Dodgers Feuding with Their Own Fans After Struggling Catcher Gets Booed
Los Angeles Dodger fans aren’t happy with the play of catcher Yasmani Grandal — and they let him know by booing him throughout the Dodgers’ 4-0 loss to the Milwaukee Brewers in Game 3 of the National League Championship Series on Monday night.
Some Dodger players aren’t happy with the fans for booing Grandal and for having no energy.
Yes, things are going just great in Tinsel Town.
Grandal has had three passed balls in two starts in the series, including one in Monday’s loss. There was also a wild pitch by Walker Buehler in the sixth inning that allowed infielder Travis Shaw to score.
The ball in the dirt was ruled a wild pitch, but fans took it out on Grandal, booing him every time he went to the plate. When former Entertainment Tonight host Mary Hart is booing you, things are bad.
Mary Hart has not had any Entertainment Tonight from Yasmani Grandal.
Here she is yelling at him for another passed ball. pic.twitter.com/Ljl5vaFqmO
— Ryan Walton (@RyanCPWalton) October 16, 2018
After a passed ball in the eighth, the boos turned to chants for Grandal’s backup, Austin Barnes.
“We want Austin!” could be heard throughout the stadium.
Fans will get their wish as Barnes was named the starter for Game 4.
In Game 1, Grandal had two errors, both in the third inning, and two passed balls. It’s hard to fault the fans for voicing their displeasure with him, but Grandal’s teammates don’t see it that way.
Second baseman Kike Hernandez called out the fans for not only booing Grandal, but for having no energy.
Kikè Hernández said #Dodger Stadium crowd was flat, had no energy (he said the team was the same). Who was there last night – do you agree? https://t.co/vjz6fVbAjR
— Dodgers Nation (@DodgersNation) October 16, 2018
“It sucks that there’s nothing going on in the stands, since the first inning when (Ryan) Braun hit that double, the stadium’s kind of quiet for the rest of the evening,” Hernandez said, according to MLB.com. “And it sucks that they got loud just to show up Yasmani. He’s trying his best.
“You know, it’s the playoffs, it’s the big leagues, if they think that they can do it, go ahead. Put on your gear and go catch 99 (mph) with breaking balls that have a lot of movement. He’s been one of the best catchers in the game for a while now. He’s having a little bit of a rough patch, which we all as humans, as baseball players go through. It’s just bad timing.”
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts saw the fans’ reaction a little bit differently from Hernandez.
“He had a tough night, and obviously the fans voiced their opinion,” Roberts said of Grandal. “And they’re passionate. They want to win. They want the best out of all of us, especially in the postseason.”
Grandal has had 28 passed balls over the last two seasons, including the playoffs, second only to the Yankees’ Gary Sanchez.
When asked about the wild pitch that led to a run in Game 3, Grandal said: “I think it’s driving you guys nuts more than it’s driving me. I blocked eight balls in the dirt today and the one ball kicks off the plate. … I think any person in baseball person understands what it is to be able to block a ball like that. I don’t really hear the noise outside.”
Yasmani Grandal on criticism over his performance during the NLCS: “I value my opinion way over everyone else. That’s what keeps me sane.” https://t.co/pvPfpzsIyy pic.twitter.com/4yLPtvcd1x
— L.A. Times Sports (@latimessports) October 16, 2018
Grandal has been a solid hitter throughout his career and had one of his best seasons at the plate for the Dodgers this year. In 440 regular season at-bats he had 24 homers and 68 RBIs while hitting .241. He was 1-for-4 in Game 3 and is 2-for-9 in the NLCS.
The Dodgers look to even the series Tuesday night in Los Angeles. Rich Hill goes up against Gio Gonzalez.
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