#Cody shares in their beef for sure

[is-there-an-echo-in-here]

X

[dobriking]

Bend Into A Break (2)

Summary: Not one, but two vlog-squads came with the death of Vine. And the rumored beef between you two is absolutely true! So, you and David (begrudgingly) set up a month long-retreat among your groups to film team challenges and go against each other. Y’know. For views. Pairing: David Dobrik x Reader, Enemies to Lovers, living together. Warnings: Profanity, Arguing

1 | 2 | 3

“Sorry, what?” Heath’s the first before the outbreak.

With your hands hooked together in front of your stomach, you take in a breath but don’t find the courage to let anything out. He’s not mean — certainly not to you at least — but his voice is so harsh about it. You look to David thinking he’d have something to say to tame Heath but he looks back at you. He’s not smiling snobbishly or anything. He’s keeping the baton passed to you.

And inside his head, there’s nothing malicious about it. He admits despite what he knows about this whole thing that it’s best if you explain it.

“We — me and David uh…” one last look and this time he encourages you with a nod. Your two groups, sitting as scrunched together as can be on David’s living room couch, bond with looks over how peculiar this is. “We decided that…it would be really good in terms of content and material means to—“

He drops the supportive look and rolls his eyes, stepping up to shout (quite coolly), “We’re going to be living and fighting with each other for a little bit. No big deal.”

In a moment of worry none of David’s group has ever seen, your Cody breaks the silence with a strained, “What?”

And then hell breaks loose.

“I-I think,” Drew looks around, “I think this is a joke…or-or something…”

Cody crosses his arms. “Definitely not funny.”

“Cause I am definitely not living with him.” Zane snorts almost, pointing to Cody without sparing a look.

You smile, balls of your cheeks as high as you can raise them. “Well good! Cause you are!” David chokes on his laughter and that provokes everybody even more.

Heath jumps from his spot, betrayed and pointing to David with both hands. “You’re in on this?!”

Noel squeezes himself deeper into the armrest. “No shit he’s apart of this.”

Heath stops, looking to David (who gives him nothing) then Zane. He claps, stomps, and shouts, “The fuck you just say to me!?” He finds the amusement at how fast all of this blew up on Cody’s face too condescending, and Cody claps his hands to his knees while looking at Heath with a mocking glare.

"He said no shit he's apart of this, dumbass!"

Standing, Heath begins to yell at Cody and Noel. Poor Drew is stuck in the middle of it, as quiet as Scott, Corinna, Amanda, Toddy — everybody that isn’t Zane, Heath, Cody, and Noel. Zane even stretches over Drew to yell in Noel’s face, clapping periodically when his voice gets its highest.

David jumps seeing how far back your eyes roll into your head. He just about thinks he’s kickstarted a seizure — so he goes “HEY!” and shuts everybody up.

“Guys, stop. Look, me and Y/n agreed to this together, okay? So if everybody would just sit down…?” His hands fan down. Heath is wary but he does. Cody, however, can’t help but stick his tongue out at him like a child, squishing his eyes nearly shut. The only thing that keeps Heath seated is you and your piercing eyes.

David holds his hands to present you. “Y-you wanna…?” He stutters.

You step forward but resist looking at anybody. You only look to various points in the room that could classify as ‘staring into space,’ mostly to avoid catching an irritating set of eyes that discourages you.

“So…” you start. David nods. It’s a bit of a push to get you to continue, “everybody on this website knows we hate each other. Okay well not really. We know we hate each other, the fans think this is just a fun little rivalry. If we do this they’re going to go absolutely crazy—“

Corinna raises her hand. You’d say she’s a sweetheart as she’s never been too harsh with you but you can’t shake the feeling that she’s judging you whenever she looks your way. You point and she puts her arm down, crossing them and leaning back against the wall (Toddy by her side). “We don’t even know what this is. So can you like—“

“Yeah, can you guys explain it?” Toddy interrupts.

Corinna scoffs and distances herself a little bit.

Shame to say not everybody is in this room. Only the “OG” group is present. And OG in itself is a tricky thing. You’d say the people present are the most beloved of your two groups, the ones in your vlogs most consistently, and the ones that have been around the longest. It’s even more of a shame to say that Tom isn’t here because the damn Brit is off being British in Britain. Your group is outnumbered. Even though Gabbie isn’t here, the addition of Natalie still puts you at odds.

You sigh, knowing to deal with it later. “The idea is that our two groups battle each other over the course of a month."

“Oh.” Cody pipes. “Yeah, I’d be willing to beat up this guy.” A thumb points over to Heath.

“Oh screw you.”

“No,” you pinch your nose, “not that kind of fight. Fun fights like volleyball. Or dodgeball or hell I don’t know, tennis maybe — shit you’d do on Field Day in elementary school. It’d be great for all of our channels, good for merch, good for sales cause I know that’s all some of you care about.” Noel just has to gasp out loud at the diss you whispered. “TLDR; we host a team-event with goals and prizes and take over Youtube, basically.”

They all hum.

Chloe’s in thought squinting at the ceiling. Emily is in a similar state but comes to her conclusion earlier. “So wait we’re like…the Jake Paulers and Logang…ers, now?”

You blink. “No.” But technically, “Wait, maybe. Never-mind that!”

“Wait wait wait,” Heath holds up a finger. “You said we were going to be living together.” That finger points to David.

"That's like the Team Ten house!" In comes the overlapping chatter.

You smile. “Yes. That’s cause it was David’s idea that we do. So!” You pull an expandable metal pointer from your sleeve (to the surprise of many) and David steps to the side, revealing his television. He glares softly for calling him out but the transition was so quick there’s no chance for retaliation. Natalie (thankfully yet to be caught in the crossfire) starts up the same presentation you showed him. Though you took in the time to add some of his ideas.

“I got in touch with my agent and found two possible places we could all pack up and yes, live in together!”

A shared groan. The boys on the couch begin flailing about like grumpy babies without enough space.

David jumps with the picture that pulls up. He does a double take, one at the screen and the other at you. He’ll never not admit you work your ass off, that’s for sure.

“The first option is the Ella Rose Estate, second is the Houdini Mansion.”

As the soft name may suggest, the Ella Rose is beautiful. It's painted white with a dark grey, almost black rooftop (for contrast) and despite vines and moss eating up most of the front side, the pop of color is what adds to the beauty. Only $1,500 a night although that might change with twenty fucking people, but it has a medium sized pool in the back and a more contemporary to modern aesthetic. Its size will certainly be a hassle getting around in with so many people but maybe that’s a good thing.

As for the Houdini…you flip to the pictures of that (also white on the outside with dark roofing) and the whole room jumps. Cody buries the side of his body deeper into the couch, and Zane looks back to see if his group is seeing what he is.

David jumps as well. Quite the change indeed.

It’s a Victorian-esk mansion on the outside, beautiful and pristine, but the inside (while kept up) is dark with everything made of stainless, shining cherry wood, and decorations which also point toward the Victorian aesthetic.

“David! You tryna put us in a horror movie?” Zane shouts.

“We’re already in one,” you mutter.

Natalie keeps flipping through and everybody is very audible with their chills. The house is beautiful (as Erin and Carly note, lips pressed tight but impressed with the pictures you’ve picked) but everything without the lights is so damn dark.

Beautiful, but dark.

However, it is very spacious. The dining room (depending on how you space the chairs) could hold 10 people on a side. And for the bedrooms you explain, “Houdini Mansion actually used to be an orphanage—“

“Nuh-uh!” Zane jumps and pulls his legs under him. “Don’t even try to tell me that place isn’t haunted!”

You grin. “Actually tourists report—“

“HELL NAH!”

“Yeah no."

“Noooo no no no no!”

People actually have the audacity to start leaving the room!

You drop your hands to your side, speechless frankly. When you were in school and your teachers started boasting about how immature you were being you always thought they were being overdramatic. This is the equivalent of students leaving three minutes before the bell. If they would just sit and listen they’d know where you were going with this. There's a pang in your chest for all the teachers you underestimated.

Because here you are with a bunch of actual children.

David doesn’t pay attention to the escaping flock. He looks at the presentation carefully. It’s on a photo of the entrance room. The composition isn't centered but straight ahead there’s the staircase (one of two he assumes), to the right is the kitchen separated with a glass door, and past the stairs is a horizontal hallway and another room he can see. He never-minds the fear of any extra cost you’ll have to pay in damages, and with a giggle and his tongue poking out of his mouth he goes, “I’m in. I choose this one.”

Somewhere in everybody’s collective mind, a record-scratch can be heard. People look over their shoulders for him to repeat, “I've decided. We’re going.”

Chloe chokes. “You can’t make us go.”

David ‘pouts’ and you do too. It’s not even on cue but the way your heads tilt inward and your arms go limp by your sides is so coincidental it's frightening.

You grimace. “Oh, but I can.”

David clicks his tongue and sighs. “Guess it’ll just be Y/n and me.”

“For a month getaway.”

“I mean — I guess it's fine since we’re the only two that’ll have a share of the money, I dunno—“

“FINE!” Heath steps forward, and so does Zane. You find it strange how Cody and Noel only step forward when they do. They return to their spots on the couch but this time poor Drew has some air to breathe now that he’s decided it’s best to stand up.

“Yes,” Cody seethes, rubbing his eye, “Y/n…continue.”

You nod at Natalie and she goes to the next slide.

“David’s crew will be red, mine will be blue. Which means for a month the only color any of us will be wearing is our team’s.” Enya (Always looking damn good in red) grunts into her first and slaps her chair’s arm. You look solemnly at her but shrug it off knowing full well that girl can pull off blue.

Carly raises her hand. “Okay wait. What don’t you classify as ‘colors?’”

David picks at his lips and mumbles “Black, silver.”

You shrug, “White. Also, you could get away with wearing black the whole time if you dye your hair.” It’s true. She feels at some tuffs between her fingers, getting along with this idea.

“Me and David would come up with challenges and things that can be won from those challenges. David will keep uploading Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, and I’ll keep uploading on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays. And each day we will post a challenge spliced in with other shenanigans.” You look at him and keep eye contact. “And David and I can figure out what we’ll do on Sunday cause we agreed that we want a steady stream of content so whatever it is will probably be small or just between us like a uh…?”

“Q&A?” Cody suggests.

Bless Cody and his words which break your eye contact with David. “Uh yeah. That’s actually a good idea. We’ve also agreed it’s only fitting that David's his team’s leader and I’m my team’s leader—“

Corinna raises her hand, “What do you have in mind for merch?” but doesn’t wait for you to acknowledge before she lowers it.

“Well I haven’t gotten to—nevermind, we’ll get to that. Typical shirts, those like short-short 70s shorts, leg-warmers, headbands and uh…?”

“Bandanas,” David pipes up. He picks at the corner of his eyes. “Socks, backpacks, water bottles and stuff.”

“And how do we figure out where we’ll be staying?” Chloe asks.

You keep your lips shut.

David’s unsure if he should continue or not. But when his extended groan fails to jolt you out of your stasis, he steps forward and lazily gestures the presentation behind him. Natalie flips through it sporadically to match up with what he’s saying. You’re just shocked they’ve all become so accepting.

“Well Y/n said she’s already planned a photoshoot. So like, of individual teams, teams together, individual members, members together. And like members would be paired based on their stereotype or something?” He looks for assurance and you nod. “So Amanda and Toddy — you two would be paired I guess. Uh…Heath and Cody, Chloe and Carly, Erin and Emily — ha, that’s ironic. Right?” He nudges you. He’s actually concerned at this point. You look so flustered and he’s chewing on his cheek leaning forward to get a look at you. Thankfully you snap out of it before he looks like a creep.

“Uh yeah. Yeah yeah, that sounds right,” you say.

“Okay wait,” Zane purses his lips. “What kind of photoshoot?”

“We didn’t steal your 200th video idea if that’s what you’re asking.”

He sits back with nothing to say.

“Are we allowed to leave?”

You nod. “You can go do whatever you want in your free time.”

David sniffles. “We might leave to do some stuff too.”

You click your tongue and bask in the silence. But then it gets too awkward for your liking so you clap your hands together and open your arms to any more questions (physically and figuratively). But there are none. Matt perks up but deflates immediately, and the same for the others as they find questions but come to their own conclusions.

“So…” you clap, “sound good?”

The image of you and David standing almost as one, as leaders and together for once submits everybody else into something of children looking up to their apprehensive parents. So they act as such. Some cross their arms, others stomp but ultimately say nothing. And while most begin to pout there’s a select few who couldn’t care less, only thinking of the experience they’ll be able to say they had. They seem content: Carly, Erin, Natalie, Drew, Amanda, Scotty, and Toddy.

“Good!”

David puts his hands in his pockets and begins to sway. “Okay you can go now.”

They sluggishly leave the room and that leaves you two alone in semi-silence. Nothing is said but you react appropriately and together to the curses and hisses thrown around in the next room.

“Well…” you bite your lip, “this is going to be fun.”

David holds his hand to you.

“Yup.”

And you shake it.

TAGS

@wefracturedmotivation @blackhood5sos @i-heart-movies @sinfulmango @edalalalalalala @mostlydobrik @latelycrazy​ (Added the people who liked the original post asking to be tagged. Message me if you don’t want to be, or message me if you would).

[p-redux]

Follow Up To My Earlier PSA 

Okay, I’m back to calmly and hopefully rationally address what @contemplatingoutlander aka CO wrote about me in the screencap above, which she posted on her blog today. Hey, I was wordy back in the day, then I got tired, and stopped writing, but this one is going to be long. I can see the eyerolls from here, but hey, I’m perfectly okay with that. :-)  But I hope people take the time to read it.

1. CO, I’m not sure why you’re writing about me at all, when I, Purv, have NOT attacked you or written about you. Paul called you out, NOT ME. Why are you bringing me into this when there is not one shred of evidence showing I had anything to do with what Paul wrote about you? It’s not my fault he mentioned me in his post as someone to follow. He did that, not me. I had NOTHING to do with it. 

CO, you think I’m in cahoots with Paul or telling him negative things about you. I don’t need to tell Paul anything negative about you because HE has had his OWN negative interactions with you. His impressions and opinions of you are based on how YOU have shown yourself to him, not anything I have said. There’s nothing I need to add. Also, Paul’s DM’s on Twitter are open. Anyone can contact him. I blocked you because I want to move on, the last thing I would be doing is involving myself in drama related to you.

2. You said “Like most of the fandom, except for NSTs, sadly I don’t trust Purv anymore,” Um, why am I not trustworthy? Literally everything I said sources had told me about Sam and Cait not dating, Cait dating Tony, Sam dating Cody, Abbie and Mackenzie, literally everything I said came TRUE. I have SHOWN I’ve been telling the TRUTH. I understand you’re hurt, but your attack on me is misplaced. And it’s not fair--something you pride yourself on. 

ALL I have done is block you because I don’t want to have you in my Tumblr experience. That doesn’t mean I wish you ill will or am plotting against you behind your back...quite the opposite, it means I don’t want to think about you. Interacting with you was causing me too much stress, so I decided to invest in self-care and set that limit for myself. Once I blocked you, I didn’t give you a second thought...I wasn’t in some back room, conjuring up ways to get rid of you with Paul. I wasn’t thinking about you at all. I know that’s hard to believe but it is the absolute truth. 

And ALittleBitMass is NOT my partner in crime. She’s hardly on and we’ve only talked a couple of times. I know you were convinced she was me, and have told people that based on the fact that she came down hard on you and knew things about NST and the fandom that you deemed only an “insider” would know. Well, I explained to you that the reason Mass knows stuff is because she is friends with someone who used to be in my inner circle, and THAT person shared info with her. I have no problem being straight with you publicly or privately and you know I never have, so why would I need a sock account to do it? I wouldn’t. I tell you what I think and feel right to your face. Right here. Again, if you have a beef with Mass or Paul, direct it to them, please don’t involve me. 

3. As for me repeatedly telling you that I think you’re too soft on shippers sometimes and that you have on occasion appeared to be a shipper sympathizer, yes that’s true. I have said those things and I still believe that. But the only reason I think those things is because ES will never change, not the hard core tinhatters, and they have shown they are very manipulative, and I felt that sometimes you were naive and fell for their deceit and machinations, and gave them leeway they then used against NST. HOWEVER, I never said you should leave...I said that you were in too deep with this fandom stuff, and took it too seriously and maybe because you are a sensitive person (not a bad thing) you’re not cut out for fighting ES because that necessitates someone with a very thick skin and someone who doesn’t take things personally. I suggested many times that you take a break, but for your own mental well being and to decrease your own stress level because you were my friend, and I cared about you, NOT because I wanted to get rid of you. I never said you should leave altogether and never come back. I DON’T WANT TO GET RID OF YOU. Let me repeat, that, I don’t want to get rid of you, CO. First of all, how would that even be possible? I have no control over what you or anyone else does, I can only control my own actions. So, how the heck would I “get rid of” you? It’s a notion that actually makes me laugh, like I have some magic wand that I can wave or something. :-) But I DON’T WANT TO GET RID OF YOU, so that’s a moot point.

4. I used to be controlling like you and cared what people said, did and who they followed. I used to also take this way too seriously...but when my dad got sick and especially after his death, something changed in me...I gained some much needed perspective and realized that all this fandom stuff is nonsense and not important and that’s when I was able to let go and not care what people did, said or who they followed. I literally could give a rat’s ass about any of that now. And it’s SO much better this way. I have PEACE. So, when you come at me with such emotions and so convinced that I’m trying to get rid of you or somehow am plotting against you, it makes me shake my head because nothing could be further from the truth. I DON’T CARE...stay, go, take a break, come back, what you or anyone here does does not matter to me. I have no control over it. It does not affect my life or my fandom experience in any way, shape or form. Like I said before, there is room for both of us. I just don’t want to interact with you, because you treat me badly. You do your thing, and I’ll do mine. That’s all. And I don’t care if everyone who follows me also follows you. I have NO beef with anyone but you. I’m cool with everyone else. 

5. I didn’t want to do this publicly, but you opened the door, so I’m walking through it. Why do I have a beef with you? Because I finally got tired of you repeatedly coming into my DM’s telling me what to do, and making me feel badly about being me. You constantly came into my DM’s to tell me to delete part of a post, delete a post altogether, to not say this or that, or use this word or that word, you questioned my motives, accused me of being accounts I’m not, and when I didn’t do what you deemed to be correct, you flipped and turned into another person, yelling and cussing at me. Also, I heard from several NST and then you yourself admitted it to me that when I first came back to Tumblr you went around DMing people telling them not to follow me. My God, instructing people who didn’t even know me, not to follow me--how is that being a nice person?  How am I supposed to trust YOU after that? But I did, and I kept following you and supporting you and reblogging you for months. Then one day, the light bulb went on, and I realized I didn’t need the stress and maybe I could survive in NST Tumblr land without CO. I thought we made a good team in debunking ES crap and thought I needed to follow you, but then I realized the good didn’t outweigh the bad. And frankly, I have been much more at peace and with no stress on Tumblr since I blocked you. 

So, in summary: CO, I am not plotting against you. I am not in cahoots with Paul, Mass or anyone else. I don’t want you gone. All I want is PEACE and no drama in my fandom experience when I’m hanging out on here with other NST. I have decided that the way to facilitate that is to not see your posts, so I’ve blocked you. That’s it. That’s not a sin. That doesn’t mean I hate you or wish you harm...all it means is I’m taking care of ME and setting limits for myself. I think that’s a good thing...and I shouldn’t be faulted for it. I wish you well, CO. Now, please, please can we move on.  

PS. I don’t need anyone to respond to this, I don’t want people taking “sides,” I just wanted things CLEAR--that’s my thing, I hate miscommunication and misunderstandings and I like things DIRECT. So, the ONLY purpose for me writing this is to put MY TRUTH out there. That’s it. Much love to all the NST’s!

[junker-town]

MLB players are not happy with the Astros’ ‘weak’ apology and lack of punishment

Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images

“They sure as shit need to do more than what they already did.”

One of the central goals of punishment is to discourage the recurrence of the event in question. The early read on the Astros sign-stealing penalties is MLB wasn’t nearly harsh enough.

Astros players were granted immunity by Major League Baseball during their investigation, and no players are expected to be punished in the soon-to-be-published Red Sox investigation either. Houston and Boston aren’t the only teams accused of skirting baseball’s rules, with at least seven other teams named by Astros personnel as electronic sign stealers in MLB’s investigation, per Tom Verducci of Sports Illustrated.

The only way to rebuild trust in the game after this debacle is to make sure this malfeasance doesn’t happen again, which means stricter rules for use of video rooms around the league, and harsher penalties for rule-breakers, including the players. It’s something the players union would have to agree to through collective bargaining. Judging from the response to the Astros scandal, it might not be hard to drum up support.

Players reported to spring training camps across the Grapefruit and Cactus Leagues this week, and several had thoughts on the Astros, their punishment, and incredibly weak apology.

The aggrieved

This was Cody Bellinger’s opening comment ... pic.twitter.com/tJaQr03TeV

— Alden Gonzalez (@Alden_Gonzalez) February 14, 2020

Justin Turner on the Astros World Series championship: “It’s hard to feel like they earned it.”

— Molly Knight (@molly_knight) January 25, 2020

You can see how visibly pissed Cody Bellinger is when talking about the Astros pic.twitter.com/QUXiNwzbxd

— Blake Harris (@BlakeHarrisTBLA) February 14, 2020

Yankees catcher Gary Sanchez referenced Jose Altuve’s pennant-winning home run in Game 6 of last year’s ALCS, after which Altuve was adamant that none of his teammates rip off his jersey. Rumors abound about the Astros wearing buzzers beneath their jerseys, which to date have been denied by several on the team. MLB has as yet found no evidence of the buzzers.

“I can tell you that if I hit a homer and I get my team to the World Series, they can rip off my pants. Everything. They can rip everything off,” Sanchez told reporters Thursday. “If I get my team to the World Series, hitting a walk-off homer like that, they can rip anything off.”

Aroldis Chapman allowed that home run to Altuve, and Thursday told reporters, “I think a lot of people have seen that video. It’s a popular video right now. If you look at his actions, it’s a little suspicious, right? But at the end of the day, I just don’t know.”

#Dodgers Alex Wood on possibility opponents will take it out on Astros by throwing at their hitters: "You would be hard pressed to say no. I mean, they messed with a lot of guys lives. I don't condone that type of behavior. We certainly don't play them. ..." (cont)

— Bill Plunkett (@billplunkettocr) February 14, 2020

"and they'll get suspended more games than any of those guys got for the biggest cheating scandal in 100 years. It'll be pretty ironic when that happens because I'm sure that's how it will end up playing out." 3/3

— Bill Plunkett (@billplunkettocr) February 14, 2020

When he thought he was being traded to the Angels, Ross Stripling started wrestling with whether he would intentionally throw at an Astros hitter to retaliate. He concluded he probably would, at the right time, in the right place. I think it’s a fascinating question.

— Pedro Moura (@pedromoura) February 14, 2020

The Dodgers lost the 2017 World Series to the Astros, and the Yankees lost the ALCS in both 2017 and 2019 to Houston, so their beefs are more personal. But other teams have players angry about the Astros, too.

Other players

Rob Manfred has failed the game he was tasked to protect. He should resign. This is a joke. The Astros just gave us all the double bird and walked away.

— Tony Barnette (@HeyBarn) February 14, 2020

Sean Manaea was pretty unimpressed with the Astros presser this morning. “They didn’t own up to anything, they all just sort of said the same thing. They want to move on but they haven’t even said what they’ve done.”

— Susan Slusser (@susanslusser) February 13, 2020

Manaea was unswayed by Jim Crane’s contention that the cheating did not affect games. “Then what’s the point of doing it then? Why are you all cheating if you don’t think it’s going to affect the game? You’re not doing it to try to lose or stay the same.”

— Susan Slusser (@susanslusser) February 13, 2020

Indians pitcher Mike Clevinger said of the Astros, “I don’t think any of those motherfuckers should be able to look us in the eye. They should feel ashamed.”

In 2017, an Astros player FaceTimed Chris Archer to tell him he was tipping pitches. That was a lie. The Astros were banging a trash can. “It sucks when you dedicate your whole life to something, and somebody’s out there doing some shady shit like that.”https://t.co/xMHZkwMTsx

— Stephen J. Nesbitt (@stephenjnesbitt) February 13, 2020

Stephen Strasburg, the 2019 WS MVP, with more high heat for the Astros: "Someday I’m gonna hopefully have some grandkids and sit down and talk to them about the experience of the World Series and not really feel ashamed of it at all."

— Tyler Kepner (@TylerKepner) February 14, 2020

Andrew Heaney wants the Astros to fess up: pic.twitter.com/2YMTcSEySH

— Maria Torres (@maria_torres3) February 12, 2020

If the Astros want to “move on” from this mess .... maybe actually own up to it and be accountable, or just keep “BS”ing ... which is what they will do and this will linger and tear them apart ‍♂️ @MLB

— Shawn Kelley (@kelleytime27) February 13, 2020

Didn’t impact the game lol

— Michael Hermosillo (@mhermosillo10) February 13, 2020

Todd Frazier retweeted an article in which a body language expert said Altuve wasn’t telling the truth and “the whole thing was scripted bull.”

Daniel Descalso, on the Astros presser/apology today: “It’s hard to judge the sincerity. I don’t know them and don’t know what’s going on in their head but it felt a little scripted.”

— Jesse Rogers (@ESPNChiCubs) February 13, 2020

Andrelton Simmons took the “petty” route on his IG story after the Astros’ apology today. pic.twitter.com/VDB85OO0gX

— Fabian Ardaya (@FabianArdaya) February 13, 2020

Let’s say someone messes up. Messes up bigly, even. And the truth is that they really don’t care about messing up. At all. In fact, they would do it all over again, and you know this. Asking for a friend, would you rather receive:

— Trevor Bauer (@BauerOutage) February 13, 2020

that’s it? What a f*#*!!! joke. I’m old, retired, out of the game so screw my thoughts but damn lol. All people want is something from the heart if it’s there. Something!!

— David Freese (@DavidFreese) February 13, 2020

I’m no expert, but I am a human who understands what remorse looks like. Didn’t really see that. Just some smugness and rehearsed blanket answers.

— Trevor Plouffe (@trevorplouffe) February 13, 2020

Mike Bolsinger, who allowed four runs while recording just one out in a relief appearance in Houston at the height of the Astros’ electronic sign-stealing in August 2017, is suing the team.

“I want my lawsuit to lead to positive change,” Bolsinger opined in The Washington Post. “Baseball is at an important crossroads. How the game responds to this scandal will define its credibility and its existence for years to come.”

Bolsinger hasn’t pitched in the majors since that disastrous outing, is no longer on a 40-man roster and is not part of the union. But his sentiment is shared by many players around the league, and that’s going to be important going forward.