The Dodgers’ series against the Padres last week included a little of everything. Managers almost got into a fight, Manny Machado’s comments went viral, and punishments were handed out in large numbers.
One of those punishments was for Padres manager Mike Shildt, who chose to serve his one-game suspension last Friday in the team’s 6-5 loss to the Royals. And, according to national analyst A.J. Pierzynski, MLB authorities went a considerable mile to confirm that Shildt accepted his punishment.
Padres supporters are sobbing after MLB took humorous measures to police Mike Shildt after Dodgers ban.
“He was locked in his office for the game, and there are MLB people sitting in there with him to make sure he doesn’t pick up the phone and call the dugout,” Pierzynski revealed on a recent episode of Foul Territory. “You just have to sit there with [your arms crossed] and just watch the game.”
Padres fans seek justice. We need film of Dave Roberts chained to a chair to establish that he did not make any calls from the team suite during his ban.
While Pierzynski’s story makes sense (he was suspended, after all), it conjures up a funny mental image of Shildt sitting in his office chair, watching the game, with officials surrounding him to ensure he doesn’t do anything, given that the phone was probably calling Shildt like the Green Goblin mask.
It’s simply the latest chapter in one of baseball’s best quasi-rivalries. The Padres have recently surged back into the National League Wild Card race (they’ve gone 3-1 since Shildt’s suspension), while the Dodgers have gone 4-1 and now lead the Giants by 4.5 games in the National League West.
Shildt and Roberts were both suspended for one game, while Robert Suarez was initially suspended for three games before being reduced to two after an appeal.
While Shildt told MLB Network Radio that he hopes the teams play a “clean” series the next time they meet in August, all it takes is one throw to change everything.
Shohei Ohtani and Frenando Tatis Jr. were both plunked twice in the most recent series, and another benches-clearing incident was almost certain if Ohtani had not waved off the Dodgers’ bench.
However, in the end, it was more of a theatrical performance. While no one wants to take a 99 MPH fastball on the back, all of the movements (and emotions) were premeditated.
But, if nothing else, it conjured up the image of Shildt sitting in his office, surrounded by MLB executives. Baseball continues to be an unusual sport.
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