MLB analyst says Aaron Judge, Adrian Beltre were sign stealing in 2017, then retracts his statements

A note to overzealous Twitter users everywhere: some things should stay in the drafts.

This week, Ryan M. Spaeder, an author and past guest on MLB Network talking head shows, learned this lesson. Spaeder built his follower base of over 65,000 people through years and years of tweeting obscure baseball stats, which led to his book “Incredible Baseball Stats: The Coolest, Strangest Stats and Facts in Baseball History.” On Wednesday, he launched into a since-deleted Twitter thread accusing several players and teams of cheating.

“The Yankees had cameras in left, center, and right, all pointing at the pitcher’s glove, rather than the catcher, to pick up his grip. Aaron Judge 2017-18 home — .312/.440/.725. Aaron Judge 2017-18 road — .256/.404/.531,” one tweet read.

“As insane as this sounds, I’ve heard this from multiple players, Adrian Beltre had a buddy with binoculars in dead center who would wave a beater (undershirt) if he was getting something off speed in 2017. Beltre 2017 home — .362/.440/.586. Beltre 2017 away — .271/.333/.489,” read another.

The problem, as Spaeder would admit one day later, was that none of these claims had any real reporting behind them.

“I should not have reported on unfounded allegations,” Spaeder tweeted in his underwhelming apology, in which he also cried about how his life had been turned upside down by his tweets. “I sincerely apologize to all of those impacted — it should not have happened, and it will not happen again. Stick to stats.”

THE ROAD IS NO PLACE FOR A DIAMONDBACK

It’s pretty rare that a 10-3 Thursday afternoon game becomes historical. Barring a four home run game or one player driving in all 10 runs for the winning team, it’s the type of game that gets filed away as just another one of 162.

The Arizona Diamondbacks, though, changed that, as they were on the wrong side of the 10-3 drubbing in San Francisco, which was their 23rd straight road loss. In reaching 23 consecutive losses on the road, Arizona broke a tie with the 1963 Mets and 1943 Philadelphia Athletics to become the sole holders of an unwanted record.

“It’s nothing we’re proud of,” manager Torey Lovullo said after the record-clinching loss. “It weighs on you. It’s heavy.”

Thursday’s notable defeat also brought the Diamondbacks to 14 losses in a row and 28 L’s in their last 30 games. The D-backs, expected by FanGraphs’ preseason projections to go 75-87, are well below that pace. Lovullo’s squad fell to a league-worst 20-50 on Thursday.

“I lay in bed at night thinking about different things,” Lovullo said. “Sometimes I’m up until 3, 4 o’clock in the morning trying to put the pieces of this puzzle together in my own head. It’s tough. It’s very challenging.”

Remarkably, even with 23 straight losses away from home, the Diamondbacks still do not have baseball’s worst road record. That belongs to their division rival in Colorado. The Rockies are a miserable 5-27 outside of Coors Field, but remain comfortably ahead of Arizona in the NL West standings thanks to a 24-14 home record.

The Diamondbacks might not hold on to this futility trophy for long, though. The Baltimore Orioles are currently riding a 19-game road losing streak of their own. The last time the Diamondbacks grabbed an away victory, Madison Bumgarner threw his seven-inning no-hitter. The last time the Orioles did so, John Means threw his no-hitter in Seattle.

OHTANI IN HOME RUN DERBY

Baseball’s most unique player will get a chance to show off his one-of-a-kind talents for a national audience this summer.

Shohei Ohtani announced on his Instagram that he will participate in the 2021 Home Run Derby on July 12 at Coors Field. Ohtani is the first player to officially announce their participation. The Angels’ two-way player has 19 home runs this season. Only Fernado Tatis Jr. and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. have more, with both of the Dominican sluggers sitting at 22.

Judge, who won the contest in 2017, says he’s unlikely to join Ohtani.

“I haven’t even thought of it,” Judge said with a chuckle. “I got no interest right now unless the All-Star Game’s back in New York soon.”

NO MORE MASKS FOR THE VAXXED

As most stadiums prepare themselves for full capacity crowds again, another step toward normalcy is here for those on the field.

Major League Baseball has announced that all fully vaccinated players and coaches can stop wearing masks in the dugout, bullpen, and clubhouse. Fully vaccinated players and staff are also permitted to eat in restaurants and attend other sporting events again, per a memo from the commissioner and player’s association. Compliance officers will no longer travel with teams.

Other changes to protocol include the elimination of the five-day quarantine for free agents and players selected to a team’s 40-man roster who were not previously in the COVID-19 testing program, and players and staff are now allowed to arrive in the clubhouse more than five hours before first pitch.

Unvaccinated and partially vaccinated players and staff still have mask requirements, but they will not be punished for removing a mask to eat or drink, to enter or leave a shower, or if they were directed to do so by the medical or training staff.