A’s subtly troll Astros by putting cutout of mascot in trash can

After finishing second in the AL West the past two seasons, the A’s couldn’t help but take a dig at the rival Astros.

Despite not even playing Houston on Friday night (Oakland faced the Angels), the club placed a cardboard cutout of Houston’s mascot, Orbit, in what appeared to be a trash can and stashed it in the bleachers. ESPN’s TV broadcast captured the troll job placed between other fan-created cutouts. Teams around the league are letting fans put images of themselves or loved ones in the stands during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Astros, of course, were exposed by an MLB investigation for illegal electronic sign-stealing. Their system included a ploy in which they would bang a trash can to let a teammate know if an off-speed pitch was coming.

Houston would have been subjected to regular jeers from fans had spectators been allowed during the 2020 season. The campaign’s delayed start and empty stands, however, have minimized the heat the team will face.

But the Astros apparently aren’t totally in the clear, and it will be interesting to see if other clubs follow Oakland’s lead by implementing in-stadium reminders of Houston’s misdeeds.