Texas and Detroit Managers support Dave Anderson
Josh Hamilton succumbed to a right shoulder injury recently. Following the setback, the Texas Rangers outfielder walked off the field, blaming third base coach, Dave Anderson, for his ouster from the fixture at Comerica Park, against the Detroit Tigers.
While the player took back his words, the managers from both teams voiced their support for the coach.
Josh Hamilton was on third base when the Tigers were focusing elsewhere on the field. Noticing a chance, Anderson advocated the left fielder to run for the home plate for a much needed run.
Hesitating, the player moved for the last plate. However, he was thwarted as catcher, Victor Martinez, tagged him out in time to save the Tigers from losing a run.
The 2010 American League Most Valuable Player slid in head-first and hence, fractured his shoulder in the process. Though Anderson was blamed for the incident, Detroit manager, Jim Leyland, stood by the Rangers coach.
"I thought it was a great call", Leyland said. "If he had been safe, he'd have gotten up pumping his fist, the bench would've been pumping their fists. That's what I think, because I would've been. I thought it was a heckuva play. It's a shame that he got
hurt, don't get me wrong. You feel terrible when somebody gets hurt, but it was a good play".
Whether Hamilton appreciates the play or not, is a different story. Texas manager, Ron Washington, had been a third base coach with the Oakland Athletics for 10 years. His impression of the situation was not different either. He stood by his coach and backed
him up in his decision to push Hamilton for a run towards the home plate.
Washington said, "You think Dave is the only one that has happened to? We've all had guys thrown out at the plate. That doesn't mean they'll get hurt. It's part of the game. You don't like it, but you can't change the game".
Washington asserted that this is the way the Rangers play, they’re aggressive.
Tags: