The unwritten rules of baseball appear to be alive and well.
San Diego Padres superstar shortstop Fernando Tatis Jr. took over the MLB lead in home runs Monday when he clobbered a grand slam for his 11th round-tripper of the season. It was his first career grand slam.
🚨 @tatis_jr grand slam 🚨 pic.twitter.com/agtKnvQ7kH
— MLB (@MLB) August 18, 2020
Texas Rangers manager Chris Woodward wasn't pleased after Tatis hit his home run on a 3-0 pitch count, and not just because it left his team facing an 11-run deficit.
"I didn't like it personally," Woodward said, according to Sam Blum of the Dallas Morning News. "You're up by seven 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 ... the norms are being challenged."
The slam, Tatis' second home run of the game, extended San Diego's lead to 14-3. But Padres manager Jayce Tingler was similarly unimpressed by the home run because Tatis was given the take sign not to swing.
"Just to make sure we get the signs 3-0 in that game," Tingler said, according to Dennis Lin of The Athletic. "He's young, a free spirit and focused and all these things, and that's the last thing we'll ever take away. But that's a learning opportunity. That's it and he'll grow from it.
"Just so you know, a lot of our guys have (the) green light (on) 3-0. But in this game, in particular, we had a little bit of a comfortable lead, and we're not trying to run up the score or anything like that."
Tatis apologized for missing his sign after the game.
Tatis said he missed a take sign on his 3-0 grand slam because he was "locked in, just trying to produce for my team."
— AJ Cassavell (@AJCassavell) August 18, 2020
Tingler clarified Tuesday that his issue was not with him swinging, but that Tatis missed the sign not to, though the manager also acknowledged he probably shouldn't have given the sign in the first place.
"Obviously, it wasn't the right call," Tingler said, according to AJ Cassavell of MLB.com.
Tingler added that it bothered him that Tatis felt the need to apologize after the game.
"We as coaches shouldn't be (the) story," Tingler said, according to Bleacher Report's Scott Miller. "It's (the) players' game 100%."
Tingler took greater umbrage with Rangers reliever Ian Gibaut throwing behind Manny Machado on the very first pitch following the homer.
"Throwing at players and throwing behind them, it's just tired," Tingler said, according to Cassavell.
Plenty of people rushed to Tatis' defense, stating he didn't need to apologize for anything.
Hey @tatis_jr listen up:
— Trevor Bauer (@BauerOutage) August 18, 2020
1) Keep swinging 3-0 if you want to, no matter what the game situation is
2) Keep hitting homers, no matter what the situation is
3) Keep bringing energy and flash to baseball and making it fun
4) The only thing you did wrong was apologize. Stop that.
If I'm the Padres, I give Fernando Tatis Jr. a $700 million contract TOMORROW for making him feel like he had to show an ounce of regret for hitting a grand slam.
— Jared Carrabis (@Jared_Carrabis) August 18, 2020
Fernando Tatis, Jr. is now a bad guy because he swings on a 3-0 pitch with a 7-run lead ( Oh, and hits a grand slam)? Baseball’s “Unwritten Rules” can be ridiculous. Meanwhile, how scary is this kid?
— Bob Ryan (@GlobeBobRyan) August 18, 2020
Fernando Tatis Jr if you’re reading this DO NOT CHANGE A DAMN THING
— Céspedes Family BBQ (@CespedesBBQ) August 18, 2020
This is my hill. I will die on it.
— Trevor Plouffe (@trevorplouffe) August 18, 2020
3-0 swings should be a regular part of baseball, no matter the score. @ me all you want. The ONLY thing wrong is that it might get your teammate hit because the opposing pitcher had his feelings hurt. So is the wrong in the act or retribution?
The series between the Padres and Rangers continues Tuesday.
