The Padres had had enough with everyone throwing this close to Fernando Tatis Jr.’s head.
Tatis has a .245 batting average and a .775 OPS, but Padres manager Mike Shildt noted that Tatis “pitches too much.”
“That’s enough. That’s really all there is to it,” Shildt said Friday. According to USA Today. “If you want to throw, that’s fine. But I don’t see what people are trying to accomplish by throwing up and going in. All you’re doing is pissing off the guy, and it’s unnecessary.”
“It’s happening too often and it’s not something we can tolerate anymore.”
Late in Friday’s win over the Diamondbacks, Tatis had to crouch in the dirt because reliever Scott McGaugh’s pitch in the ninth inning was too close for comfort.
Tatis’ frustration was obvious, but things stopped there.
“I mean, listen, if you want to vent and get involved with that guy, fine,” Shildt said. “But stay off his body, and definitely stay off his head. That’s not appropriate. And no one, no batter or pitcher, could defend it.
“I don’t understand. That’s not necessary. That’s not the way it needs to be played.”
Tatis told reporters that he didn’t think the apparent loss of his pitching freedom had anything to do with his positive steroid test in 2022 and his 80-game suspension from Major League Baseball. However, he speculated that the other team might be trying. Take advantage of your weaknesses.
“The pitchers feel like that’s the only way to get me out,” Tatis said. “But at the same time, you’re throwing it at my head. So if you can’t get it in, understand that and clean it.”
