“We broke rules," Crane said Wednesday. “We got punished. We accepted punishment and we did what we did. We let two of our key guys go."

“We think we’ve handled it appropriately," he continued. “I’m t happy about whole situation. We’ve got to accept what we did. We own it and I’ll talk to players about it one more time and hopefully we can move on from that and make sure that it doesn’t happen again."

Astros were almost certain to face hostile crowds on every road trip this year and knew y'd hear even more heckling as y began to play games that counted. But that might t be an issue w that coronavirus pandemic has forced a shortened season that will — at very least — start without fans in ballparks.

New manr Dusty Baker, a respected MLB veteran, helped team navigate reaction to scandal during first spring training, which was stopped on March 12 because of virus. He doesn't kw if changed circumstances since n will make it easier to move on.

“I’m t really sure until we get re," Baker said. “This is all uncharted waters. ne of us have been through this before in spring training, emotions that were out re."

While catcalls from unhappy fans in stands might t pose a problem for Astros this year, y could have to deal with being intentionally hit by pitches when season gets underway. Several Houston players were dinged in spring training games before pause.

Some opponents had called for retaliation against Astros, irritated that Houston players were disciplined for ir roles in scandal. MLB's investigation found that Houston used video feed from a center field camera to see and decode opposing catcher’s signs. Players banged on a trash can to signal to batters what kind of pitch was coming, believing it would improve batter’s chances of getting a hit.

Manfred addressed subject of Astros being intentionally hit by pitches as a means of retaliation this spring, saying it was “really dangerous” and won't be tolerated.

Despite his warning, Astros could still be subjected to beanings when season begins by those who still aren't over what y did.

But for w, Astros can't worry about what might happen, so y will simply try to look ahead. And while Crane is optimistic y will be able to move forward, he kws scandal will linger and hover over his team.

“This story will continue for a long time and it will always be discussed," he said. “And it’s unfortunate we were right in middle of that and I’m t happy about it and I’ve apologized numerous times. It shouldn’t have happened ... we’re sorry we did it. We’ve apologized to fans. We just want to go play baseball w."

Baker, managing for first time since being fired by Washington Nationals after 2017 season, is looking forward to doing just that.

“ guys are ready," he said. “y’ve got a great attitude. We want to go back to top where we belong.”