AUG. 19: Gibaut’s suspension was reduced to two games and he has dropped his appeal, the Rangers announced. He’ll begin serving the ban tonight.
AUG. 18: Major League Baseball has suspended Rangers right-hander Ian Gibaut three games and manager Chris Woodward one game for a controversial incident Monday that saw Gibaut throw behind Padres star Manny Machado. Gibaut and Woodward were also both fined. Gibaut is appealing his suspension while Woodward will serve his suspension for today’s game.
During Monday’s game, the Padres were leading the Rangers 10-3 in the eighth inning when Fernando Tatis Jr. came to the plate with the bases loaded. Tatis swung on a 3-0 pitch from Juan Nicasio that resulted in a grand slam, prompting Gibaut to replace Nicasio on the mound. Machado was the next batter up after Tatis, and Gibaut’s first pitch to Machado was behind the third baseman’s back. No ejections or warnings were issued after the pitch, though the umpiring crew did meet on the field to discuss the situation.
After the game, Woodward told MLB.com’s AJ Cassavell and other reporters that wasn’t pleased by Tatis’ swing. “There’s a lot of unwritten rules that are constantly being challenged in today’s game. I didn’t like it, personally,” Woodward said. “You’re up by seven [runs] in the eighth inning; it’s typically not a good time to swing 3-0. It’s kind of the way we were all raised in the game. But, like I said, the norms are being challenged on a daily basis, so — just because I don’t like it doesn’t mean it’s not right.”
Even Tatis’ own manager Jayce Tingler wasn’t entirely pleased, noting that Tatis missed a take sign on the pitch. “He’s young, a free spirit and focused and all those things. That’s the last thing that we’ll ever take away. But it’s a learning opportunity,” Tingler said.
Woodward and Tingler each received widespread criticism for their comments, with Woodward’s citation of baseball’s “unwritten rules” drawing particular derision. Many current and past players (including such legends as Reggie Jackson and Johnny Bench) have defended Tatis, with Cardinals ace Jack Flaherty providing perhaps the most succinct counterpoint: “Don’t like it… don’t fall behind 3-0, pretty simple.“
The suspensions to both Gibaut and Woodward indicate a clear feeling on the part of the league that the pitch to Machado was intentional, and to that end, it is somewhat surprising that Woodward only received one game (if the league felt he directed Gibaut to throw behind Machado). MLB has taken a generally stricter line for on-field discipline this year as part of their health and safety procedures, though this particular incident didn’t lead to anything like a brawl or even an open argument between the two teams.
play stupid games…
I’m not against unwritten rules, most of the time I like them. This one’s a hard one though, especially with such a young tenacious player like Tatis.
If you know that Tatis is one of the best players in the game, it’s probably not a good idea to lay a cookie right in his wheelhouse if you’re trying to throw a strike. Tatis is one of those few guys where it’s better to walk in a run than to throw BP to him to try and get a 3-1 count.
*throw (what amounted to BP) to him
I agree. If you don’t want to give up a grandslam on a 3-0 pitch down 10-3, don’t give up 10 runs, don’t go 3-0 with the bases loaded. Woodward and Gibault are basically saying, “we suck so bad we want you to take it easy on us.” I can’t think of a less honorable thing to say.
Agreed
Agreed
Forget the unwritten rules. Tatis ignored a sign because he wanted his ego stroked. He should be benched until September.
That is an opinion held by exactly one person. Sometimes it is better to be silent and let people think you are ignorant than to speak and prove them right.
When your boss gives you instructions and you ignore them, I am sure all is hunky dory for you, and you probably get a raise. Talk about ignorant.
GareBear is correct.
Everybody in this situation sucks.
Tatis sucks for missing or ignoring the take sign. (NOT for swinging specifically, because this “unwritten rule” is a really goofy one.)
His manager sucks for putting the sign down in the first place.
Woodward and anybody who complained about a player on the opposing team not taking it easy and giving up an AB to help them out sucks for doing that. If he directed what the pitcher did, even moreso.
Gibaut sucks for throwing at somebody. Period, regardless of rationale. The fact that the rationale was also terrible makes it even easier to criticize.
This kind of stuff makes baseball a laughingstock. No wonder younger people aren’t watching in nearly the numbers older folks are.
Tatis stole third off Gibaut in today’s game with the Padres up by six runs. Todd Frazier looked like a stiff trying to tag him.
It was presumably Tatis’ way of sending a two word message I can’t repeat here
Boys will be boys.
Bob Gibson approves.
Amen
Perfect answer and let’s not forget all these hitter’s this day and age who dive over HP on every pitch. Gibson, Ryan, Bob veale would have had those types so scared now to go to the plate that they would be begging for some safe space to crawl into and phone home to cry about it.
Last pitcher I can remember who would habitually “undress” a batter for diving over the plate, hot dogging around the bases etc.. Was Josh Beckett. How much of a lost art it’s become is how long ago it was with him and his prime.
Another item needs bringing back. Ryan made his career from “accidentally” throwing behind a lineup’s best hitter’s heads 1-2 times per game.
If a broken bat wasn’t javelin tossed at someone, the pitcher needs to up the intimidation factor.
Top 100 all time hit batsmen list is full of studs.
Roger Clemens, Randy Johnson, Pedro Martinez or Greg Maddux weren’t letting batters get away with anything.
Arms like this weren’t seeing many pitches get away from them.
Yet all hit over 100 batters in their careers.
5-10 guys a year, enough to send a message when needed.
It happens.
Definitely less these days.
Active leaders: Charlie Morton, Johnny Cueto, Felix Hernandez, Ervin Santana, Cole Hamels, Chris Sale, Justin Verlander.
All these guys on a Beckett level.
Scherzer hits 12 guys to lead the NL in 2018.
Charlie Morton hits over 12 guys every healthy year!! Current king bulldog right there.
It’s almost as though the leaders in hit batsmen happen to be guys who played a really long time because they were good. Guys who aren’t good don’t play long enough to be all time leaders even in hit batsmen even if they do it at a higher rate.
Almost eh!
The anomalies that aren’t knucklers or spitballers always give me a chuckle whenever someone questions a guy like Joe Kelly for not being able to throw the ball exactly where he aims just because he is a Major League pitcher.
Pitchers over 5000 IP that started their career in the last 100 years:
Niekro 5404 IP, 123 HBP
Ryan 5386 IP, 158 HBP
Perry 5350 IP, 108 HBP
Sutton 5282 IP, 82 HBP
Spahn 5243 IP, 42 HBP
Carlton 5217 IP, 53 HBP
Maddux 5008 IP, 137 HBP.
What is it that puts Ryan and Maddux so far above guys like Spahn and Carlton?
Owning that inside half of the plate a little too aggressively or sending subtle messages a few times a year?
Spahn and Carlton didn’t need that added edge apparently? Impressive sportsmanship.
Batters wearing armor and leaning over the plate sometimes need to be backed off. In most pitchers’ opinion at least?!
Other side of that thought is the guys under 3000 career IP that were over 100 HBP. List may be incomplete, but here’s some real gems:
Jamey Wright 2036 IP, 155 HBP
AJ Burnett 2731 IP, 143 HBP
Pedro Martinez 2827 IP, 141 HBP
Chan Ho Park 1993 IP, 138 HBP
John Lackey 2840 IP 133 HBP
Aaron Sele 2153 IP, 112 HBP
Pedro Astacio 2196 IP, 111 HBP
Vicente Padilla 1571 IP, 109 HBP.
How did Padilla survive that many IP? Hah.
Morton is 1418 IP and 119 HBP.
Wildly effective is certainly a thing.
Cueto 1887 IP/106 HBP is another modern bulldog.
Last thoughts for now:
Bulldog Orel Hershiser was at 3130 IP and 117 HBP.
Bob Gibson was at 3884 IP and 102 HBP.
Career hit batsmen leaders at wikipedia. Good stuff.
how dare Tatis swing a bat at a baseball and launch it over the fence. so rude
I know. Who does he think he is? A professional baseball player who’s job is to be good?
He should be fined and benched for intentionally ignoring a take sign
Ignoring a sign is not fine-suspension worthy. Throwing behind a batter intentionally is.
It’s BS he got the take sign in the first place. Trout would never be given a take sign even as a second year player and Tingler shouldn’t be trying to dictate an at bat for a player as locked in as Tatis.
Tingler even admitted the take sign was a mistake. Never give an order that shouldn’t be followed is leadership 101.
Tatis Jr should never have apologized for giving 100%.
And not like the rangers have any room to talk about personal accolades after dropping a foul ball for Minor to get 200 strikeouts last. year.
Tatis Jr’s job is to help the Padres win games and set himself up for better pay days via the arbitration process.
Not make Woodward and Rangers players feel good about themselves.
Worried? Don’t load the bases, don’t walk people before him, don’t fall behind 3-0, and then expect another teams player to tank an at bat.
Is your lecture over now? He ignored a sign in order to showboat. Yeah, there should be consequences.
We get it beisbolista, you don’t like Tatis! You are in the minority here. We have all heard your opinion. We disagree. Tatis will not be suspended.
He is in a minority but that does not make him wrong. Game has changed and so have the players. And, so have the fans.
You won’t hear about it, but I’m betting the manager fines him. Doesn’t portray the manager well that the player ignores him.
You’re right. There should be consequences.
The owner should have stepped in and suspended Preller and Tingler for the rest of the season for how they responded to Tatis Jr doing what hes suppose to do.
It’s one think if your manager tells you to do something to help win, like bunt a man over, and you ignore it.
Its another thing to ignore your manager telling you to throw an at bat and not try to win a game.
Tingler should be suspended for incompetence. After how his pen has performed, 6.19 era 5 blown saves at the time and 5 game losing streak then you tell your best hitter and face of the franchise to not put his team in better position to win a game?
Why were they mad? Cause it could “hurt” relations? Lmao. If some teams fromt office is too thin skinned that they let 1 game affect how they run business they need to be removed asap.
What you’re not going to make trades with teams that run up the score even if you think it can help your team? lmao. fired immediately should be the only option for that kind of thinking.
By your logic, because the bullpen sucks, the owner should fire himself. I mean. He hired the gm who set the team up and hired the manager. Surely if you’re going to blame the manger for another grown man’s ability to do his job, you should blame the person who hired those people?
That’s the owner
See how dumb that is. That’s your logic! Wave hi
Tatis is the first guy to swing 3-0 up 6+ runs in 8th or later in 25 years!
There’s a VERY strong case to say his manager talking to him and saying what he said is him protecting Tatis from getting a 95 MPH beanball in his dome. Because…. a lotta pitchers, that’s what he’s getting next time up 15 years ago…
But that would require actual critical thinking. And your screen name confirms that won’t happen
Guys performing poorly and trying to do their job is completely different than telling a player not to do his job.
Your comparison makes no sense.
Move along now.
That’s cool. People who actually played the game and HOFs agree with me and what Tatis Jr did more than your line of thinking. Which is Bush league and childish at best.
Move along now. Adults are talking.
You’re the adult!? Look at your name, trying to start stuff. Seems like a child
You have 3 random HOF who tweeted. I have 25 years of actual game play that shows NO ONE swings at that pitch. But I’m Bush? Tatis is Bush for swinging goin by precedent. That’s the entire steroid era! No one swang, ONCE!
Get out of here. You can’t handle a real conversation like a man so say move along? Child
No no. You said manager should be fired because he’s bad at his job
I said by your logic the owner should fire the GM and himself, because they are responsible for your roster. And their bullpen is very bad at their job. Who set it up!? The GM. Who hired him?! The owner!
If you want a slippery slope, you don’t get to decide when it stops
You clearly are very bad at debates
Why the hell are players getting suspended with no warnings on the field???
why does that matter? they knew what they did
But the umpire in that moment didnt think it even warranted warnings, so the league chill out. They have the umps backs on everything EXCEPT throwing at people
Most other circumstances don’t involve using the ball as a weapon
There is no rule requiring a warning.
Tatis went opposite field. He did not ambush the pitch. He wasn’t coming out of his shoes.
Tempest in a tea cup.
I would say cross out the unwritten rules of baseball. But since they aren’t written down, it’s better to just ignore them completely. No problem with Tatis swinging on a 3-0 count with the bases loaded and a zillion-run lead. Wanna avoid giving up a grand slam? Throw a better pitch.
Bingo!
No f*ckin’ kidding! Fat pitches say “hit me” and Tatis did just that! Sports is competitive, and you want guys who are out to win on every pitch, every at-bat.
“When your opponent is drowning, stick a fire hose in his mouth!”
The late Ian Dury would have agreed with you. “Hit me with your rhythm, stick. Hit me. Hit Me. Hit….meeeee!!”
Sure sure. But what would Captain Sensible say.
Say Captain, I say WOT!
Cey Hey, Willie, I think all this means we are old!!! The youngsters have no idea what we’re talking about!
Not “old.” Mature. I’m pretty sure Captain Sensible would agree. No lip from you, Rat Scabies.
As a 23 year old who has no clue what you guys are referring to, I still find this exchange pretty hilarious
But no Astros players have been suspending for stealing a World Series and ruining others lives yet.
how long until we stop seeing these comments? does that really mean no one should get suspended ever again?
We will see them for a long time because almost all of us are still peeved at MLB. That doesn’t mean no one else should get suspended, it is just a reminder of how poorly MLB handled the Astros cheating themselves to a World Series victory. As long as Manfred is around, so will these comments.
Ray Chapman would say there’s something worse.
Yea and domestic violence only gets you 80 games and incetivizes “buying low” on guys who do it. Baseball, like life, isn’t always fair and doesn’t always make a ton of sense. But here we are, no suspended Astros, and a Joe Kelly pouty face later.
Yes. Is there anything worse than STEALING A WORLD SERIES?
letting dangerous bush league tactics that can cause brain damage run rampant in your sport. that’s worse.
You mean at their elbows or clear behind them?
Most major leaguers don’t take a dive on a ball at their elbow unless they’re looking for theatrics
And they worked so well you’re still on the Astros D about it hahaha wow. You’re a pawn and you don’t know it dark side
Did you even see the incident? It was a 92mph fastball throw at hip height two feet behind Machado. How is that bush league?
Yes, THINKING someone stole a World Series without evidence.
How about you get in the box and let a dude heave fastballs at your torso? Beanball is dying a slow but certain death let’s accept it and move on.
cheater cheater pumpkin eaters
Bruh, the Black Sox scandal was a hundred years ago. You really think people are just going to forget about this one after less than a year?
darkside? When you ask? When the memory turns to dust.
Mlb is just trying to make things look fair. If you suspend a pitcher 10 games for throwing at the Astros intentionally but no suspensions for throwing at the Padres? That would be a great way for mlb to piss off and alienate one of its biggest, most exciting young players.
No one like the doyuers. Nothing sweeter than watching them lose.
Yeah, with them having the best record in baseball and all..
F*cking cretins. How about teach your pitchers . . . how to actually pitch! Nothing more than losers with loser mentalities.
Ah, the unwritten rules, just make stuff up to justify stupid and illogical behavior after the fact. Plus, bonus points for always targeting Hispanic players.
Should have suspended Woodward the rest of the season, and Padres manager Tingler should be fired for throwing Tatis under the bus. We’re the Rangers planning on not trying in bottom of 9th? I guess no, so shut up Rangers.
Seriously man, this is embarrassing as a Rangers fan…… Like, how about we don’t get down in the game? How about we don’t get down 3-0 in the count, and then expect free strike calls. What in the world? This is not our best look.
If you don’t like it, play better. Scoring 7 runs in an inning isn’t so unusual these days so I have zero problem with Tatis launching this one. Should a player blow his own stats too just because the other guys sucked on that day? Absurd!
not long enough quite frankly this is far more stupid then starting a brawl or throwing at someone for cheating. should get 10 for the throw and at least 5 more for how stupid the reasoning was for it.
This is stupider than a coach egging a player on to come fight an entire bench during a pandemic?
Your takes are extra hot today
Tatis did his job. As a batter,the objective is to HIT the ball, get on base, or move a runner over. Would any of the “controversy” have taken place if he swung at the 1st (0-0) pitch in the at bat instead of the 4th (3-0)? The game isn’t over until the 27th out is recorded. If they didn’t want Tatis to try to drive in any more runs the Rangers should’ve made better pitches or SD could’ve sent up apinch hitter.
When you serve cookies you have to expect somebody to eat them
There’s something about the Rangers and soggy diapers
If it’s not written, it’s not a rule. Weep rangers weep
Just forfeit if you’re telling your team that you can go ahead and loft a ball right down the middle because we’re giving up competitive play for a few innings.
If you don’t want them dancing in the end zone, don’t let them score.
Question about this unwritten rule…is the team that is behind also supposed to stop scoring runs or just the team that’s ahead?
Did Woodward tell his batters to stop trying to hit the ball because the game was already over?
Agree with this 100%. If the Rangers are going to keep trying, the Padres should, too. Also, Nicasio had already walked two batters that inning and threw sliders in the dirt on the first two pitches of Tatis’ at bat. The Padres shouldn’t be held responsible for the situation the Rangers put themselves in because they refused to challenge hitters.
Perhaps with the way teams run through relievers now there should be an option for the manager to raise a white flag and forfeit the rest of the game.
There is. A team can forfeit at any time.
Never forgot
August 2007 Os vs rangers
Final score 30-3
The Os scored all of their runs by the second inning. The rangers scored 16 of their runs in the 8th and 9th inning.
This is an excellent point
At least somebody on the Rangers can hit their spots.
That’s the penalty for not hitting a batter. If you don’t want to get suspended, stop not hitting batters. I guess.
Chris Woodward was on the Padres’ radio show this morning doubling down on his unwritten-rules theory. One of the hosts asked Woodward if he remembers the only grand slam he hit in his career. It was in a game where his team had a 6-run lead in the 9th, Granted it was on a 1-2 pitch, but the host jokingly asked “why did you swing so hard up 6 runs in the 9th?”. No response from Woodward.
I am a huge Rangers fan. I have no problem with what Tatis did. I love watching talented players do remarkable things, even if it’s against my favorite team.
As far as unwritten rules, sorry, but once they started defensive shifts, they have taken away the silly gentleman’s agreement of what is fair and proper. Woodward can complain that this isn’t the way the game was played when he came up. Then stop shifting. The game wasn’t played that way either.
Yeah, seriously. If third base is wide open for the runner on second during a shift, he’s got every right to take it regardless of the score. The game has changed and I missed bunting and the suicide squeeze.
lowereastrider, I was delighted to see a few lefty batters bunt against the shift recently. If only Joc Pederson would consider this.
Fat chance he does it now that he’s evolved into a power hitter. It’s such a math-driven exit velocity and launch angle game now.
Rangers season ticket holder here…..I agree with most of the comments. Tatis has absolutely no obligation to let a groove pitch go. Hammer it if you can. If Rangers or any other team doesn’t like it, make better pitches and get him out. I see no harm in running up score. Now for Ian throwing at Machado….bush league.
Woodward shouldn’t be upset that Tatis hit a grand slam, and there is no unwritten rule that on a 3-0 count the batter has to take the pitch
If I was Woodward I’d be more upset that his team was so far behind in the 8th inning and still loaded the bases allowing Tatis to hit that pitch. And then pitching to hit Machado the next batter.
Woodward got suspended for gross stupidity.
Maybe the real reason Woodward is upset was that Rangers only had one ball and Tatis had the nerve to knock it out of play.
That’s good baseball
Etiquette
Harsh suspensions like that will stop 94 behind the hitter.
Yeah, I was kidding.
Well deserved
Derogatory terms get you 20 games, “potentially” inciting a beaning and possibly bench clearing brawl gets you 1 game. Cool.
They deserve what they got. Really, they deserve worse. You don’t want a talented hitter to swing 3-0 for a grand slam when his team’s up 7 runs… there’s a solution to that. Don’t be down 7 runs and don’t get behind in the count 3-0 and don’t throw a home run ball on a 3-0 count. Simple. He shouldn’t have apologized. He should’ve told anybody who didn’t like what he did to go and stuff themselves… but in far stronger words.
Tatis is too polite for that, at least at this stage of his career. When he gets to be 25 or 30 and has been around for a while you’ll probably see more attitude.
Jayce Tingler should be cancelled. Don’t ever take sides against the family.
Well played and well said.
He really owes Tatis and basically the entire fanbase an apology and retraction of what he said last night. Pretty astonishing that they won 14-4 and he managed to alienate his own team’s fanbase by not sticking up for the team’s best/most marketable player.
I’ve never heard of a manager getting mad at his player for hitting a grand slam. If Tingler has so much loyalty to the Rangers, he should’ve stayed there. The Padres were on a 5 game losing streak with a bullpen that has been blowing leads all season. They needed all the runs they could get. So if he takes a pitch or two and then hits a grand slam 3-1 or 3-2 are they still going to get mad at him?
i doubt it’s a loyalty thing at all. it’s all about not taking a pitch as directed by the manager.
He missed the sign. It happens. Generally a guy as good and as hot as Tatis has been gets a standing green light to swing at whatever he wants regardless of the count.
I have no issue with Tatis swinging. That being said, I also have no issue trying to plunk Machado. As long as it is not a head shot then plunking is just as much part of the game as swinging 3-0 up by a bunch. Can’t pick and choose your unwritten rules.
Can’t pick and chose the unwritten rules if you don’t want any of them. They’re all stupid. Oh no a guy hit a home run off of me when we were losing by a handful. How does 94 MPH to the ribs sound?
stealing bases with 10 runs ahead must be looked as playing hard. throwing to first with 10 run lead with a runner not even 3 steps away is only trying to win games. i guess all bets are off from now on!
Time to get rid of all these unwritten rules and stop throwing at guys for breaking these unwritten rules. Most of them seem to favor the pitcher anyways. I want to see guys trying to hit 3-0 even with a big lead. I want to see guys celebrate a big strike out or do a bat flip on a big HR. Baseball isn’t golf. IF baseball wants to attract and keep younger fans, then it needs to pick up the pace and let these guys show more emotion and showmanship. Hell, it used to be against the rules to spike a football in the NFL. Now they allow choreographed endzone celebrations after a TD. Why? Because that is what the fans want.
I think a lot of you are missing the point
Enlighten us, Honk.
Like what was said before. There are many unwritten rules. And good many veteran players know those unwritten rules. The Texas ball players know them. I’m sure the Padres wouldn’t apreciate if it was the other way around and the Rangers who were the ones that hit a grand slam with a huge lead. And the manager sits their makes excuses for Tatis. If this had happened back in the day pitchers like Ryan, Gibson and Drysdale Trust me Tatis not Machado would of paid the price. You don’t show up the opposing team. Another no no is stealing a base with a huge lead.Its called protecting the integrity of the game.
More like personal perspective of the game. Integrity is not bound by group thinking, it’s determined by each specific individual. This is why the unwritten rules are unwritten; because they adhere to emotions rather then actual logic.
Ryan Gibson and Drysdale wouldn’t have ever been on the mound in that situation. Just sayin.
Such Bs… In a season you play every day that salami allows you to save a better pitcher for later and use your scrub for that day to mop up
This stuff matters and managing your bullpen is tough enough in a regular season this season its insane- Im trying to go up 10 every game I can to save them
As an Indians fan, I remember back in 2001 when the Tribe entered the bottom of the 7th down 14-2 against the Mariners. Both teams had already put their reserve players in since the game was essentially over. We tied it 14-14 in the bottom of the 9th and won it 15-14 in the 11th.
Is a 10-3 game in the 8th practically over? Yes it is.
Is a 10-3 game in the 8th definitely over when the home team still has two more at bats? No, it is not.
I don’t think the Rangers had stopped trying at that point. Unless the Rangers want to forfeit the game in the 8th (Manfred would probably LOVE that), then don’t complain when the other team competes.
Reno I remember that ballgame. That game officially convinced me no lead is safe. Not in today’s modern game.
I used to have the box score of that game saved on my computer. It was a messy, disastrous masterpiece.
Wait so there is an unwritten rule to not hit when playing baseball and winning? Some unwritten rules I get, but this one is stupid. Keep playing as you are Tatis Jr!
If Gibaut had pulled a face it would have cost him five more games. That’s the unwritten rule, right?
There are a lot of unwritten rules that I support. (No bunting with a big lead, for instance.) A lot of these rules can be defended by “then don’t give up so many runs” (which I also agree with), but there are a few that are worth upholding to keep baseball what it’s always been.
But let’s not be resistant to some new changes. I’m all for adding excitement and flair to the game. I’m a traditionalist in the sense that I don’t like gimmicks like the new extra inning rule, but I also support the universal DH. There are some things that are worth maintaining tradition for, but no one should ever be upset at a player for what Tatis did. If he had swung and missed, this wouldn’t be news. Don’t penalize him for being good and for wanting to add excitement to the game.
The only reason for the Rangers to get upset is if they had already told the Padres that they weren’t going to try and come back, that they would just stand at the plate without swinging ad let themselves get struck out. Otherwise, its petty bs that the Padres are supposed to quit trying to score runs while the Rangers still want to win.
Just gonna drop this fact here and take it how it is
Tatis is the FIRST player since 1996 to swing at a 3-0 pitch, up 6 or more runs, in the 8th or later. That’s 25 years! Literally since before he was born… no one
So say what you want, you can’t say its NOT a culture thing to not swing there
Commonsense, how would you know that?
Juan Gonzalez did it in 2000 according to mlb.com. I don’t care if anyone does it really. The game has evolved and baseball is better with players like Tatis Jr.
As I said, LAD broadcast had that stat. It was very specific, 6+ run lead, 3-0 count, 8th or later.idk If one of those DQ’s Gonzales but Whether it was 2000 or 1996, that’s still a long time. That’s all I’m saying
For all the “make better pitches” comments, it sure seems like it’s a line not often crossed in literally thousands of games. That’s the entire steroid era to present day… lotta games to claim it was just the Rangers expecting him to take there
That was on the Dodgers broadcast. Joe Davis n Orel H were talking about it. Joe quoted that stat
I’m in the camp of make better pitches etc etc… but that’s pretty a long track record…
Leave it to the rangers to poo poo in their panties when someone hits a home run against them. Brings back fond memories of 2015.
Looks like Albert Einstein was right when he said this: “Two things are infinite: the universe and human stupidity; and I’m not sure about the universe.”
Tatis 2020 biggest name in baseball.
Congratulations
Players make millions of dollars based on their production, even in blow outs. Do pitchers stop trying to strike out hitters who are struggling? It’s not like losing teams quit trying to win, so why shouldn’t the teams with leads try to tack on runs? Give ‘em all pacifiers and hugs!
With all the new, stupid rules already implemented this year, why not add more rec league mercy run rules? Game over after 5 if up 10 runs, 7/7. Heck, let’s just add a clock and have the game end after 1:45:00 so teams can stall play to avoid being embarrassed? Let’s use courtesy runners for batters who don’t want to run to first, hand ‘em a teddy bear and juice cup if they have to run 2 bases at a time and let pitchers take a time out to sort their feelings when a hitter has success…
Manfred should suspend both Woodward and Tingler.
They essentially just told the fans that teams are dogging it because of “unwritten rules”.
Why should fans watch games when the managers themselves are telling the players to quit?
How can you allow your employees to serve such a product to your customers?
PS- Also, it’s kind of funny that the people who (rightfully) mock participation trophies as soft don’t realize that this “unwritten rule” is the exact same thing.
Anthony Rizzo said it best when he said the hitters job is to get a hit every time they’re at bat.
Anthony Rizzo said it best when he said a hitter’s job is to get a hit every time they’re up to bat.
Bleacher report had an article where they were saying that Tatis just doesn’t get it because he stole third base when the team was winning 6-0..That’s ridiculous because it was only the fourth inning.
I am a fan of unwritten rules, just because we don’t know all the rules doesn’t mean these ball players don’t. The biggest one I think I’m a fan of is not laying down a bunt in a perfect game/no hitter. For you to try and take history away on a bs play in the 9th is garbage, I’d target you the rest of my career. It will all change soon “Let the kids play is the new montra of the MLB.” I just wish we could get Manfred out before he ruins it past repair, and it gets more unwatchable.
When was the last time that happened? Ben Davis did it in the 8th inning against Schilling in 2001 — in a game the Padres were only trailing 2-0, with a power hitter coming up next.
The unwritten rules are crap. As many veterans who came out in support of Tatis, there doesn’t seem to be any question that what he did was just fine.
Now if Crash Davis tips you off to the next pitch, and you hit a dinger off Nuke LaLoosh, then you can’t stand in the box and show him up. But that’s about all.
Joe Kelly also got suspended another 8 games
If these unwritten rules imply that a X-run lead after X number of innings is sufficient to determine the final outcome of the game, then do they also mean the losing team will then forfeit the remainder of the game since the winning teams lead has been deemed insurmountable?
Why play all 9 innings? You’re essentially saying your team cannot compete and you are giving up, therefore, the other team should too.
Not only that, the rule goes on to state that fair punishment for the winning team continuing to compete and hurt your ego, is for the pitcher to throw it 95mph AT a batter with intent to hit him possibly causing injury to someone for simply doing their job better than you. Yeah, I personally don’t really want to watch that type of game.
Traditionalist need to let go, not only this style of baseball but life in general….”back in my day” blah blah blah. Move on with your lives and enjoy the entertainment baseball provides. Were in the middle of a pandemic and people are mad a guy hit a home run during a baseball game.
Such bullcrap. Has anyone watched the Padres’ bullpen this year? They are giving up runs in bunches. That wasn’t a safe lead, not even close.
What is the point in levying a punishment if you’re going to reduce it every damn time?! It’s ridiculous! And this one wasn’t even appealed and they automatically reduced it! Pathetic.
Well is it an unwritten rule that a team down by 7 runs or more in the 8th inning gives up? Unwritten rules are so yesterday in baseball. We are taught by our parents and our coaches as young players to play hard till the end of the game and never give up. Come on Woodward there’s no crying in baseball!
This “unwritten rule” is just rubbish. So players should deliberately not try if up by say 6-7 runs? Rubbish. And surely not trying against a team is worse than scoring more ? not trying implies they arent even on your level and worth your time. I’d rather a team beat me 15-1 than stopped at say 8-1 as that gives the impression they think you are 2nd rate. And thats ignoring the genuine posibility in this short season that 1 game can make all the diffence. Say the rangers came back and won and the Padres missed the postseason by half a game? Nonsense.
Yes, it was embarrassing from the Rangers standpoint. I really hope they get swept tonight. Any team stopping trying is bad for baseball (heck there are enough teams already tanking!).
If a guy steals a base because you didn’t check him, who cares what the score is. If a guy goes yard on a 3 and 0 cheese ball who cares what the score is. If a guy slides in cleats up when the game is a blow out that does matter. Because it matters in a close game as well. Play hard but don’t try to injure people. No matter what the score is. Yes there will be chirping but that’s for the chirpers. The rest just play the game the right way.
Chris Woodward sent a pretty clear message to his clubhouse: he doesn’t think they are capable of scoring 7 runs in two innings and other teams shouldn’t take them as a serious threat.
Rangers should fire Woodward, here is a manager who certainly knows the word quit. His team is down and he’s already thrown in the towel.
Yesterday the Jays played the Phillies (a double header) in the second game Jays were down by seven runs before they even came to bat. By Woodward’s style of play he would have said the game was lost. Final score Jays 9 Phillies 8. And Jays did it with a 2 run homer and a grand slam in the 6th. Any manager who doesn’t want his team to fight and try is a poor manager. The Texas players now know if we get down we can go thru the motions because the Manager has given up.
Tatis just tagged up and took third base when the Padres were leading 6-1 in the second inning of tonight’s game. Is that OK with everybody? Is that some unwritten rule too?
Tatís just tagged up and took third base when the Padres were winning 6 to 1 in the second inning. Is that OK with everybody, or is there some unwritten rule on that too?
Maybe when you’re ahead by a certain amount of runs you shouldn’t run hard to first base either when you hit the ball in the infield.