Los Angeles Dodgers star outfielder Mookie Betts recently came clean about the Boston Red Sox sign-stealing scandal in 2018.

When asked if he was aware that the team was stealing signs through live video that year, Betts was direct.

“Yeah,” he stated, “everybody was.”

Betts noted that it was an infrequent practice, however, and not a daily occurrence. The commissioner’s office also stated that the Red Sox system was “far more limited in scope and impact” than the rampant electronic cheating committed by the 2017 Houston Astros.

The Red Sox were never found guilty of stealing signs throughout the 2018 postseason, nor was there any evidence of foul play during their World Series victory over the Dodgers.

Betts extrapolated further, “People are trying to make it like we’re cheating. Give us credit. We had a good team.”

“We had Cy Young winners. We had MVPs. We had Gold Glove winners. We had Silver Sluggers. We had all that. Take that into account.”

Here’s an idea: if you want respect and credit, especially if you are already a great team, leave no doubt and WIN WITHOUT CHEATING.

It is not a hard concept, no matter how small the infraction was.