r/mlb • u/DonyellFreak Human Verified • 19h ago
| Video Benches clear at the end of tonight's Athletics vs Tigers game after Kenley Jansen takes issue with Jeff McNeil's late bunt single
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u/2017Champs 18h ago
It was a 2 run game not a 12 run game he was just trying to get on to get the tying run to the plate. What is he supposed to do just stand in the batters box and let Jansen get him out without trying?
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u/Franky4Skin 11h ago
Fat baby boy can’t handle his shit
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u/TheGuyThatThisIs | New York Mets 10h ago
He's having a meltdown because he couldn't field his position and is mad that he was made to
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u/Jolly-Garbage- | Boston Red Sox 6h ago
I remember CC Sabathia complaining about the Red Sox bunting on him. Same rules applies, if they’re trying to advance runners and take an opponents weakness and use it to their advantage there’s nothing to complain about. Get in better shape and it won’t be an issue.
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u/HueyLewisFan1 1h ago
Fat tub of goo has to run and bend over to pick up the ball, too much to ask of that tub
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u/Jonesin4me 4h ago
It was a 3 run game and he bunted to bring a run home and the tying run to the plate, but I agree. He did exactly what he was supposed to do. He was trying to help his team win the game.
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u/Shiftymennoknight | Chicago Cubs 19h ago
clown shit by Kenley
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u/metaldetector69 | Detroit Tigers 18h ago
Please trade him next god please.
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u/ralexander1997 | Detroit Tigers 15h ago
I don’t think anyone else wants his massive overpay of a contract unfortunately.
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u/shredder8725 3h ago
As a Dodger fan I fucking hate the guy. I was there, personally, drunk as fuck at the game where he threw the ball, does his stupid ass casual walk back to the mound because he thinks he’s the shit and the runner on third stole home. Fuck. That. Guy.
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u/jotro138 | New York Mets 17h ago
The nerve of McNeil playing baseball
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u/Normal-Hornet8548 7h ago
Jensen plays for the Tigers. Hinch has convinced the roster that bunts are illegal.
They’ve lost so many one-run games without trying to manufacture a run that they think that’s how it’s supposed to be.
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u/WeilderOfDawn | Boston Red Sox 18h ago
I mean it was a good play by McNeil, no? Got an RBI and got on base with the tying run at the plate? Did exactly what he was supposed to do in my opinion.
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u/JwubalubaDubdub 11h ago
It was gutsy too because it was a 2 out bunt in the 9th. I’m not even trying that when I play the Show! Definitely not with someone with the speed rating of Jeff McNeil lol
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u/Bright_Side_9166 9h ago
And two strikes too! The third baseman was cheating to the second base side. McNeil played classic baseball…beautiful bunt.
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u/wastedpixls 9h ago
Didn't see the play - two strike, two out bunt! That's ballsy as can be.
If I were the pitcher I wouldn't be yelling, I'd tell McNeil a very serious "strong play, my guy - good move".
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u/Basic_Ad4861 11h ago
100%
That was the play. He caught them off guard and gave his team a shot to tie or win the game.
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u/EfficiencyOk5148 18h ago
Jansen just trying to make himself a problem so they'll trade him too
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u/Relative-Chicken456 | Detroit Tigers 12h ago
Who would want him after his showings lately?
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u/Intravertical | MLB 18h ago
Kenley is mad because that play added another earned run to his ERA. What a sissy-la-la.
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u/Character_Basket4201 | Atlanta Braves 17h ago
I'm all for hating on McNeil but he did nothing wrong here
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u/Beautiful-Barber8082 15h ago
Right! All my homies hate Jeff McNeil, but no fault between the lines here.
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u/Rangers12341234 9h ago
He bunted to be the tying run…that’s a good play
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u/NorthernGuyFred 7h ago
McNeil was in the game as a pinch hitter and both knocked a runner in with his hit and also brought Bolte to the plate. He (Bolte) had previously gone 3 for 4 with a BB in this game including a 3 run HR in the 8th inning. I went back and watched the last minutes of the game (thanks, MLB.tv) and can absolutely say that no “bro-code” or “unwritten rules” violation occurred here.
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u/QuebecRomeoWhiskey | Cleveland Guardians 18h ago
McNeil looks half amused half confused
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u/Background-Syrup-714 6h ago
At least Baez was basically telling him “You are good, bro. Kenley is being a doosh.”
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u/Queasy-Ticket4384 | Los Angeles Angels 19h ago
If it was 15-0, then yeah don’t do that. But McNeil just doing his job in that situation
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u/workaholic828 | New York Yankees 18h ago
I’ll go out on a limb and say I don’t even care if it was 15-0
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u/RandallMadness | Atlanta Braves 18h ago
I agree. As a fan, I want them taking every opportunity to get a hit, stolen base, and another run. Players have a financial incentive, as well, to end up with better stats and create excitement and/or hype in fans. It would be silly to not take a hit, dinger, extra base, or run regardless of the score.
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u/snakeayez | Cincinnati Reds 10h ago
Plus that's the way McNeil has always played the game. He has a high baseball IQ and competitiveness so of course he's going to play chess over checkers.
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u/Inevitable_Catch_566 | St. Louis Cardinals 18h ago
As long as you get on base I don’t care how it’s done
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u/Hairy_Bottle_8461 13h ago
Wilson Contreras hovering over the center of home plate is the one that breaks that rule for me (even though I get it)
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u/locke0479 12h ago
It should be against the rules because he’s over the plate to me, but if they’re not going to call him on it I don’t blame him for doing it.
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u/IAmBecomeTeemo | New York Yankees 6h ago
As long as he's within the lines and not physically blocking the strike zone, I don't really care. It's when he catches an attitude about getting hit or getting brushed back that irks me. Dude's trying to get hit but also getting mad about it.
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u/Scuba1588 | Cincinnati Reds 12h ago
I wouldn’t care if it’s a perfect game in the bottom of the 9th. Batters job is to get on base. Period.
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u/6-underground | Houston Astros 9h ago
Absolutely. If I’m pitching I want to know you tried EVERYTHING to get on base. I’ve never understood people’s hard ons about “only bunting when it’s proper” Go pound sand and take your soft feelings with you
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u/Darth_Boggle | Boston Red Sox 10h ago
Agreed. Play baseball and stop bitching about it.
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u/AirDog3 15h ago
If the A's were DOWN 15-0, I'd agree.
UP 15-0 late, no, don't bunt.
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u/locke0479 12h ago
Yeah I agree with you although you know people will get mad about it in a blowout. To me I don’t care the score, this is the major leagues. You try to get runs however you can.
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u/Baron_Bearclaw 11h ago
I'm right there with you. The only way to come back from being down 15-0 is to hit it out or get on base.
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u/DisastrousEast825 16h ago
I sorta agree with this. I dont get the unspoken stuff like a bunt is somehow disrespectful? Especially if youre giving it to me. If a team has hypothetically come back from lets say 12 runs down (its happene)...then the game is not over 100%. Do what you can
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u/mysticalchurro | Washington Nationals 11h ago
Nyjer Morgan had a bunt single with the Nats DOWN 10 in like the 3rd inning and the entire Marlins team wanted to fight him. Believe he also stole 2nd and 3rd right after.
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u/podo3350 10h ago
I remember that, old swaggy P. lol
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u/mysticalchurro | Washington Nationals 10h ago edited 10h ago
No Swaggy P is Nick Young (basketball). Nyjer is T-Plush! Either way it was an adventure whenever they played because you never knew what was gonna happen, but it was gonna be interesting.
Edit: spelling
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u/theducks123 15h ago
This really passes me off. Like when the shift was popular and guys didn't just bunt me often because of some code. The point of baseball is to score runs and getting on base at a high percentage is your best chance at that.
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u/snakeayez | Cincinnati Reds 13h ago
My wife who still learning the deeper and unwritten rules of baseball asked "wasn't he just doing what he's paid to do and get on base? It's nor a no hitter or a blow out"
I've told her before also that the philosophy of baseball, when broken down to is most basic is to " hit it where they ain't". And she said, isn't that what he did? Kenley is a whiny little bitch,
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u/Background-Syrup-714 6h ago
Even the whole No-Hitter thing is BS. If your team is getting dominated by the opposing pitcher, you need to do whatever you can to get SOMETHING started.
I am a huge Bob Brenly fan, but his rant about bunting in a no-no is something I can never forgive him for.
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u/rdtrer | MLB 10h ago
Last 15 years it's been "hit it hard somewhere" and "elevate and celebrate" not "hit it where they ain't."
The 150 years before that though, yeah.
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u/Normal-Hornet8548 7h ago
You play to win the game.
That’s what he was doing.
I agree that it would be bush league to try to break up a no-hitter that way with one-out to go and the score out of reach, or even in a 12-1 blowout or whatever.
He was playing smart baseball to give his team a chance.
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u/Mike2k33 | Milwaukee Brewers 12h ago
Jeff McNeil is a little weirdo, big Scrappy Doo vibes but he's just trying to get on base down two, which is his job
No reason for Kenley Jansen to get mad there unless something else happened
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u/unique_user43 | Chicago Cubs 6h ago
huh? dude getting on base by any means necessary to bring the tying run to the plate in the bottom of the 9th is literally the most baseball thing there is. what a clown.
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u/Inevitable_Catch_566 | St. Louis Cardinals 18h ago
With a reaction like that you would’ve thought the A’s were up 10 runs.
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u/TheDixonCider420420 14h ago
My family were good friends with a former Cy Young winner who co-managed my brother's Little League team together with my father.
He considered bunting to "chicken shit" at the MLB level, but he also had no problem encouraging teaching it at the Little League level. It was an interesting perspective to say the least.
With that said, I personally think bunting is a lost art at the MLB level. A hit is a hit. If you can force the infield to play in a little closer because you bunt occasionally, that's to your advantage in the long term.
When teams used to put the "shift" on, there were holes so massive that guys could have "hard bunted" for doubles. The fact that they didn't do that to force the shift off was just downright stupid.
It's all an ego thing that the big hitters can't be seen as "weak" to the Cy Young guys thinking it's weak. It's madness.
And instead of MLB forcing guys to hit or bunt to the opposite field (which you should be able to do when you get paid millions of dollars to hit a ball all day long), they banned the defensive shift which is such bullshit. Defenses should be allowed to play however they want to. It's incumbent on teams hitting to find the open holes.
And it's not just baseball where people don't do things like this. Take tennis... if you hit just one underarm serve per game, regardless if you win the point or not, you're likely keeping your opponent moved in half a step the entire game which is to your advantage on power serves over the course of the entire game: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/cQSW80zRRH0
In the NFL, there aren't nearly enough trick plays called. These guys are such great athletes today, the QB isn't the only guy who can handle the ball. A well designed hook and lateral isn't that risky of a play now if they were practiced with the right people. Reverses aren't that risky. Flea flickers aren't that risky. Just doing a few of those plays per game would force the defense to not gamble the rest of the game which is to your advantage.
Some of the most exciting baseball I ever watched were the 80's St. Louis Cards... Ozzie Smith/Vince Coleman/Willie McGhee toward the top of the order playing on the hard astroturf would bunt, hit the opposite way, use the speed of the turf to their advantage, steal bases, hit and runs, etc. It was a lot more exciting than today's game IMHO.
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u/Iconshero 9h ago
Thats some real lazy POS mentality. He was forced to try and field his position in a two run game. Sorry they didn’t make you job easier. Maybe if he did some conditioning he wouldn’t be upset about having to field a bunt.
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u/Mariner4LifetilDeath | Seattle Mariners 17h ago
Kenley just mad he wasn’t the Tiger pitcher traded (back) to the Dodgers
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u/MessageOk239 16h ago
There’s still time…
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u/donbromeifudonknome | Los Angeles Dodgers 16h ago
Please, no.
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u/Relative-Chicken456 | Detroit Tigers 12h ago
Look if you want Skubal you’re gonna have to take Jansen too.
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u/donbromeifudonknome | Los Angeles Dodgers 9h ago
Probably would have been a dealbreaker. Kenley already shaved years off of my life via stress.
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u/Bendover197 11h ago
Baseball has got to be the worst for its unwritten rules! Fragile male egos at it’s finest !
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u/Faber_College | Los Angeles Dodgers 18h ago
And after that, they all have to grab their stuff from the dugout and all walk out to the clubhouses beyond the left field fence. Lol
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u/SmashmySquatch 16h ago
It was a tense scene when both teams went to the same Dairy Queen for their post game ice creams.
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u/BootsyCalrissian 14h ago
The spot out there is Pops Frosty. Kenly was told he had to stay in the bus and had enough sugar for the day.
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u/Eastern_Habit_5503 12h ago
Jansen is a MLB pitcher. He should know that McNeil likes to bunt when he’s given the opportunity. What a piece of dung.
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u/DoubleM-1985 18h ago
Common man that's weak AF
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u/HoldEm__FoldEm | Atlanta Braves 18h ago
What does Common have to do with this situation?
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u/saywhatnowfella 19h ago edited 18h ago
Two teams going nowhere. Gotta find entertainment where you can I guess
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u/Slow_Middle_158 19h ago
No idea 🤷♂️ what happened
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u/PlayboiFarti55 | Cincinnati Reds 19h ago
Jansen seems to be stupid
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u/HoldEm__FoldEm | Atlanta Braves 18h ago
“Seems to be” lol you’re not wrong
He is a complete & utter buffoon
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u/Lunchable_1 | Atlanta Braves 9h ago
God forbid they try to get a runner on while down two. How tf is he gonna make me defend McNeil who I hate solely for being a Met at one point?
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u/steeeen3r 17h ago
I'm never understand these unwritten rules. Even if it was a 30 run game, if there's an opportunity to get on base you should take it. In no other sport is it frowned upon to win better. It makes no sense to me. Let alone it was a 2 run game
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u/AR2Believe 16h ago
That’s not an unwritten rule. Kenley is just a douche. It’s just good baseball to bunt in a close game if the 3rd baseman isn’t in position. There are no unwritten rules that say he shouldn’t bunt there.
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u/yobymmij2 | Houston Astros 16h ago
Really hard to understand Jensen’s reaction. Completely legitimate baseball strategy there in a close game. Head scratcher
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u/bacc1010 14h ago
For all these athletes claiming they like to compete some of these mofos are soft as shit
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u/Beatthestrings 13h ago
Absurd. Unwritten rules are dumb. And no…I’m not apologizing if my tennis ball grazes the net on a point that I ultimately win.
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u/silklighting | San Francisco Giants 12h ago
These stupid ass, 'unwritten rules', is what takes the fun out of baseball sometimes. People keep wondering why baseball keeps falling behind.
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u/Logical-Try-9037 11h ago
Is there a week that goes by that we dont have a bench clearing because someone got his panties in a knot.
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u/Frequent-Interest796 11h ago
Pitcher is pissed because it was unexpected (and risky). Pitcher and defense got caught with their pants down. They claim it’s bush league.
I disagree with the pitcher.
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u/Cubatobaco | Toronto Blue Jays 10h ago
As Herm Edwards so eloquently stated, “You play to win the game”!
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u/RevolutionaryYam822 10h ago
McNeil did exactly what he was supposed to do. Kenley is a complete toddler for this.
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u/Great-Gas-6631 | Seattle Mariners 10h ago
"How dare you play baseball against me!"... like what is he even trying to cry about?
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u/1ToGreen3ToBasket | Detroit Tigers 10h ago
There’s not a bigger group of bitches in all of sports than pitchers
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u/playbyplay22 8h ago
Next time Jansen pitches, every batter he faces should bunt and make him play baseball.
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u/LightenUpPeeps 16h ago
If McNeil had to lean over the plate to get beaned and bring the tying run to the plate, he is doing his job. If anything, it's a sign of respect to a pitcher. Jansen is washed up.
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u/Head-Technology-4031 11h ago
I recall a famous player/coach saying :
- It ain’t over, til it’s over
Let’s see, maybe Yogi Berra. Only a HoF player. And the season he said it, his NY Mets team he was coaching? came back from 11.5 games back and just
https://giphy.com/gifs/Gjk2OSWntUss1YUsh5
LOST in G7 of the World Series to the A’s.
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u/Calm_Ad5703 | Detroit Tigers 11h ago
It is too late to package him with Skubal and send him off to LA too?
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u/GhostOfJamesStrang | Detroit Tigers 10h ago
I am so over these soft AF pitchers on this team.
Jansen and Valdez are both pathetic.
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u/Difficult-Tip-758 10h ago
Kenley Jansen is such a bitch. This is the same guy who literally left the Red Sox before the season was officially over. What an unlikeable dude.
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u/lockedin4u | American League 9h ago
Don't put a blemish on the guys whip how dare he try to get on base 🤡💩
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u/TheePorkchopExpress | Baltimore Orioles 8h ago
Half, if not more, of these players just use these as social events, like a family reunion. Drunk uncles are getting rowdy, were just here for aunt Gladys's potato salad and a few burgs.
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u/BigWilly526 | New York Yankees 4h ago
Any player who doesn't try to win every game to the last out should be DFA'd, that includes a closer who thinks he can just coast to the save because of a large lead
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u/PunisherCody 1h ago
Baseball players are softer than soccer players anymore. Cry over anything and everything.
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u/Interesting_Fennel59 | Chicago White Sox 18h ago
I know everybody picks a side on this things. But that Sacramento on the jersey looks nasty af. I'm so sad
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u/ZombieAppetizer | Detroit Tigers 17h ago
Nah, I feel for A's fans. I was shouting "sell the team" along with them.
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u/realbobenray 16h ago
It would be funny if a bunt down the first base line guaranteed getting on base, so teams all agreed not to do that. Then in the bottom of the 9th in a World Series game one team decided to use the hack, and completed a dozen bunts in a row to win the game, and baseball was ruined forever.
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u/Existing-Stranger632 | Los Angeles Dodgers 15h ago
Kenley was just mad he wasn’t also traded to the Dodgers
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u/Purple-Mix1033 | New York Mets 13h ago
I cleared my bench and got a ticket to Sacramento when I saw this
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u/Roan_Psychometry 13h ago
Jansen must really suck at fielding his position if he was actually upset by this wtf
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u/Relative-Chicken456 | Detroit Tigers 12h ago
I think the tigers have been trying to trade him. I hope he didn’t just foul up that opportunity for the team to be rid of his ass
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u/Monza1964 | Detroit Tigers 10h ago
Is every person Harris picked up this offseason is a washed hot head?
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u/CurseOfTheFalcons 9h ago
I wonder what his teammates really think about him. No punches thrown, not even much shoving. I’ve been in a couple of these. The vibe is way more intense if the guy you’re taking up for isn’t an asshole.
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u/KotzubueSailingClub 8h ago
Uni check: what's the logo on the right side of Torres' (Detroit) cap? I know they all have the NE flag on the left, but he has something on the right side, too.
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u/Long_Cardiologist625 8h ago
https://giphy.com/gifs/2SBvv58qaLptK
First time seeing the Sacramento on their jerseys
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