War of words on Astros scandal now involves partial tattoo

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) — The verbal sparring between the Houston Astros and others around the majors over the team's sign-stealing scandal is reaching new levels of absurdity — from accusations of illiteracy to claims about a player's partial tattoo.

Yes, really.

And spring training is only a few days old. Imagine what things might be like once the Astros start playing games.

Houston shortstop Carlos Correa took his turn escalating the situation to something a professional wrestling fan might appreciate, going after Los Angeles Dodgers star Cody Bellinger on Saturday for the reigning NL MVP's recriminations.

In an interview with MLB Network, Correa responded to Bellinger's barbs from a day earlier by saying: "The problem I have is when players go out there and they don't know the facts, they're not informed on the situation and they just go out there in front of cameras and just talk. And with me, that doesn't sit right. Doesn't sit right at all."

Correa went on: “He either doesn't know how to read, is really bad at reading comprehension or is just not informed at all."

At Dodgers camp in Glendale, Arizona, a few players watched Correa's interview on televisions in LA's clubhouse.

Los Angeles closer Kenley Jansen, for one, is growing tired of hearing about the whole thing and would rather just forget what happened in 2017.

He called what the Astros did worse than baseball's steroids and gambling scandals of the past and offered up a suggestion for a way Major League Baseball could have penalized Houston.

"Let them play the season," Jansen said, "but ban them for the postseason this year."

And round and round it goes.

On Friday, Bellinger said the Astros "were cheating for three years" and called out second baseman José Altuve in particular.

"I think what...

source https://www.chron.com/sports/article/War-of-words-on-Astros-scandal-now-involves-15059522.php