Zobrist sarcastically rebuffs Dodgers' sign-stealing accusations
Ben Zobrist is flattered the Los Angeles Dodgers think so highly of him.
After catcher Yasmani Grandal accused the Cubs outfielder Sunday of potentially stealing signs during the eighth inning of Game 1, Zobrist took to Twitter to thank the backstop for the backhanded compliment:
This is hilarious....umm...no I was not stealing signs. Glad you think my baseball IQ is that high. https://t.co/2XMFmQJS5i
— Ben Zobrist (@benzobrist18) October 18, 2016
Grandal referred to Addison Russell's at-bat in the eighth inning of Game 1 as a potential sign-stealing moment. With Zobrist on second after a leadoff double, Russell displayed a suspicious patience at the plate in Grandal's opinion that earned him a 3-0 count.
"All the sudden, Russell is not taking good swings at sliders, looking like he's looking for a fastball and in a certain location," Grandal said. "Did we know Zobrist had the signs and was doing something for it? Yeah, we did. That's why we do it."
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts, meanwhile, wouldn't be shocked if the Cubs have figured out how to relay pitches to their batters.
"That's part of the gamesmanship... if they are that wouldn't be a surprise," he told J.P. Hoornstra of the Southern California News Group, adding that many teams have been stealing signs.
With the series tied at 1-1, Game 3 between the two clubs goes Tuesday at 8:00 p.m. ET at Dodger Stadium.