Padres manager Mike Shildt tees off on teams throwing high and inside on Fernando Tatis Jr.
PHOENIX — San Diego Padres manager Mike Shildt, after watching All-Star outfielder Fernando Tatis Jr. duck out of the way of an errant pitch towards his head in their 7-1 victory Friday over the Arizona Diamondbacks, vows he will no longer stand for it.
“We're seeing way too many pitches up and in on Tati,’’ Shildt said. “It's enough. It really is enough. If you want to throw in, that's fine. But I don't know what people are trying to accomplish by throwing up and in. All you're doing is pissing the guy off, and it's uncalled for. ...
“It's happening way too frequently, and it's not something that we're going to tolerate much longer.’’
Tatis and the Padres’ bench was furious when Tatis, who hit a two-run homer in the fourth inning, was sent scrambling to the dirt by D-backs reliever Scott McGough’s first pitch in the ninth inning. Tatis dusted himself off, glared at McGough, but then struck out.
“They throw at my head every single day,’’ Tatis said. “I’m trying to stay in the game, but I feel like there’s been so many of those.’’
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Tatis doesn’t believe pitchers are trying to retaliate or send any message over his 2022 performance-enhancing drug suspension. He thinks pitchers believe pitching inside can exploit a weakness of his. He has no problem with the strategy, but gets angry when pitches are thrown towards his head.
“Pitchers feel like that’s the only way to get me out,’’ Tatis said, “but at the same time, you're throwing at my head. So, if you can’t go inside, just figure it out, and clean it up.’’
Tatis, who had three hits Friday, is batting .246 with seven homers. He has a .788 OPS. He also has been hit by two pitches, just one fewer than all last season.
“Throwing inside is part of the game,’’ Shildt said. “We know this for 100-plus years. It’s part of it. And the inner half can be a battle between the pitcher and the hitter. We do it. We expect people to do it. It’s part of it. But I’ve seen way too many pitchers up and in on Tati. …
“I mean, listen, if you want to throw up and in on the guy, fine. But get away from the top of his body, and definitely stay away from his head. That’s just not appropriate. And no hitter, no pitcher, nobody could defend it.
“I don’t get it. It’s not necessary. It’s not the way it needs to be played.’’
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