Detroit Tigers shortstop Javier Baez was hit by a Nick Sandlin pitch in Tuesday's loss to the Cleveland Guardians, and Baez was none-too-pleased about it.
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He took four steps, dropped his bat and glared at Sandlin. Baez was calmed down by Guardians catcher Austin Hedges and MLB home plate umpire Mike Muchlinski.
That's when Guardians play-by-play announcer Matt Underwood let Baez have it.
"Báez chirping ... Look Javy, you are way under .200. Nobody's hitting you on purpose," Underwood said on Bally Sports. "It wasn't even a fastball. It was a breaking ball."
Guardians announcer hit Javy Baez with the kill shot pic.twitter.com/1UCgU5DUDh
— Jomboy Media (@JomboyMedia) July 10, 2024
The game was tied at 7-all, so there would be absolutely no reason for Sandlin to hit a batter on purpose at that time. The outcome was still in the balance. Plus, as Underwood said, pitchers don't usually beam guys with breaking balls. They use fastballs for that purpose.
"While Underwood ripped Báez rather harshly, his remarks highlighted how the 31-year-old isn't the same player he used to be," the New York Post wrote. "The ex-Met has posted a .185/.211/.254 slash line in 199 plate appearances this season - while only having one home run."
The Guardians won the game 9-8 in 10 innings.
As for Baez, yeah, it's been a struggle. He led the National League in RBIs in 2018 while with the Chicago Cubs. Things have changed quite a bit since then.
"The veteran has hit just .223 with a .608 OPS since signing a six-year, $140 million deal with Detroit before the 2022 season," the Post wrote.
But as several on social media suggested, Baez finally got on base. He just wasn't really happy with the "hit" that landed him there.
