We saw in the NLDS just how impactful bulletin-board material can be for players. The Braves’ Orlando Arcia was heard shouting “atta boy, Harper” in the clubhouse after the Braves’ Game 2 win, and those reports had Bryce Harper staring down Arcia during a two-homer Game 3 (and eventual series win).
Fast forward to the World Series, and Rangers pitching coach Mike Maddux apparently didn’t pay attention to the whole Arcia saga. Because, well, he did the same thing and took it to another level.
While the Diamondbacks’ Tommy Pham had an incredible 4-for-4 performance in Arizona’s 9-1 Game 2 win, Pham did have a big mistake on the base path. He was picked off at second to end an inning. And when cameras panned to Maddux, we saw this:
Mike Maddux 😂 pic.twitter.com/GF0K49bwtK
— Codify (@CodifyBaseball) October 29, 2023
Lip readers were quick to notice that Maddux appeared to say, “Atta boy, you dumb (expletive)!”
Obviously, Maddux was just fired up about a big play but the disrespectful shot at Pham certainly got back to the D-backs outfielder as he responded to a video of it.
👀👀 https://t.co/qKwnElXfwD
— Talkin’ Baseball (@TalkinBaseball_) October 29, 2023
Yeah, he’s taking notes. And with the series tied at 1-1 and heading to Phoenix, fans will certainly look back at Maddux’s comments if the D-backs win the World Series.