Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Cody Bellinger isn't happy with Houston Astros owner Jim Crane's insistence that his team's sign-stealing "didn't impact the game."
One day after Crane's comments to reporters regarding Houston's illegal sign-stealing scheme, the 2019 National League MVP called into question the Astros' World Series title and Jose Altuve's 2017 AL MVP win.
"That's just wild. And I don't know if (Crane) meant to say that or not, but that's obviously not true, because knowing what pitch is coming greatly impacts the game," Bellinger said, according to Bill Plunkett of the Orange County Register.
"I thought (MLB commissioner Rob) Manfred's punishment was weak, giving (the players) immunity. I mean, these guys were cheating for three years. I think what people don't realize is Altuve stole an MVP from (Aaron) Judge in '17. Everyone knows they stole the ring from us," Bellinger added, according to Jorge Castillo of the Los Angeles Times.
Altuve finished ahead of Judge for the 2017 AL MVP despite the New York Yankees outfielder producing a historic rookie campaign that included 52 home runs and a 1.049 OPS.
Bellinger's verbal barrage toward Altuve didn't stop there, either.
The Dodgers phenom also weighed in on the second baseman's alleged use of a buzzer to inform him of incoming pitches. Both Altuve and Alex Bregman have been accused of wearing buzzers underneath their jerseys, including during Altuve's game-winning home run off of Aroldis Chapman in the 2019 American League Championship Series.
(Source: MLB.com)
"I don't know what human hits a walk-off home run against Aroldis Chapman to send your team to the World Series and, (No. 1), has the thought to say, 'Don't rip my jersey off,' but, (No. 2), go into the tunnel, change your shirt, and then come out," Bellinger said, according to ESPN's Alden Gonzalez.
Bellinger is the latest member of the Dodgers to voice his displeasure with the Astros. At the end of January, several members of the organization, including players, manager Dave Roberts, and front-office executives, sounded off about Houston's cheating.
