Yu Darvish Maintains Responsibility for Dodgers' World Series Loss Despite Astros' Sign Stealing
By Sean Facey

The Houston Astros' sign-stealing scandal has brought up plenty of questions about the validity of their domination over the last few years, as well as how we ought to view players who struggled against them.
A series of videos suggests that the Astros were even whistling out signs during the 2017 World Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers, a series in which pitcher Yu Darvish struggled mightily. But even with the significant amount of evidence pointing to the idea that his opponents could have cheated, the four-time All-Star is still holding onto responsibility for the Dodgers' defeat.
Once again, Yu Darvish has my respect and admiration. https://t.co/RGuLQz68WC pic.twitter.com/oQ2L8lSpc4
— Jon Weisman (@jonweisman) November 15, 2019
"I feel that if I absolve myself and say it was the Astros' fault I was bad in game 7, in the World Series, I can't develop as a person," he said, placing the burden for the crushing loss on himself. "I think I have to continue to accept the results."
It's not often that we see player as maligned as Darvish has been act so willing to bear the weight of their failures freely and publicly, especially in the face of a cheating scandal that could have contributed to those failures directly.
Yu Darvish is conflicted over #Astros sign-stealing allegations. “Because I had that experience, I was able to work hard these last two years and become the person I am now.” https://t.co/79OwjekIQ1 #Dodgers
— Dylan Hernandez (@dylanohernandez) November 15, 2019
He could easily chalk up his and the rest of the pitching staff's ups-and-downs to the fact that the Astros' hitters knew exactly what was coming, and not a soul would blame him for it. Yet he continues to display true humility in his acceptance of defeat.
We’ve all debated whether Yu Darvish was tipping his pitches in Gm7 of the 2017 World Series for the #Dodgers.
— Steve Mason (@VeniceMase) November 12, 2019
NEW REPORT: The #Astros have been stealing signs electronically for years and that could have caused Darvish’s struggles.https://t.co/pAZDTFjSdE
He has shown grace in defeat the likes of which every athlete across all sports should aspire to have.
Perhaps if the Astros had displayed the same amount of integrity as Darvish does to his own team, he wouldn't have to have ever been subjected to these seemingly endless conversations of his World Series meltdown in 2017.