Mookie Betts on Dodgers' war of words with Manny Machado: 'Gotta be two sides' to celebrations
Throughout the season, the San Diego Padres have never been shy about celebrating in big moments with bat flips, slow base-trotting and the occasional smack talk. But the team found themselves on the other end of the equation during Wednesday night's loss to the Dodgers and outfielder Mookie Betts said that's what happens when you develop a reputation for showboating.
Dodgers outfielder Cody Bellinger made an outstanding catch to rob Fernando Tatis Jr. of a home run in the seventh inning and after the play, Padres third baseman Manny Machado got into it with Dodgers relief pitcher Brusdar Graterol after he threw his hat in celebration of the grab. Betts said that if the Padres can dish it, they need to be able to take it just as well.
"When he hit his home run he threw the bat..." Betts said in a postgame interview. "Then we take one away, we can celebrate too. So there's gotta be two sides to it."
Betts is referring to Machado's bat flip after he hit a home run off of Clayton Kershaw in the sixth inning. The Padres have made a habit of violating the unwritten rules of baseball this season and several teams have called them out on it.
Betts is right the Padres are going to have to be able to take some grief due to their semi-defiant, arguably arrogant attitude, but honestly? This is the type of stuff that makes baseball so fun to watch and hopefully, the San Diego squad does not tone down their swagger just because they are the target of some taunting. Plus, the Padres need to focus less on what happens after outs and more on what happens before, as they are just one loss away from their season coming to an end.
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