Ventura Was In The Wrong
So enough with the defense of Ventura just because he plays for your favorite team. He was wrong Tuesday night. Period.
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While Kansas City Royals manager Ned Yost typically and adamantly declined to talk about Ventura’s maturity or lack thereof after the game, Fox Sports Kansas City’s Ryan Lefevbre was more than willing to share his thoughts during and after the game.
The goal, Lefebvre said after the game, is to get Machado out, not fight him. By throwing inside in the second inning, Ventura did his job of getting inside Machado’s head and getting him out.
Giving up a free base-runner while firing up a team that you’re trailing 5-1 is a bad idea. When you team is mired in a five-game losing streak, you can’t afford to squander chances. To then go after a player you’re mad at for barking at you on the first pitch in the fifth only adds to an already suspect reputation.
"“Whatever Yordano Ventura says, whatever Ned Yost tries to say to defend him, whatever his teammates try to say to defend him, the other 29 teams and the league office are going to say, ‘There goes Yordano Ventura again,’” Lefebvre said. “Those things start to add up.”"
Suspensions are likely on the way and that’s the last thing a stretched KC Royals team needed in the middle of a skid. Then again, maybe a bench-clearing blowout will light a fire under these Kansas City Royals. One could try to find some numbers on how the team has reacted after previous bench clears, but this is Kansas City.
Next: Five Starting Pitching Trade Targets For Royals
Throw trends out the window. When they’re hot, they’re unbeatable. When they’re cold, KC Royals fans can expect to find more offense in a Copa America match.