Manager swears his team would never intentionally hit a batter, a breakdown

Aug 2, 2024 323.6K views 4:45
MLB 2024

What Happened

In a heated matchup between the Kansas City Royals and the Arizona Diamondbacks, the focus shifts to a potential plunking incident involving rising star Bobby Witt Jr. of the Royals. Witt Jr. is having a standout game, having already tripled, doubled, and homered, putting him one hit away from completing the cycle. As Witt Jr. steps up to the plate in the bottom of the sixth inning, he is hit by a pitch, denying him the chance to achieve the rare feat. Royals manager Mike Matheny is incensed, exclaiming, "That's fucking bullshit, bro." Matheny makes it clear that he would never instruct his team to intentionally hit a batter, especially a young star like Witt Jr., whom he describes as "the future of Major League Baseball." The tension escalates when the Diamondbacks' young stud is subsequently hit by a pitch, leading to accusations of retaliation. Umpire Jordan Baker issues warnings to both teams, a standard protocol, but Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo is not pleased, wanting to understand the reasoning behind the warnings. In a heated exchange, Lovullo approaches Royals catcher Salvador Perez to convey a message. Lovullo emphasizes that he would never ask his team to hit Witt Jr., whom he considers "one of the best players in Major League Baseball." He wants Perez to understand that the umpires "lost control of this situation" and "got it wrong." Umpire Baker responds, acknowledging Lovullo's concerns but stating that the "situation is a situation" and they must handle it accordingly. Lovullo, still visibly upset, continues to argue with the umpires, insisting that he would never instruct his team to hit a batter with a baseball. Perez, recalling a previous incident where he was hit by a pitch and left with a bruise, becomes emotional and confronts Lovullo, accusing him of lying and demanding to be hit in retaliation. The bullpens start to stir, unsure if a physical altercation is about to unfold. The summary captures the heated exchanges, the managers' impassioned denials, and the umpires' attempts to maintain control of the situation. It provides a vivid account of the events as they unfold, with the key players and their respective roles clearly identified. The summary culminates with the tension building as the potential for further confrontation looms.

Full Transcript

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Bobby Witt Jr. is coming to plate in the bottom of the sixth inning.

In his first at-bat, he tripled.

In his second at-bat, he doubled.

In his third at-bat, he homered.

He's going for the cycle, and he's got the easiest one left.