Cody Bellinger was one of the first people to speak out against the Houston Astros after Major League Baseball confirmed that the 2017 World Series champions cheated their way to a title, and Bellinger feels no differently about the situation a month later. If anything, the Los Angeles Dodgers star has gotten more angry.
Bellinger was asked on Friday about the scripted apology the Astros delivered the day before, and he said he found Houston owner Jim Crane’s comments to be “weak.” Bellinger also called it “wild” that Crane said the Astros’ sign-stealing scheme did not impact games.
"They're not saying that they're cheating. They never said 'No' to the buzzers. They always just said the commissioner's report. It's kind of bizarre what's been going on over there. We listened to that and the guy said it wasn't impacting the game — are you kidding me?"
Bellinger also took aim at Jose Altuve, whom he accused of stealing an MVP Award away from New York Yankees slugger Aaron Judge in 2017. Bellinger then said the Astros stole a World Series title away from the Dodgers that year and that MLB commissioner Rob Manfred’s punishment was not adequate.
Bellinger: "I thought Manfred's punishment was weak, giving them immunity. I mean these guys were cheating for three years. I think what people don't realize is Altuve stole an MVP from Judge in '17. Everyone knows they stole the ring from us."
While there has been no evidence that the Astros wore buzzers so signs could be relayed to them, Bellinger clearly finds the denials from Houston players hard to believe. He said the video that showed Altuve telling Astros players not to tear off his jersey after the second baseman hit a game-winning home run off Yankees reliever Aroldis Chapman “makes zero sense to me.”
Bellinger on the video that circulated apparently showing Jose Altuve telling his teammates not to rip off his jersey after his walk-off home run in Game 7 of the ALCS. pic.twitter.com/WhRByRmZBb
Obviously, Bellinger and the Dodgers feel a lot more strongly about the Astros’ cheating than many others. They lost to Houston in seven games, which makes the sign-stealing even tougher to swallow. Mix in the stuff about Yu Darvish supposedly tipping pitches and there are still plenty of unanswered questions about the 2017 World Series. You can’t blame Bellinger for being so fired up.
As more and more allegations about the Houston Astros’ cheating emerges, more players are feeling emboldened to speak out. On Thursday, that included some members of the Los Angeles Dodgers, who lost to the Astros in the 2017 World Series, the year MLB confirmed Houston cheated.
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!!!
His teammate, pitcher Alex Wood, put into context just how bad the Astros stealing and illegally communicating the signs in real-time is for a pitcher. He said he’d rather face someone on steroids than a hitter who knew what pitch was coming.
I would rather face a player that was taking steroids than face a player that knew every pitch that was coming.
When MLB handed out punishments on Monday, the franchise was hit by penalties, and so were GM Jeff Luhnow and manager AJ Hinch. Alex Cora was also named. Carlos Beltran was the only player named, and that’s because he’s no longer playing. MLB otherwise left players out of it and did not discipline them.
The Los Angeles Dodgers were arguably hurt more by alleged sign stealing from the Houston Astros and Boston Red Sox than any other team. The Dodgers were on the wrong end of the 2017 World Series against Houston, and a year later, they lost the 2018 series to the Red Sox.
With that in mind, star outfielder Cody Bellinger couldn’t help but point out that the Dodgers were playing by the rules during their two World Series defeats.
“Honestly, we’re curious to see what happens,” Bellinger said Sunday regarding the impending punishments, via Alden Gonzalez of ESPN. “It sucks, man. We were close, but we did it the right way.”
You can understand why Bellinger is a little aggrieved. The Astros’ alleged 2017 sign stealing operation has been well documented, and may have helped Houston beat the Dodgers that year. We recently learned the Red Sox allegedly had their own operation in 2018, though it should be noted that it wasn’t happening during the playoffs when they would have met the Dodgers.
Ultimately, the Dodgers came very close, especially in 2017, but couldn’t seal the deal. Bellinger’s pride is understandable, but that sting won’t go away just because there may have been cheating taking pace on the part of their opponents. It’s teams like the Dodgers, however, that will really want to see the league come down on both of these teams if significant wrongdoing is found.
Dodgers fans, show everyone who runs LA with this great T-shirt:
Cody Bellinger was named NL MVP on Thursday, and the Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder was emotional upon learning the news.
MLB Network had the three MVP finalists (Bellinger, Christian Yelich and Anthony Rendon) on a live feed for the announcement show. Bellinger was surrounded by his family. When he was named MVP, he received a big hug from his father, who was emotional. That emotion caught Cody as well, and he began to cry.
Bellinger, 24, has played just three seasons in MLB and has already brought home plenty of hardware. Two years ago he was NL Rookie of the Year, and this year he’s NL MVP.
The honor was deserved, too. He slugged 47 home runs with 115 RBIs and a 1.035 OPS for the Dodgers, who led the NL with 106 wins. Bellinger led the league in total bases (351) and intentional walks drawn (21). Yelich was probably in line to take home MVP honors until his season ended due to a leg injury.
Los Angeles sports stars collided on Tuesday when new Lakers star Anthony Davis visited Dodger Stadium.
The Dodgers shared a video on Twitter of Davis meeting with Cody Bellinger in the Dodgers’ clubhouse before the team’s game against the Toronto Blue Jays. As this video clip shows, Davis went looking for a handshake with Bellinger, but the National League MVP contender didn’t see it. The result was pretty funny:
Bellinger has owned Los Angeles this summer. He has 42 home runs and is batting .317 for the Dodgers, who have the most wins in the NL. He’s just borrowing the spotlight until Davis and the Lakers take the court later this year, at which point the Lakers and Clippers will be competing in the city.
Cody Bellinger had nothing but love for Pete Alonso after seeing his record fall on Sunday.
Alonso went 3-for-4 with a walk, three runs scored and two RBIs in the New York Mets’ 11-5 win over the Kansas City Royals. He slugged a solo home run in the ninth inning off Jacob Barnes to give him 40 on the season. The 40 home runs is a National League rookie record, surpassing Bellinger’s mark of 39 set in 2017.
The Dodgers star congratulated Alonso over Twitter, who was grateful for the recognition and sent some back.
Even though his record fell, Bellinger probably isn’t the least bit concerned. He smacked a 3-run home run on Sunday, giving him 42 homers and 97 RBIs on the season. He is the frontrunner to win National League MVP this season.
The Los Angeles Dodgers had a quick turnaround in between games to start the week, but star slugger Cody Bellinger may have just discovered the secret.
After a 12-inning affair against the Red Sox on Sunday night led to a 4:30 AM arrival at their hotel in Philadelphia, the Dodgers took care of business against the Phillies with a 16-2 drubbing on Monday. Bellinger had two home runs as part of a four-hit game and gave an interesting explanation for his success.
“I think it’s just more kind of a ‘Whatever’ attitude,” he said, per Bill Plunkett of the Orange County Register. “It was different. You’re not as hyped up. I mean, I drank two Red Bulls and took a lot of Advils so I was feeling alright. I guess it was just one of those days where you’re feeling more relaxed.”
Bellinger is now leading the league with 33 home runs on the season. If he wants to hold off Milwaukee’s Christian Yelich, maybe he should take a page out of the book of this college coach and go full-time with the energy drinks.
Those working the graphics department at Citizens Bank Park might be regretting poking the bear.
When Cody Bellinger came to the plate to lead off the second inning of Monday’s game between the Los Angeles Dodgers and Philadelphia Phillies, a note on the scoreboard said that Bellinger didn’t have an RBI against the Phillies this season.
True enough, Bellinger had hits in each contest of the Dodgers’ three-game sweep of the Phillies earlier in the season, but no RBIs.
Though Bellinger struck out in the second, the words quickly came back to bite the Phillies in the rear. Bellinger homered in the fifth and seventh and then singled in the eighth and ninth. He finished the game 4-for-6 with four runs scored and two RBIs as the Dodgers pounded the Phillies 16-2.
They’ll need a new tidbit for Bellinger on Tuesday, hopefully one that doesn’t have as much potential to backfire.
Things are going so well for Cody Bellinger at the plate this season that he’s even getting help from his opponents.
Bellinger on Thursday was credited with his 27th home run of the season after Colorado Rockies center fielder David Dahl’s misplay pushed the ball over the fence at Coors Field. Bellinger was leading off the top of the second off Peter Lambert and hit a ball to deep left-center. Dahl drifted back and leaped to make the catch but he misplayed it and knocked the ball over the wall:
For the second straight day, a girl ran onto the field to give Cody Bellinger a hug while he was in right field. And for the second straight day, the girl who did so said it was “worth it.”
On Sunday, a young girl ran onto the field during the Dodgers-Rockies game in Los Angeles and hugged Bellinger. Though she was handcuffed by security for the incident, she called it the “best day ever” and said it was “worth it.”
On Monday night, a different girl ran onto the field during the Dodgers-Diamondbacks in Arizona to hug Bellinger. Different city, same result. The girl posted the video on her Twitter profile Tuesday, saying it was “worth it” and she was “inspired.”
As this is beginning to develop into a trend, the Dodgers have grown concerned. Bellinger has as well and believes it could get “dangerous.”
The Dodgers want fans to stop running onto the field to meet Cody Bellinger. "I’m just trying to play a game. I don’t think I should have to worry about who’s gonna come on the field and whatnot,” Bellinger said. “I think it could be dangerous, although it’s innocent right now."
He’s right. If young fans want to meet Bellinger, they should do so in appropriate settings, like by going to the park early and hanging near the field during batting practice, or by going to official meet-and-greet events. Running onto the field for a hug — especially if they think that’s how they’re going to get viral attention — is not the way to do it.
