Padres’ Tatis Jr. prevails despite missing sign from manager
(Photo by Denis Poroy/Getty Images)
Although the San Diego Padres blew out the Texas Rangers Monday night, the storyline surrounding the game was anything but that.
As the Padres were leading the Rangers 10-3 on Monday, Fernando Tatis Jr. stepped to the plate with a chance to seemingly end the game. With a shaky Padres bullpen thus far in 2020, no lead is safe.
Texas Rangers pitcher Juan Nicasio wanted no part of Tatis Jr., who homered earlier in the ball game. After Nicasio fell behind Tatis Jr. 3-0, Nicasio’s only choice was to throw a strike.
San Diego Padres manager Jayce Tingler signaled from the dugout for Tatis Jr. to take the 3-0 pitch. Tatis Jr. did not take the pitch, and hit a grand slam, making the game 14-3.
This sparked tons of controversy around the league and the sports world in general. The unwritten rule of “don’t run up the score when you have a large lead” was broken, and Texas Rangers Manager Chris Woodward did not like what Tatis Jr. and the Padres did in the eighth inning.
"I didn't like it, personally." Chris Woodward spoke on the swung on 3-0 count grand slam by Fernando Tatis Jr. in tonight's @FrontierCorp manager interview.#TogetherWe pic.twitter.com/3Zz9dRWMDW
— Bally Sports Southwest (@BallySportsSW) August 18, 2020
The outcry from everyone centered around Tatis Jr. and how his home run is not disrespectful to the Texas Rangers, but the conversation should be centered around how Tatis Jr. missed a sign.
San Diego Padres manager Jayce Tingler is in charge of his players, and when he gives his players a sign to do something, it is the player’s job to follow his order.
Jayce Tingler was asked about the expectations on a 3-0 count and what he thought Fernando Tatis should have done in that situation: pic.twitter.com/i3aDbopdU3
— 97.3 The Fan (@973TheFanSD) August 18, 2020
Tatis Jr. failed to pick up the sign, which is unacceptable for any player to do at any level.
Fortunately, Fernando Tatis Jr. hit a home run after he missed the take sign. Jayce Tingler ended up being wrong, but that does not excuse Tatis Jr. for missing his sign.
Tatis Jr. apologized for missing the sign and swinging 3-0 while up by seven runs, but he only needed to apologize for missing the sign.
Fernando Tatis was asked what Jayce Tingler said to him after he hit the grand slam: pic.twitter.com/geBn3PyXxo
— 97.3 The Fan (@973TheFanSD) August 18, 2020
This situation made it a learning moment for both Tatis Jr. and Tingler. Tingler will likely no longer give Tatis Jr. take signs, and Tatis Jr. will now be sure to pick up his signs from his manager.
One thing is sure, a learning moment like this is better in a 14-4 victory than a loss.
Dominic is a graduate of Arizona State University’s Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication, with a bachelor’s degree in Sports Journalism. He also is the producer and co-host of the “Padres EVT Podcast.”