It's the type of intensity you're seeking from your team, but perhaps there are better ways to channel it. That may be what the Tampa Bay Rays were thinking after two teammates had to be separated in the dugout.
The incident took place during the eighth inning of the Rays' 4-2 road win over the Oakland A's.
Per the New York Post:
"Yandy Diaz yelled and pointed while walking toward Jose Caballero before teammates and coaches intervened during the eighth inning of the Rays' 4-2 road win over the A's.
"Both Caballero and Rays manager Kevin Cash chalked it up to players being a little on edge with the Rays sitting 6 ½ games out of a playoff spot with a 64-62 record."
A bit of tempers flaring in the Rays dugout 👀 pic.twitter.com/ieZzJA0kFf
— Bally Sports Sun: Rays (@BallyRays) August 22, 2024
But it appears all eventually was well and worked out.
"Emotions got the best of us," Caballero told MLB reporters. "We're trying to be the best player we can be. We're competitors. Emotions got us and we're just trying to be the best we can be and things happen and just trying to make plays and try to win games. We're in a bad stretch, we're not doing the best and we wish we would be in a playoff position and maybe that could be one of the things that got us. Just trying to be competitors out there and emotions got us. Play happened and we got to the dugout and things happened."
These are just the things that can happen in sports, when you spend so much time with your coaches and teammates. Most of the time, though, the cameras aren't around to capture it. This time, the Rays weren't so lucky.