Boston Red Sox All-Star first baseman Willson Contreras got into a viral argument with an umpire on his rehab assignment in Double-A for the Portland Sea Dogs. Contreras, after taking an 0-1 pitch for a ball in an at-bat in the fourth inning, called for time to put more pine tar on his bat. Home plate umpire Daniel Blytheway didn't allow him to, though, keeping him in the box for the remainder of the at-bat.
The All-Star took the following two pitches with the bat on his shoulder, seemingly protesting the at-bat after Bytheway denied his request, then looked a little more competitive as he took the final two pitches to strike out looking. Contreras also turned in between pitches to exchange words with the umpire as well. After going down looking, he walked back to the dugout and threw his bat back towards the plate.
When asked for an explanation of the incident following his return to MLB the following day, Contreras gave an unserious answer. You can go ask the umpire. His name is Gary,” Contreras said.
Contreras earned his fourth career All-Star appearance this year at age 34, and is in the midst of a career year for the postseason-hopeful Red Sox. His 4.5 bWAR through 126 games is the highest of his career, as are his 26 home runs. He has 79 RBIs on the season, which is just one shy of the career-high 80 he set with the St.
Louis Cardinals last season. He has a .904 OPS, which leads qualified Red Sox by a wide margin. Contreras couldn't have returned at a better time, as the Red Sox are nearly guaranteed to play in October and will need his help more than just about anyone else's.
They're currently six games clear of the Cleveland Guardians, who hold the final spot in the Wild Card at the moment, and are 4.5 games behind the New York Yankees, meaning their spot in the postseason is just about set. They'll face the Yankees in the AL Wild Card series, setting up a rematch from last season. The Yankees took that series two games to one, and the Red Sox will look to take their revenge this season.
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