In the current generation of Major League Baseball, there are few players out there who hate fun and personality more than Madison Bumgarner. The slightest hint of showboating will send Bumgarner off on a tirade — it’s been that way for much of his career.
But now, Bumgarner is getting mad at opponents for trying too hard for his liking. At least it sure seemed that way on Wednesday.
During the third inning of the Diamondbacks’ game against the Cardinals, Bumgarner did not appreciate a hard swing foul and post-swing scream from Willson Contreras. Like, all Contreras did was swing hard and make a noise. Pitchers — like Max Scherzer — grunt and scream when they pitch all the time. Bumgarner oddly wouldn’t tolerate that from Contreras.
Bumgarner yelling at hitters is a tale as old as time itself
— Dillard Barnhart (@BarnHasSpoken2) April 19, 2023
The Cardinals broadcast picked up Bumgarner saying, “Shut the (expletive) up, you (expletive), (expletive) you.”
And you can understand how Contreras took issue with that. Bumgarner was out there throwing a tantrum over nothing. Contreras would end up walking in the at-bat (with a bat flip) and scoring in the inning.
Willson Contreras and Madison Bumgarner were jawing a bit during Contreras' at-bat, which probably explains this bat flip on a walk pic.twitter.com/Xn8VaPD0r2
— Casey Drottar (@CDrottar19) April 19, 2023
Fans also had thoughts on Bumgarner’s antics.