1:25pm: The Reds have announced the move, with Kolozsvary being recalled to take Stephenson’s placed on the roster.
8:35am: The Reds will place catcher Tyler Stephenson on the 7-day concussion injured list this morning, tweets Bobby Nightengale of the Cincinnati Enquirer. Stephenson suffered a concussion in a collision play at the plate with Padres first baseman/designated hitter Luke Voit last night (video link via MLB.com)
The play itself has become a source of some controversy in the aftermath, with Reds fans and several Reds players feeling there was ill intent behind Voit’s slide. Padres fans, players and manager Bob Melvin, naturally, have opined that Voit didn’t have much of an alternative.
“The ball takes him right into Luke,” Melvin told reporters after the game (video link via Bally Sports San Diego). “There’s nowhere to go, and I think Luke was just trying to protect himself, putting his hands up. I think they got it right.” Voit, of course, insists that he “wasn’t trying to take [Stephenson] out or anything” and added that he hopes Stephenson will be all right.
Reds skipper David Bell said after the game that he “didn’t have a problem with the slide” but called it a “scary” and “helpless” feeling when a manager sees one of his players laid out and injured in that manner (link via Mark Sheldon of MLB.com).
Reds left fielder Tommy Pham, meanwhile, told reporters that the slide was “dirty as [expletive].” Reds shortstop Kyle Farmer, a former catcher, said after the game that he’s “not too happy about the slide,” adding that it’s “not too often you a runner slide and grab someone’s head … you’re usually trying to reach for the bag, and maybe that’s what he was trying to do, but after looking at the replay, it looked like a wrestling move to Tyler’s head and snapped it down” (video link via Bally Sports Cincinnati). “I’ve never really seen someone’s hands go to a catcher’s head on a slide,” Farmer continued.
Regardless of where your thoughts land on the slide by Voit, the relay throw, and the postgame comments from both teams, the end result is the same. Stephenson will be away from the Reds for at least a week. The hope is that he’ll quickly clear concussion protocol and be able to return in short order, though concussions of course are tricky injuries that often have lingering effects.
The 25-year-old Stephenson, selected with the No. 11 overall draft pick back in 2015, has gone from top prospect to Cincinnati’s clear everyday catcher. His performance in 2020-21 was strong enough that the Reds had zero hesitation in trading stalwart catcher Tucker Barnhart to the Tigers early in the 2021-22 offseason, and Stephenson has picked up right where he left off at the plate. In 37 plate appearances this year, he’s batted .267/.378/.467 with a pair of homers, raising his career batting line to a stout .285/.368/.443 with 14 home runs in 459 plate appearances. That’s well above-average production for any player (116 wRC+), but it’s among the best in the league, on a rate basis, among catchers.
Defensively, Stephenson has been sound. He’s 4-for-9 in throwing out base thieves this season (44%), bringing his career rate to 25% (just a percentage point below league average). He’s drawn above-average framing marks from each of Baseball Prospectus and FanGraphs, with Prospectus adding that he’s been about average in terms of blocking pitches in the dirt.
With Stephenson sidelined for the time being, the Reds seem likely to turn to Aramis Garcia as their top option behind the dish. Who will back him up remains an open question. Double-A catcher Mark Kolozsvary, a member of last year’s Team USA Olympic club, is on the 40-man roster but has gotten out to a slow start in Chattanooga. The Reds recently signed veteran Sandy Leon to a minor league contract as well, and if the team’s preference is for Kolozsvary to continue getting everyday at-bats rather than playing sparingly on the big league bench, it could be that Leon is quickly called to the MLB roster.
Whatever route the team takes, Stephenson’s loss is a huge blow to a team that has struggled immensely to score runs in 2022. Cincinnati ranks 25th in the Majors in runs scored, and they have more combined plate appearances than all five of the teams behind them (some of whom have had multiple postponements on the year). From a rate standpoint, the Reds’ offense has been far and away the worst in the league. Reds batters have combined for a gruesome .178/.250/.286 batting line, and the resulting 52 wRC+ is a full nine points lower than the second-worst club (Arizona). Stephenson has been one of the team’s only productive hitters, but he’ll now likely be replaced in the lineup by Garcia, a career .218/.255/.371 hitter in 214 Major League plate appearances.
Voit needs to be suspended and fined
For running in the base line where the catchers aren’t supposed to be blocking the plate? Ok
Per the Posey Rules, Voit could have blown Stephenson up… and sliding to the slide to try to score is dirty?
Wrong. You don’t know the so-called Posey rule. This is the rule:
‘The catcher, without the ball in his possession, has no
right to block the pathway of the runner attempting to score.
The base line belongs to the runner and the catcher should be
there only when he is fielding a ball or when he already has the
ball in his hand.
‘If a fielder is about to receive a thrown ball and if the ball is in flight directly toward and near enough to the fielder so he must occupy his position to receive the ball he may be considered “in the act of fielding a ball.”’
> “should be there only when he is fielding a ball or when he already has the ball in his hand.”
Love ya Fink and I’m well acquainted to the rule, but apparently I’m going to agree to disagree. If a catcher is in the act of fielding the ball and this brings him into the runner’s path, then he may be blown up. Luke slid to the side instead of “rightfully” trucking him. Regardless, I hope Stephenson is just fine and soon.
‘The failure by the runner to make an effort to touch the plate, the runner’s lowering of the shoulder, or the runner’s pushing through with his hands, elbows or arms, would support a determination that the runner deviated from the pathway in order to initiate contact with the catcher in violation of Rule 6.01(i), or otherwise initiated a collision that could have been avoided. A slide shall be deemed appropriate, in the case of a feet first slide, if the runner’s buttocks and legs should hit the ground before contact with the catcher. In the case of a head first slide, a runner shall be deemed to have slid
appropriately if his body should hit the ground before contact
with the catcher. If a catcher blocks the pathway of the runner,
the umpire shall not find that the runner initiated an avoidable
collision in violation of this Rule 6.01(i)(1).
‘(2) Unless the catcher is in possession of the ball, the catcher cannot block the pathway of the runner as he is attempting to score.
If, in the judgment of the umpire, the catcher without possession of the ball blocks the pathway of the runner, the umpire shall call or signal the runner safe. Not withstanding the above, it shall not be considered a violation of this Rule 6.01(i)(2) if the catcher blocks the pathway of the runner in a legitimate attempt to field the throw (e.g., in reaction to the direction, trajectory or the hop of the incoming throw, or in reaction to a
throw that originates from a pitcher or drawn-in infielder). In
addition, a catcher without possession of the ball shall not be
adjudged to violate this Rule 6.01(i)(2) if the runner could have
avoided the collision with the catcher (or other player covering
home plate) by sliding.
‘Rule 6.01(i)(2) Comment: A catcher shall not be deemed to
have violated Rule 6.01(i)(2) unless he has both blocked the
plate without possession the ball (or when not in a legitimate
attempt to field the throw), and also hindered or impeded the
progress of the runner attempting to score.’
The only thing Voit did wrong was to put his hand on the catcher’s helmet and fling his head sideways. That was too much. Suppose this was a slide into second base and the runner put his hand on the fielder’s head and slung it sideways in an attempt to make him drop the ball. Would you have any difficulty in saying he went over the line?
I honestly didn’t see any alternative pathway for Voit. He was well within his basepath right-of-way and slid to avoid contact and tried to score ‘around the side’. Stephenson made an aggressive play to make the tag and unfortunately they awkwardly collided. I don’t see the ill-intent but I do appreciate our semantic discussion(s).
looked to me like he pushed out his hands out to deflect a direct collision that could have been more serious to both players; head to head, or head to shoulder. It was a spontaneous play by both players, nothing malicious or premeditated.
Honestly, I fail to grasp why you’re so upset at Voit. He was within his full rights to the basepath trying to reach home plate. He failed due to a very courageous tag by the catcher (who was in his right to apply the tag). Too bad one got hurt playing a contact sport but both were within the rules and both made baseball plays
If the league fines Voit, then I’ll be the first to reconsider your opinion though, we only have the one video of the slide to view so I remain open minded
Like I said, nothing about the slide bothers me until that last move where he flings his head sideways with his hand on his helmet. That’s just a bad look. Someone compared it to A-Rod’s slapping Bronson Arroyo’s arm to dislodge the ball at first base. I think that’s a fair comparison.
I’d probably push a helmet aside that was projected directly at my face too. It’s possible it was a human reaction in the bang-bang moment, but not (in my opinion) with intent to harm Stephenson. The league reviews these plays closely, especially when a head injury occurred, so we’ll see what they say.
I don’t think Luke meant to hurt Stephenson. I think he was trying to make him drop the ball.
It’s Baseball, it’s such a bang bang play no one knows how to react exactly to the rules. He didn’t try to blow him up. The word intent means everything and there was none.
The runner has the right to the baseline. If the catcher gets in his way, the runner can “blow him up”. That is exactly what the Posey Rule says. Stephenson caught the ball and dove in front of a sliding Voit. If he got hurt, its on him 100%.
Voit was in the process of sliding feet first to the outer edge of the plate when Stephenson dove into Voit. That much is crystal clear from the videos and screenshots. Voit also lowered his hands in an effort to reach the plate. He was within the rules. As evidenced by the call by the umpires and the replay officials call when Bell asked for a ruling. You are wrong. They are right.
They said it was a clean play.
Tommy wants to fight the guy who took his job in SD. I’d be mad too if I wasn’t wanted back with a playoff contender and had to settle playing for the Reds.
Just hope he can see Voits overhand right before it puts him to sleep!
Man the money I’d pay to see Pham and Voit throw down in the outfield before the game today…
Voit hasn’t voiced an interest to fight anyone. But maybe Tommy can settle it with “Voit” and his many other internal demons by punching random cardboard cut-outs/posters depicting in large font his .0.633 OPS over the past 3 years. These could be set up in LF before today’s game with proceeds donated to the fine security team at Pacers Showgirls International
Tommy mendoza line at best Pham. He is hitting what .115? The guy is a 12th outfielder, but a starter on the reds.
Pham was quoted as saying he was just a Red for the money. He didn’t care about winning. That is pretty much all I need to know about him.
Most players go where the money is. Pham is not special in that regard. Don’t think for a second that Manny Machado signed with your Padres for any reason other than $.
For what? Sliding while the catcher throws himself in front of him? GTFOH. He’s lucky his teeth didnt get knocked out.
Clearly @baseball guy has NEVER played baseball
You should be suspended for even making that comment. Voit did nothing wrong
Machado never was and he clearly went after Pedroia, destroying the career of a then potential HOF 2nd baseman.
I find it humorous that Pham is running his mouth.. he of the on the losing end of a knife fight outside of a bar late at night anyway few years back.. yeah.. maybe he lacks any correct judgement as it is.
Get real, should the players also wear paddling all around the bodies and head? Maybe they can have sensitivity coaches on the roster also. Maybe offer mental health days off.
Come on already. He blocked the plate and he got clocked.
Looks like Voit was moving toward the top half of the plate to avoid running into Stephenson and his elbow got in there. I don’t see any ill intent.
The issue is slamming his head at the end right after he’s called out. That’s not a clean play. The slide path was clean.
He was not called out until after the collision. Voit was already a couple of feet away from Stephenson when the out call was made. I don’t believe in the fraction of a second that passed from when Stephenson’s glove hits Voit’s stomach that Voit would have thought quick enough to intentionally hit Stephenson in the head. I think it was a reaction to the contact that he was bringing his arms down. You or I would have the same reaction if we got hit in the stomach.,
New York reviewed it on Cincy’s request. No slide violation.
That’s a lot of momentum from a big guy chugging along. It looked unnatural and an uncomfortable slide, but didn’t see anything dirty or worth of a suspension. Just is what it is but hopefully it’s a quick and precautionary trip to the IL for TS
Looked intentional to me on Voits part to do harm.
6 likes on that comment in 7 minutes. I’m sure they’re all from different people, not you and your multiple accounts or anything like that…
It honestly looked more like Voit has never slid before over trying to do harm, but whatever
If only The Crime Dog could get that guy’s upvotes for the HoF!
Are you serious? You just admitted with your comment that you didn’t even try to watch the play. Stephenson dove in front of Voit who was attempting to slide to the field side of the plate. He blocked the plate. He got hit. Move on.
How many stitches does Tommy Pham’s body need for him to realize that fighting is not the answer to solve every conflict and he is not the baddest Dude around?
Doesn’t seem like a reach to predict prison time in his future
Pham challenging him to a muy tai fight is next level stuff
Pham should put more fight into his preparation at the plate.
Contact was initiated by Stephenson being in the base path as the throw took him there. Voit was sliding feet first and simply used his hands to protect himself, as Stephenson spun into him. Just happened he spun head first. I don’t follow either team closely, but I saw no ill intent.
But you are forgetting, these days everything must be explained as being part of some sort of conspiracy. Nothing is an accident!
and/or nothing is real….
Voit’s not in the SL for today’s game, this might signify that he’s been abducted by aliens, but then again there’s a slight chance it could be that the Reds are tossing a righty and Voit’s been doing silver sombreros lately. Stay tuned
Notice how they refuse to deny that it was an alien abduction.
I did notice that yes
And you know what THAT means!
Drink some bleach and start a social media blog?
Yes, but not in that order.
Clean slide.
Voit was dead to rights!
Tommy’s an angry fool who seeks out violence. Not what the world needs
it’s just baseball buddy
@Dark. Not sure you read the full story (not reported here), but Tommy P challenged Voit to go to a boxing gym and duke it out to settle the score. That doesn’t sound like baseball, that just sounds like a devolved Australopithecan
Here’s the FA the Reds signed: “If Luke wants to settle it, I get down really well,” Pham said. “Anything. Muay Thai, whatever. Like I said, I’ve got an owner here who will let me use his facility.”
I remember when MLB fined Mike Piazza for going into the Dodgers’ clubhouse after a game looking to fight pitcher Guillermo Mota, who hit him with a pitch. At minimum, the Reds front office should have words with Pham about his inflammatory knucklehead comments.
Pham has lost enough fights. Imagine the person that stabbed him at the “gentleman’s club” rofl. What a clown
“Anything. Muay Thai, whatever.”
Don’t feel like Thai tonight. How about some kung pao?
A few lap dances downtown and Tommy will be good to go.
Voit definitely pulled his head down, not sure it was intentional or just the position his arm was in when he made contact. He probably could have done more to avoid contact, but only he knows what the intent was.
Exactly how was Voit going to change direction running in a straight line 1/2 stride from sliding. I would see that point and agree if Stephenson would have received the ball and Voit was 2-3 strides away and would have had an opportunity to change his direction. As it was, he could not change the laws of physics and could not alter his path that quickly.
Calm down, I’m not here to threaten the Voit fan club. Simply starting he probably could have slid a little further to the inside of the baseline, but there was nothing wrong with the slide. Most likely unintentional, but collisions happen. I’ll let you know when if I need the laws of physics changed
Not a Voit fan Club member. You are saying he should have slid further to the inside of the baseline.. When he was heading to the plate Stephenson was standing on the inside of the plate. The ball is coming from directly behind Voiit. he actually did slightly move towards the inside the plate in the last step before the slide just as the ball passed him and Stephenson move to the outside of the plate and reach back towards Voit to make the tag. I have no dog in this fight. Just can’t see how anything could have changed in the play.
Lots of things could have changed the play, you just don’t want to accept it. You also want to attribute comments to me that I did not make. I clearly said he probably could have done more to avoid contact. I never said he should have, I never said he 100% could have done something different, and I don’t even think he did anything intentionally. Maybe you are dating Voit or maybe you just want to win your internet argument badge; I’m not really sure what your issue is, but I am positive you don’t need to protect Voit against mean internet comments
I replied to your claim that he could have done more to avoid contact. 1) the ball was coming from directly behind him so he can not see the path of it and where it is going. 2) Stephenson was on the inside of the baseline as Voit is running and already is in a direct path to the plate. Stephenson catches the ball and reaches for Voit as he is within a step of sliding. You said that he could have done more to avoid the contact yet you never explain how. I was only pointing out that it appears virtually impossible for Voit to have avoided the contact based on how the play unfolded. Instead of explaining how the contact could have been avoided, you choose to hurl insults at me because I disagree that Voit could have really done more to avoid the contact.,
Actually I stated exactly how he could have potentially avoided contact, but reading comprehension does not appear to be a skill set you have
You said that he should have slid further inside the base line., I explained how I thought that was impossible based upon Voit already establishing a path to the plate, the ball coming from behind him so he had no idea of the path of it, Stephenson was standing waiting for the ball inside the baseline where you say Voit should have slid. How would Voit know that ball would be ending up to his right when Stephenson was waiting where you say Voit should have slid? Voit had a path to the right of Stephenson established because of where Stephenson was. The throw ended up heading to the outside of the baseline. Stephenson crosses Voit’s path, catches the ball and reaches to tag Voit. When Stephenson caught the ball he took one step and it was away from Stephenson and he slid. Given the fact that Voit had one step to avoid any collision and he did move to his left when he did take that step, I do not know how he possibly could have done more to avoid the collision. As I also stated, had the ball arrived when he was 2 or 3 steps away thus having more chance to avoid contact instead of one step, I would be agreeing with you.. He had no chance in that one step to change his path enough to avoid the contact that was made considering Stephenson was diving back into Voit. See, I made my case and never once called you a name.
There was no ill intent to that slide, he was putting his arms up to block himself from a head to head collision. The way that the throw took the catcher, even he didn’t put his arms up, we’re probably talking about two players being put on the concussion list and probably an even more serious injury to both players. It’s an unfortunate event, but you can clearly see it wasn’t intentional, just a natural reaction.
My only problem is when I look at the slide Voit’s right arm looks like it’s not about protecting his head and more about pushing Stephenson away. That doesn’t make it intentional or dirty. I just think it was a really bad attempt at trying to avoid a tag.
I’m of the opinion that the slide was clean, first, Stephenson was in the base path and Voit would have every right to barrel into him a-la Pete Rose. Second, Stephenson tagged Voit in the bread basket so all the “he threw his head down” talk is non-sense. Voits hands were up, like is the case with most feet first slides, and he gets jabbed in the gut/ribs which would make anyone’s hands go down. I’m not saying Stephenson was attempting to hurt Voit with a jab, but it’s a dynamic play with a runner running at full speed and a player attempting to make a tag as quickly as possible.
What I find annoying is the commentator implying that the play was intentional and dirty. I personally think it’s irresponsible to put that type of opinion into peoples mind.
Especially since Voit has never had the reputation of being a dirty player.
The relay throw was poor, Stephenson leaned back into the runner’s lane to the plate, and Voit’s slide was sloppy. It looks bad that Voit’s hands both went to Stephenson’s head, but it is likely the collision with Voit’s body that caused the concussion. Still, there is enough blame to go around, however only Stephenson suffers a consequence from this chain of events.
The big difference is that the rules have changed since Pete Rose’s barrel into Ray Fosse. If that play happened today, especially in an All Star Game, the suspension would have been so long that Ty Cobb would probably still be the hit king.
Ure right. But the rules were changed because we are no longer tough. Sports is so watered down now. Buster posey crying changed the rule. Football is the same way. Used to be a man sport. Now its flag football. No touching the qb
Boy, you must be a bad hombre.
Tommy Pham is a [expletive].
Reds fans need something to [expletive] about.
Luke Voit is a dirty friggin player with a long history and should be suspended..
Ladies and gentlemen, we have found Tommy Pham’s account!
Cry Moar
Examples please or are you talking out your ***
Rofl. Catcher blocks home plate, gets lit up, and the sensitive crowd goes up in arms. In 2 days nobody will even remember the clean slide
Looked to me that Voit’s motion was designed to catch Stephenson’s arm to try to knock the ball loose. It’s definitely excessive, and the fact that it resulted in a serious injury should result in a brief suspension and a fine. His intent wasn’t to injure, but that was the result of his reckless play.
I don’t know if any ML team is more or a train wreck than the Reds. Maybe so, but certainly not a good situation to be in.
the team formerly known as the Indians has entered the chat…
Replay seems to indicate Voit launched his elbow first, then threw his other arm/elbow into TStephenson’s head. Hard to argue that Voit didn’t basically throw a haymaker
I believe this is the last drop for the poor and lousy Reds…
The knockout blow for the reds season
Padres should play “Kung Fu Fighting” when Pham walks up to the plate today.
What a clown!
Flashback. Voit looked just like Arod, trying to use his hands in an inappropriate manner.
No mention of Pham’s advocation for retaliatory violence?
If Voit hadn’t put up his arms up they may have collided head to head. Voit’s last step to the inside, with Stephenson reaching for the tag, had them lined up for a face to face collision.
Face to chest, not face to face. Really, the only problem was what Voit did with his right arm. Otherwise, it was just a baseball play. And he was out. That’s good.
The left arm finishing move was completely unnecessary
This is what happens when ppl comment when they’ve never slid home in a live game. Sliding feet first forces the runner to automatically have his hands up. Nobody’s natural reaction is to slide arms down when another man is diving at you in catchers gear. Theres also the fact that this is a split second reaction time. He was not contemplating his slide before the game. Luke Voit is not a psychic
I slide into home and someones blocking me i light him up. He could have been on the front side of home plate and tagged him cleanly very easily without a collusion.
Wow, you really sound like a bad ass.
I thought the slide itself was okay, and I doubt he had intent to injure, but Voits hands went to Stephensons head which looks very strange on replay. I think a fine is okay . Definitely not suspension worthy.
This was a clean slide by all accounts. Voit was protecting himself from the mask hitting him. Stephenson made a great effort to tag him giving up his body. Voit didn’t “slam his head into the ground” he didn’t slowly grab his helmet in a wrestling move (keep in mind when you see this play you are likely seeing it in slow motion). The play was fast. Voit did his job. Stephenson did his. The injury stinks, he is a cool good young player that the game needs. But that is catcher. It’s a dangerous position. Let’s wish him well and move on.
A lot of things could be true on the same play: Stephenson could be blocking the plate and impeding Voit’s path. Voit could have kept his hands down instead of having them high. He could have been trying to knock out the ball. Dirty? I don’t know that the film is able to divine intent.
As a Yankee fan, I’m glad we got rid of this clown.
He celebrated home runs in the Bronx by imitating wrestler Steve Austin, and what he did to Stephenson looked like he was imitating his wrestler heroes again. In all my years of watching baseball, I’ve never seen a runner at home plate hit a catcher in the head and then throw his head sideways with his hand on the catcher’s helmet. Watch Voit’s last move with his right hand on Stephenson’s head:
mlb.com/news/tyler-stephenson-luke-voit-collision-…
When the Yankees traded for Rizzo because constantly injured Voit was on the IL again, Voit showed what a me-first player he was. Instead of welcoming a new teammate, he whined about how he was just as good (he’s not) and deserved to be playing just as much as Rizzo. Good riddance.
Do yankee fans ever stop crying? This is a non story 10 years ago. Stop being overly sensitive about a baseball play at the plate, especially one without ill intent.
Okay, homer.
‘Reds shortstop Kyle Farmer, a former catcher, said after the game that he’s “not too happy about the slide,” adding that it’s “not too often you a runner slide and grab someone’s head … you’re usually trying to reach for the bag, and maybe that’s what he was trying to do, but after looking at the replay, it looked like a wrestling move to Tyler’s head and snapped it down” (video link via Bally Sports Cincinnati). “I’ve never really seen someone’s hands go to a catcher’s head on a slide,” Farmer continued.’
This.˄
“I have no problem with the slide.” – David Bell
Anyone who replies “this^” is a complete tool
So many rules. Good thing I capitalized “This” to avoid a violation.
Thanks for letting me know about that rule.
Watched the video…..if you freeze the video as the ball is coming into the plate, you can already see Stephenson blocking the plate, which he isn’t supposed to be allowed to do (illegal) and then he sets up on the outside part of the line/plate giving Voit nowhere to go except straight ahead. When you block the plate you can expect big contact.
Voit is a big guy, who doesn’t shy away from physical play but I don’t see anything illegal or intentional on his part other than trying to score….Pham needs to watch the replay and stop with the “big man” routine!
Could the umpire have ruled obstruction on the catcher….seems likely that MLB umpires usually don’t but again look at the replay and freeze it when the ball is 20 feet or so from the catchers glove and just look at Stephenson’s position at that time….interesting debate.
Stephenson was not blocking the plate illegally. He moved over to field the ball and had the ball in his possession. Here’s the rule:
‘The catcher, without the ball in his possession, has no
right to block the pathway of the runner attempting to score.
The base line belongs to the runner and the catcher should be
there only when he is fielding a ball or when he already has the
ball in his hand.
‘If a fielder is about to receive a thrown ball and if the ball is in flight directly toward and near enough to the fielder so he must occupy his position to receive the ball he may be considered “in the act of fielding a ball.”’
> “should be there only when he is fielding a ball or when he already has the ball in his hand.”
I’d have no issue with the slide if Voit hadn’t flung Stephenson’s head sideways with his hand on his helmet. That’s where he crossed the line, IMO. I agree with Farmer.
Yes, both players were in their rights, and neither should be fined, or receive retaliatory threats by the opposition
If Voit were the one to get hurt, Tommy’s quote would have been only slightly different: “If Luke wants to lap dance I get down really well,” Pham said. “Anything. Muy Tay, whatever. Like I said, I’ve got an owner here who will let me use his club.”
I thought the same thing, the catcher was obstructing the runners pathway prior to having the ball. He should have been given the base
The rest of Tommy Pham’s quote, not included in this article, is hilarious. He’s a moron to talk like that. But I’m sure he’s upset anyway; that .147 average is a really tough way to start the season.
Agreed. Pham clowned himself with those comments.
Pham is the team leader with a .147 average. And don’t worry, he will be lucky to hit .200 this year
Steve plz explain to me why my comments are removed. I do not use curse words nor do i say anything vile. Its not hyperbole to say a suspension for luke voit is laughable and anybody who thinks so doesn’t have a clue about how the game is played.
And MLB wonders why no fans show up to the games anymore. That slide was probably the highlight of the game for every fan.
Tommy Pham is a spitting image of Alexander Bradley
Pham should have Muay Thai’ed his knife assailant outside of tittybar.
Last year Pham was threatening to beat up Reds fans. It’s always something with this guy. Over 900 players in Major League Baseball, but whenever someone is threatening to fight someone it’s almost always Tommy Pham.
Tommy’s father is in prison for buggering minor girls. Daddy is a total reprobate, mommy wasn’t the brightest either and, on top of it all, he was raised in the Las Vegas area. Not a great place to raise well-rounded, intellectual, socially nuanced children…
Tommy Pham went to a strip club during a major pandemic, got stabbed, sued the strip club for injuries that were serious and then proceeded to play a sucky year after his lawsuit wasn’t going to pan out. The dude is a clubhouse cancer.
Drugs. usatoday.com/story/sports/mlb/columnist/bob-nighte… Pham lost that lawsuit against that club when they produced video of him being aggressive with the guys that eventually stabbed him. Imagine that. Pham being an ahole.
Oh God dude did you really just link to something Bob Nightengale wrote?
I know a Jim.
I know a Jim owner, too. (His wife)
Didn’t seem intentional.
Who really cares. Reds should all be sent to AA and call up the AA team. This year will go down as the worst in Reds history.
There’s a reason that the commenters saying “dirty / intentional” on Voit’s part are few and far between.
I don’t think Voit’s slide was dirty per se but the slide in general just looked bad. It didn’t look like he fully wanted to avoid a collision.
On one had he’s trying to avoid the tag but he also seemed to thrust out this arms towards Stephenson’s head in a way that could easily be seen as him trying to intentionally grab Stephenson and take him out. Was it intentional? Probably not. At minimum Voit needs lessons at trying to avoid a tag at the plate.
I think you’ve captured it well
He had no choice, how could he avoid a collision? In my opinion he could have made it worse if he had made direct body to body contact
There’s better ways to avoid a tag. The problem with Voit’s slide is that at best he made a half hearted attempt and his arms looked like they weren’t so much protecting himself as trying to push Stephenson away. Again, not so much dirty just sloppy and in the end some else paid the price.
Reds fan here..didn’t care for the play but things happen. Tommy Pham threatening to beat up Luke Voight though is childish. Dude is a hot head.
Voit’s hands are up until the last second as it appears he’s trying to brace for the impact and soften the contact between him and the catcher. If he intended to lay him out, he probably would have crossed his arms with his forearms exposed to hit him hard.
Crossed his arms? Did you watch the play? Voit Actively brings both arms down on Stephenson’s head and then pushes Stephenson’s head down. Pete Rose he is not, though in Voit’s thick head he may thunk he is. I hope he gets Plunked tonight, maybe right under the chin.. you want to play old time baseball, stand in there, you bum
Baseball has become so weak. I guess the more money you make, the bigger your ego is. Baseball needs more takeout slides not less.
And maybe more pitching inside. Voit needs to eat dirt tonight, if not have his helmet fly off. Maybe one on his elbow or hands.
day game in 9th now… he’s sitting vs RP so your call for blood won’t be realized. Reds did throw at Manny’s head though, satisfied?
Pads are about to wrap up the sweep
The Padres got rid of a clubhouse cancer when Tommy Pham wasn’t brought back. Now Cincinnati has the clubhouse cancer. Seeing things that aren’t there is Tommy Pham’s world…
And just how do you know he’s a “clubhouse cancer”?
@YCPIITB- During a pandemic he earned 200 stitches in a strip bar fracas, wanted to fight Ha-Seong for not speaking English, put hands on bench coach Bobby Dick who was sticking up for the good of the team, verbalized his desire to fight Reds fans, threw a tantrum when he tested positive for CV19 and still pushed his way into the clubhouse (potentially infecting the whole team & staff)… and that was just ’20 & ’21 in a nutshell. There are a plethora of reasons he wasn’t invited back.
Dear Mr Pham….shut the EF up! If your talent was as big as your mouth or ego you’d not have a problem sticking with one team.
“Get off the tracks when the train’s coming through”
Watched it from all the available angles in slow motion and at regular speed including multiple screen shots and Stephenson dove in front of Voit who was sliding to the field side of the plate. That was a completely clean play. Why are Reds fans whining?
The slide was clean. The controversy’s about Voit’s arm action after he was tagged out. Almost like he’s trying to get the catcher to drop the ball to protect his head/neck.
There was a fraction of a second from the tag to any arm movement. Voit could not have made a conscious decision to go for the catchers head in an effort to make the catcher forget about the ball and try to protect his head/neck. To me, it was Voit’s physical reaction to having Stephenson diving into Voit’s midsection to tag him. Voit was sliding feet first and had his arms up in the normal sliding position., When he got hit in the midsection and his torso stopped quicker than his arms and .his arms would involuntarily rotated forward. By that time Stephenson’s head was making contact with Voit’s chest as well., Voits arms rotate forward and hit Stephenson because Stephenson was there having dove. The push would have been a protective movement that all of us would do when our moving body contacts something.