MLB players being benched for a lack of hustle isn’t particularly a new thing. Typically, though, when it happens, the player is at least told why.
There seemed to be some confusion in that department between Philadelphia Phillies manager Gabe Kapler and second baseman Cesar Hernandez. In Sunday’s game, Hernandez hit a fly ball off the wall that he watched, thinking it was a home run. He only reached first but ultimately scored on a home run by Rhys Hoskins.
Hernandez was not lifted from the game, though Kapler was critical of his lack of hustle after the game. Subsequently, Hernandez was left out of Monday’s lineup, with Kapler citing that lack of hustle as the reason.
Just one problem: That came as news to Hernandez, who claimed Kapler had told him it was unrelated.
Kapler said he would clarify with Hernandez that the benching was in response to Sunday, but it’s still an odd look. Sure, common sense might have dictated to Hernandez that the two things were connected, but that clearly didn’t happen. Maybe the wires simply got crossed.
Interestingly, a similar thing happened to one of Philadelphia’s division rivals earlier this year. In that instance, it was the player who thought it was disciplinary, while the manager denied it.
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