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Darvish doesn't blame 2017 WS struggles vs. Astros on sign-stealing

Jim McIsaac / Getty Images Sport / Getty

If anybody has the right to be upset that the Houston Astros allegedly stole signs during the 2017 season, it's Yu Darvish.

The right-hander went 0-2 with a 21.60 ERA against the Astros in the 2017 World Series as a member of the Los Angeles Dodgers. Those struggles included a Game 7 performance that saw Darvish last only 1 2/3 innings while allowing five runs in a decisive loss.

However, Darvish isn't ready to lay blame on anybody but himself for an awful showing that could've been partially due to Houston's batters knowing what pitches were coming.

"I feel that if I absolve myself and say it was the Astros' fault (that) I was bad in Game 7, in the World Series, I can’t develop as a person," Darvish said in Japanese on YouTube, according to Dylan Hernandez of the Los Angeles Times. "In life, I think huge failures are extremely important. I've had a few up to this point. The World Series was one of them. I think it will remain a point of reference for me.

"I've already learned a lot from it. So regarding that, I can't view myself charitably. I think I have to continue to accept the results."

Darvish, now a member of the Chicago Cubs, thinks Houston just had his number.

"If you ask me if I got hit in Game 7 because they stole signs, I don’t think so," the four-time All-Star said. "The Astros have great players who don’t have to do that. So I think that whether or not they stole signs, the results wouldn’t have changed."

The 33-year-old added that he doesn't understand the appeal of sign-stealing.

"What fun is (it) to hit a pitch that you know is coming?" Darvish said. "As a pitcher, it feels weird. As a hitter, I wonder if it makes them happy. Houston won the World Series in 2017, but if they really did that in the World Series and hit like crazy and won … I couldn't do that."

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