You may recall that, earlier this year, Cincinnati Reds outfielder Nick Castellanos was suspended two games for supposedly inciting a dug-out clearing incident (by having the audacity to celebrate scoring a run.)
The decision was heavy-handed and pointless, even by Major League Baseball’s established standards. Castellanos had been put on base by taking a 92-mile-per-hour fastball to the ribs and later scored on a passed ball, which meant the player trying to tag him out was the pitcher who beaned him. Castellanos dared to get excited in his vicinity, and that was an affront to some sacred rule, leading to a scuffle … and then the suspension?
Well, Castellanos isn’t over it, in case you were wondering.
Nick Castellanos fist bumped a fan after a home run and then let the fan tell the broadcast why after the game
"I told Nick he should imagine Rob Manfred's face on the baseball."
(via @alexndr_92) pic.twitter.com/nf6mxMhooP
— Jomboy Media (@JomboyMedia) May 16, 2021
This came during what would eventually be a 6-5 extra-inning win by the Reds over the Rockies. Manfred, by the way, is MLB commissioner.
Look at the look on Castellanos’ face! The pettiness. It is so good.
I’d say that Castellanos found an elegant way to get his point across without actually being the one to deliver the point, but considering the fact that he got blamed the last time around despite not really being the one to start the fracas, this could go any which way. ‘Thou shalt not bump fists with those who would slander the commish’ is probably one of the unwritten rules.
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