Yelich to Darvish amid sign-stealing debate: 'Nobody needs help facing you'
MLB handed out its biggest individual awards this week while some of the game's brightest stars officially entered free agency, but the story that continues to dominate headlines is sign-stealing.
It all started when Oakland Athletics pitcher Mike Fiers said the Houston Astros stole signs electronically during the 2017 season.
On Friday, Milwaukee Brewers superstar Christian Yelich and Chicago Cubs right-hander Yu Darvish got into an exchange on Twitter regarding potential sign-stealing.
After Bleacher Nation posted a video of a Darvish-Yelich at-bat, in which the account questioned whether the batter was receiving information from his club's bullpen, the Cubs pitcher offered up some additional insight.
Given the rumors about Brewers, I took a look at Yu's start in Milwaukee this year, where Brewers bullpen is - you guessed it - in left center. I'm not sayin', I'm just sayin': in 1st AB, Yelich's eyes dart to his left as the sign goes down, & Darvish immediately steps off. 🤔 pic.twitter.com/62NHvXRpV5
— Bleacher Nation (@BleacherNation) November 15, 2019
I'm not sure what is he trying to do.
— ダルビッシュ有(Yu Darvish) (@faridyu) November 15, 2019
But to be clear his eyes move first.
That's why I step off.
In response, Yelich had some choice words for his division rival.
Be better than this. Nobody needs help facing you https://t.co/DlUDwjJn4X
— Christian Yelich (@ChristianYelich) November 15, 2019
Darvish quickly explained - and then repeated again to Yelich - that he wasn't implying the Brewers were stealing signs with his initial tweet about the situation.
But that's not mean Brewers stealing signs.
— ダルビッシュ有(Yu Darvish) (@faridyu) November 15, 2019
Yelich owns a slash line of .364/.500/.909 with two home runs in 11 career at-bats versus Darvish.
He was 2-for-3 with a homer and a walk against him in 2019.