There are unwritten rules in baseball. Don’t show up the opposing pitcher by lollygagging around the bases after a homer. Don’t step on the pitchers’ mound. Make sure not to steal bases when ahead by a large sum. These are among the most notorious unwritten rules in the game.
Though, there are some who believe hitters should not swing at a 3-0 pitch when a game is completely out of hand.
Up 5-0 in the seventh inning against the Miami Marlins on Friday night, that’s exactly what Los Angeles Dodgers shortstop Corey Seager did.
And Marlins manager Don Mattingly is none too happy about it.
.@Marlins manager Don Mattingly explains his reaction Friday night after benches cleared between his squad and the Dodgers. #MLB pic.twitter.com/xl07nJEo1U
— Bally Sports Florida & Bally Sports Sun (@BallySportsFL) May 20, 2017
This incident ended up culminating in Marlins reliever A.J. Ramos hitting Brett Eibner with a pitch immediately after the Dodgers took a 7-0 lead on a Cody Bellinger homer in the eighth.
Then, in the ninth inning, Marlins star Giancarlo Stanton saw a pitch sail behind him in retaliation. The benches cleared.
Bob Geren and Don Mattingly vehemently discuss dinner options. pic.twitter.com/WOMfXRvcwq
— Justin Russo (@FlyByKnite) May 20, 2017
This is absolutely ridiculous. We understand that baseball purists will go out of their way to frame the game itself in their mold. Mattingly is obviously one of those individuals.
But the score was 5-0. That’s not completely insurmountable in the grand scheme of things. And if you don’t want to be showed up, play better baseball. It’s that simple.