While Houston Astros owner Jim Crane was making a complete fool of himself to the media at his team’s spring training facility in West Palm Beach, FL, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts told the gathered media at the Dodgers spring training facility in Glendale, AZ that he and his team are looking forward, not back.

Although the Dodgers skipper did not see the televised broadcast of Crane’s pathetic attempt to apologize (or not), Roberts had this to say about his own team and organization:

“Speaking for this camp, we’re very focused internally and understanding what took place, but our guys are really really focused on ’20,” Roberts said diplomatically. “Obviously there’s been some good things that have happened for us the last couple days, new acquisitions, so honestly, we’re kinda just focused on getting ready for 2020.”

But media-types being media-types, questions about MLB’s biggest scandal since the Black Sox Scandal of 1919 – or ever – continued, and Roberts continued to field them like the consummate pro that he is.

“Our stance has been what happened happened. There’s nothing we can do to change it,” Roberts persisted. “For us, our story is moving forward. … A lot of good things are going to happen in ’20. That’s our stance.”

But while the Dodgers skipper was eloquently fielding unpleasant questions like the consummate pro that he is, Crane made a complete ass out of himself 2,300 miles away in West Palm Beach.

“Our opinion is this didn’t impact the game,” Crane told reporters when asked about the effect his team’s sign-stealing had on baseball – in particular the Dodgers – in 2017. “We had a good team. We won the World Series, and we’ll leave it at that.”

But he didn’t – or perhaps couldn’t – leave it at that.

Less than two minutes later, the arrogant Astros owner said, and I quote: “I didn’t say it didn’t impact the game.”

When told of Crane’s ridiculous conflicting statements, Roberts had this to say:

“He’s going to give his thoughts and opinions as he’s entitled to do, so I’m not going to speak to that,” Roberts said. “As far as the game of baseball, there’s a lot of variables. Anyone who’s played the game, who knows the game, that can impact a game. I think that’s not going out on a limb.”

Ya done good, Dave Roberts.

Jim Crane … not so much.

Play Ball!

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