Current and Former Dodgers' are Starting to Speak -- On Twitter

On Monday the Dodgers released what is likely to be their only statement related to the current scandal rocking the game. They said:

“All clubs have been asked by Major League Baseball not to comment on today’s punishment of the Houston Astros as it’s inappropriate to comment on discipline imposed on another club. The Dodgers have also been asked not to comment on any wrongdoing during the 2017 World Series and will have no further comment at this time.”

Clearly, we shouldn't expect to hear anything more from the ownership (and I assume the coaching staff) about the sign-stealing mess. That said, this edict does not extend to the players. Several current and former Dodgers' are raising their voice on twitter and it's worth making note of it.

I'll begin with Yu Darvish -- whose career in Dodger Blue was inexorably tied to those games he pitched against the Astros. He released a YouTube video on Monday that addresses what had been revealed thus far. You can watch it here, but it's in Japanese. Fortunately, a redditor provides a helpful translation (link here). Below is an excerpt:

I find it very disappointing and saddening that people like this who I know are good people at heart ended up affecting me in a negative way from small mistakes along the way. But I don't think they had any guilt or thought of wrongdoing while they were doing it. Old fashion sign-stealing from the basepaths is fine and obviously very prevalent in amateur baseball throughout the world and even in MLB. So many Astros personnel probably just thought "there's nothing wrong with it, we're just getting an upper edge by using new methods to achieve it." But of course, using technology like a Center Field camera to do something like this is a completely different story. I always say this but Major League batters play at an extremely high level and the balls are juiced. So if you add the fact that they know what pitch is coming, there's really nothing you can do as a pitcher.

Newest Dodger signee Alex Wood basically parroted Darvish's thoughts, via a tweet today:

I would rather face a player that was taking steroids than face a player that knew every pitch that was coming.

— Alex Wood (@Awood45) January 16, 2020

Pedro Martinez does so as well, via his twitter:

Well explained Carlos PEÑA. As a pitcher listening to you, I totally agree on how much of an advantage a hitter has when he knows what pitch is coming, and the kind of movement and speed to look for! I’m 👀 @MLBNetwork keep it up

— Pedro Martinez (@45PedroMartinez) January 16, 2020

James Loney takes a more personal approach, via his twitter:

Alex Cora treated me wonderful when I was with the @Dodgers and is known as one of the best guys in the game. In saying that, man has always tried to gain an edge in anyway possible, but when rules are broken you must pay the price. What’s done in the dark will come to light.💯 https://t.co/I4HZNGOYWd

— James Loney (@james__loney) January 15, 2020

Former Dodger backstop Paul Loduca adds some detail as to why this is so serious, via his twitter:

This is starting to get insane. Buzzers, nieces, fake niece...and what people don’t get is if they were doing this to a rookie trying to stick during the season and lit him up then he gets sent down...he may never get another chance. There’s so many layers..I want to puke.

— Paul Lo Duca (@paulloduca16) January 16, 2020

Now, former Dodger Micah Johnson -- who is now out of the game -- pipes up, via his twitter:

It’s complete BS ( I had to work my ass off just to hit .230 in the MLB) These dudes are set for life financially because they knew if a fastball or change up was coming.. for those who haven’t faced either, nearly impossible to tell the difference!)

— Micah Johnson (@Micah_Johnson3) January 16, 2020

Which leads us to our MVP, Cody Bellinger. He expresses understandable shock at the idea that buzzers may have used (as you may know, this has not been proven at all), via his twitter:

For the sake of the game I Hope this isn’t true.. if true, there needs to be major consequences to the players. That Completely ruins the integrity of the game!!!

— Cody Bellinger (@Cody_Bellinger) January 16, 2020

To which Brett Anderson adds, via his twitter:

A lot of people in the Astros organization right now pic.twitter.com/ydHtVFqedx

— Brett Anderson (@_BAnderson30_) January 16, 2020

I am sure that over the coming days and weeks more will be said. In the meantime, I think it is fair to say that this has been one of the more explosive winters in Baseball history.

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