Kansas City Royals’ ace Yordano Ventura needs to knock this shit off…
In case you missed the highlights from last night’s late inning victory against the Chicago White Sox, here’s what happened: In the seventh inning, Chicago’s Adam Eaton hit a comebacker to the mound that Ventura fielded cleanly before throwing to first for the out. In the middle of the play, however, before Ventura threw to first, he unleashed a very clear “FUCK YOU” as Eaton made his way down the line. This resulted in an altercation at the end of the inning in which both benches cleared, and several players from both sides were ejected. This was the second ejection for Ventura in as many games, and the third incident sparked by the pitcher in the past month.
Yordano Ventura is acting like a total dipshit and someone needs to tell him to fucking cool it.
After the game, everyone said the right things. Centerfielder Lorenzo Cain—who took the dustup as an opportunity to air grievances with White Sox starter Jeff Samardzija over some unresolved opening day beef—said “he’s a young kid. He was a little aggressive tonight, but at the same time, we’re gonna back our teammates regardless.”
Manager Ned Yost also explained that Ventura is young—thanks, Ned—and that he himself had trouble controlling his emotions when he was that age.
It’s no excuse.
Last week, Ventura was fined for hitting the Athletics’ Brett Lawrie after Lawrie attempted to kill shortstop Alcides Escobar with a ridiculous takeout slide; in a game before that, he came within inches of getting his head torn off by the Angels’ Mike Trout.
It’s one thing to protect your teammates. It is another thing entirely to act unhinged at the tiniest perceived slight. A lot has been made about the fact that the Royals are now the hunted; for the first time in decades, they are all giant, walking targets. And that’s fine. But at a certain, point, they need to learn that they’ve made their point—by retaliating each time they certainly haven’t allowed themselves to be bullied. Now they need to just knock it the fuck off and concentrate on winning games.
Because if Ventura keeps this shit up, someone is going to get injured. And given his thin, scarecrow-like frame and propensity for various (though mercifully brief) maladies, it’s probably going to be him. It seems that we’re headed for an inevitable brawl, and at some point, catcher Salvador Perez won’t catch the batter in time, and that batter—who will almost undoubtedly be more solidly built than Ventura—will tackle him on the mound and dislocate his shoulder. Or worse.
Even short of some sort of calamitous melee, there are suspensions to deal with. After the Oakland chicanery, reliever Kelvin Herrera was suspended for five games. And yeah, that sucks, but he’s a reliever and the Kansas City bullpen is ridiculously deep and talented.
But if someone like Cain got a five game suspension? That’d sting. A lot.
Winning was and always will be the best revenge. So seriously, Ventura: grow the fuck up.
Hmmm.
No mention of what Eaton said to Ventura FIRST?
Yahoo Sports played a camera angle that CLEARLY shows Eaton flipping the first words, to Which Venture replied “F.O.”
After witnessing that bit of video, there’s no reason to blame Ventura for anything other than telling Eaton what he told him……FO.
All Eaton had to do was go back to the dugout, but no. He HAD to start some crap.
The Royals might be at fault for a few bench clearings up to this point, but last night’s was ALL on Eaton. (kind of like ‘dont start no sh!t, and there wont be any’)
So….for you or anyone else to blame Ventura for last night’s brawl is just wrong in my opinion.
I heard that Eaton said something first, but the point is, the Royals eventually have to start being the bigger team. Continually getting dragged into these situations isn’t doing them any good. You’ve gotta imagine that Ventura will no longer get the benefit of the doubt from umpires in most circumstances; why make it worse?
that, and opposing teams know they can yank the royals’ chains.
playing angry, playing for respect is one thing. playing angry, playing for revenge is another. royals have to dial it back.
“Sale reportedly stormed to the Kansas City clubhouse to try to fight Ventura afterwards.” – kc star
And Ventura ‘s the problem? I get the criticism from the national media. But the locals I don’t understand. We are not going to war with ISIS as a result of what happens with the Royals. It’s entertaining, we are winning, a population of kc is pumped up and optimistic and here comes Debbie Downer from her pious perch.
Cure
I enjoy the winning and what I’m suggesting is that it will be difficult to continue if dudes are getting crippled and kicked out.
ventura quick pitches batters when they’re not ready…
it pisses them off….but that’s baseball..
and as far as I know baseball is trying to speed up the
game so venture is right on with the baseball owners.
Maybe not the hitters….because they’re adjusting their
gloves…playing with themselves…taking 3 or 4 swings…
heck you could run 2 tv spots in the time they take.
Ventura uses that as his tool to screw with batters!
Everybody knows it is the one who retaliates that gets the blame.
Young kid, now the face of the team (as far as pitching goes), has a lot of pressure on him. Shields was the veteran leader last year. None this year.
Reminds me of this old joke
Two boys are playing football in Golden Gate Park when one is attacked by a rabid dog.
Thinking quickly, the other boy rips off a board off the nearby fence, and using it as a club, manages to chase away the attacking animal.
A reporter who was strolling by sees the incident, and rushes over to interview the boy. “Young Forty Niners’ Fan Saves Friend From Vicious Animal,” he starts writing in his notebook.
“But I’m not a Niners fan,” the little hero replied.
“Sorry, since we are in San Francisco I just assumed you were.” said the reporter and writes in. “Little Oakland Raiders’ Fan Rescues Friend From Horrific Attack” he continued writing in his notebook.
“I’m not a Raiders fan either,” the boy said. “I assumed everyone in the Bay Area was either for the Niners or the Raiders. What team do you root for?” the reporter asked.
“I’m a Cowboys fan.” the child said.
The reporter starts a new sheet in his notebook and writes, “Little Redneck Thug Kills Beloved Family Pet.”
Agree that Ventura needs to STFU.
Tell me though, how would have Brett, McRae, et al handled the fact the Royals have been hit in EVERY game this year? Stand there and take it?
Moose took one to the face last night and Cain was thrown at…again.
The umps won’t/can’t help. Quit hitting the Royals batters and this will go away.
Bingo.
Getting thrown at is one thing; I understand the retaliation factor. Starting a brawl because someone hurt your feelings with words is just lame.
I keep wondering if he is hearing comments about the photo that circulated during the World Series of him in the bunny suit or if he is trying to prove something because of reaction to it…
Ventura is a little punk bitch, hiding behind his teammates. We’ll see how tough he is when he has to play in National League park and get in the batters box. MLB needs to drop the hammer before someone gets SEVERELY injured. I’m talking about career threatening or ending injury. Like Jason LaRue over in St Louis some years back. The Reds and Cardinals kept going back and forth series after series until a big brawl happened, Johnny Cueto kicks LaRue in the head and ends his career with a severe concussion. This is going to go very bad for the Royals if they keep up this angry men against the world clown show they’ve got going currently.
yep. +1.
Ya first place is a real clown show. Not. Heard the saying “act like you’ve been here before?”. Well the Royal’s haven’t been here. Just a bunch of haters. Man are you people miserable. haters gonna hate hate hate and players gonna play play play
And now MLB drops the hammer on Ventura and Herrera. Yeah, keep on with the clown show and see where it gets you long term. We’re not even out of the first month of baseball yet.
It’s a baseball game not the house of Congress. GOOD FOR THE ROYALS. Remember a guy named Christian Laettner? His fire and attitude was the edge Duke needed. When did Kansas city become a bunch of PC pansies? Seen their record? Whatever they are doing is working. Would you rather they go back to playing it safe so we can have thirty more years of losers? SCREW YOU LEFTRIDGE!
Haha. They made it to the World Series last year NOT playing like this, so I’m not sure “turning into assholes” is their recipe for sustained success.
all the royals are doing this. quick pitching the hitters.
screws up their heads.
The hitter is wasting time…so the pitcher wants to
speed up the game (which evey fan agrees with)
so he quick pitches the batter and the batter rolls inot an
out.
Nothing wring or illegal with it…home plate umpire
didn’t call anything…but how many times will hitters
all of a sudden call time out at the plate while pitcher
is in motion.?
No but you must take your fleeting moment and find a way to sustain it. That can take many different forms. After succeeding to sustain it, you mature to where you expect it.
You act as though these Royals are the seasoned 2001 Yankees after five years of sustained success. How many of the players on the royals roster have playoff experience beyond last year? These guys learned how to fail they are learning how to succeed.
It is unreasonable to even entertain the idea this will continue at the current rate over a 162 game season. Things will calm down and may flare up sporadically throughout the season especially nearer to the playoffs. In the meantime, I will support the team knowing it is a healthy part of their growth. Knowing it is unsustainable, but perhaps necessary.
Shoot, don’t they get enough flack from the national talking heads? And here you are dropping f-bombs on them. People get injured celebrating home runs. Stuff happens you don’t take the fighting out of hockey, you don’t take the bench clearing huddle out of baseball.
Remember when Texas pitcher Ed Farmer broke Al Cowen’s jaw and Frank Whites wrist in the same game? The next year Cowens blindsided Farmer on the mound and he ended up having to apologize otherwise he’d face assault charges.
So yeah, it can get worse than where we are right now.
I totally agree that Ventura is a hothead that’s acted out of line and started shit. But there’s one problem with your argument…they keep winning. Until this behavior causes them to lose (the suspensions surely could) it all seems like an entertaining moot point. Not that I think that being brash and reactionary is causing them to win, not in the least, but again it mostly seems secondary to how good they’ve played thus far.
That’s just it– I feel that the negative consequences are just a matter of time.
Hey, Sean!
Maybe they’re the game’s new heavy and deserve to be despised. Maybe they’re misunderstood and people are gunning for them because they’re young, talented, flashy and the defending AL champs. And maybe anything that inspires strong feelings in people is exactly what the game needs. I’ll just enjoy the ride, sure beats talking about how far back the Royals usually are this time of year.
Nicely said.