Yesterday we had ourselves a good ol’ fashion bench clearer in Pittsburgh. And it all stemmed from one thing. Chris Archer being upset that he letup a missile into the river that Derek Dietrich pimped the hell out of it.
Derek Dietrich sends a souvenir into the river. 😳 pic.twitter.com/BcZ4EJfreJ
— Cincinnati Reds (@Reds) April 7, 2019
Was this the cockiest move of 2019 so far? Absolutely. He bent Archer over and spanked him right in front of his own crowd. Do I love it? Hell yeah, I love it. If you want baseball to grow you need attitude and you need to pour gasoline on these crotchety old “unwritten rules”, toss them in a fire, get some homeless men around it and burn them. The rules, not the homeless guys. Yikes.
And you know what else I don’t have a problem with? Chris Archer throwing behind Dietrich the next time he was up. Whatever. Archer didn’t like it? Show him. This is what makes baseball fun. Passion and intensity. None of this, “lightly place the bat on the ground, keep your head down and head to first base”. That’s not what sells in 2019 and if you want your sport to breathe and have any semblance of life, MLB, then you need to let this stuff happen. Well maybe not “allow” it to happen, but kind of appreciate it when it does.
But man, once Archer threw behind Dietrich, Yasiel Puig was having NONE of it. And next thing you know we had a little bench clearer out on the field.
Yasiel Puig charges Chris Archer after he throws behind-the-back of Derek Dietrich
(via @FOXSportsOH) pic.twitter.com/It7EXGJzsz
— Bleacher Report MLB (@BR_MLB) April 7, 2019
Puig wanted ALL OF THE SMOKE and he was ready to throw hands with every single member of the Pittsburgh Pirates. Why was he so irate? Honestly, I have no idea. It’s not like he drilled him in the head. It’s not even like the pitch came anywhere near the head. And anyway, shouldn’t Dietrich be the one charging?
It doesn’t really matter because Puig is bringing eyes to a baseball game that is being played between the Pittsburgh Pirates and Cincinnati Reds. A game that I wouldn’t have even known was going on if it wasn’t for this.
But really though, pitchers need to be less sensitive about these things. Again, I’m not going to stop them from throwing at batters because it adds a whole new element to that single game or even the series. But come on, let the guys celebrate a little bit when they take you to the moon. Hell, I’ll even go a little cliche here. If you don’t want him pimp jobbing a home run? Don’t let him obliterate a ball like that.
And hey, if Puig has sense of the situation, frame this picture. Now. This picture might be added to the top art museums by next week. It’s beautiful.
1. Yasiel Puig is the hero Cincy needs, not the one it deserves.
2. HIS TEAMMATE TRYING TO HOLD HIM BACK LOL pic.twitter.com/5RJc2HR4YW— Mo Zibdawi (@MoZibdawi24) April 7, 2019
Puig. Putting Cincinnati Reds baseball back on the map since 2019.
Oh, and by the way. If anybody needs to chill the hell out when hitters showboat a bit when they blast home runs, it’s Chris Archer. The guy is wildly cocky on the mound when he sends a batter down. So you’re telling me they can’t do the same when they rock him?
Puig vs Archer in a fight? Take Puig in that bet with your life savings.
-Nick Quaglia (@NickQuag)