7:03 pm | August 7, 2019 | Go to Source | Author:
BALTIMORE — Orioles slugger Chris Davis had to be restrained during a dugout dust-up with manager Brandon Hyde during Wednesday night’s 14-2 loss to the New York Yankees.
In the bottom of the fifth inning, Davis was lifted for pinch hitter Jace Peterson. Shortly afterward, the MASN broadcast showed a clip of Davis getting into a heated exchange with Hyde.
“It was just a disagreement that we had in the dugout,” Hyde said. “What was said and what we talked about, I’m not going to get into. We’re going to keep it in house, and it’s private. It’s something that happens sometimes and frustration boils over a little bit when we’re not playing our best baseball the last couple of games. Unfortunately, I’m embarrassed it was caught on camera and people had to see it but sometimes those things happen.”
Although the exact nature of the brouhaha is unclear, it appeared as though Hyde, whose team was losing 6-1 at the time, said something to Davis before heading down into the tunnel toward the home clubhouse.
The 33-year-old first baseman quickly became agitated and moved toward his skipper, but was restrained by veteran outfielder Mark Trumbo and hitting coach Don Long.
Hyde said he took Davis out of the game.
“We had words and I took him out of the game,” the manager said. “Me and Chris have a good relationship and these things happen in competitive environments and it’s something that’ll pass and we’ll get through it but it’s unfortunate that it happened in the dugout.”
Davis, who signed a seven-year, $161 million free-agent contract with the Orioles in January 2016, has struggled mightily at the plate. Entering play Wednesday, the former home run champ was hitting .183 and had struck out 110 times in 246 at-bats.
Earlier this year, he set a major league record by going hitless in 54 consecutive at-bats, a streak that dated to September of last season.
As his struggles have continued, the lefty swinger has been used more and more sparingly against southpaw starters. He was in the lineup against Yankees left-hander James Paxton on Wednesday, just his 12th start against a lefty this season. In his only plate appearance before getting pulled, he struck out swinging.
Peterson, who replaced Davis, is also a left-handed hitter.
Hyde is in his first season as a big league manager. The 45-year-old former Cubs bench coach had guided the Orioles to a 38-76 record, the second-worst mark in the majors behind the Detroit Tigers (33-78).
Powered by WPeMatico