MINNEAPOLIS – Sergio Romo is not aiming to keep an eye on his enthusiasm for everyone, so it was no surprise he was upset when he knocked out Jorge Soler in search of the Twins’ 4-2 victory over Kansas City Royals on Sunday around Doelfjild. Soler did not like the strike three call by record-breaker John Bacon – Soler has now hit 10 at-bats nine times in the first three games of this series – but apparently the Royals did not approve of the Twins’ good .
That while the Twins held on to a victory that improved their record to 14-8 and kept their lead over Cleveland in second place in one game in the American League Central, the Royals fought, no matter how stupid that might sound. In the climax below that Soler is called out about strikes and then objects to the call, it sounds like Romo is saying, “Keep talking, keep talking,” to Soler.
Sounds like Romo said “Keep chatting!” after he pronounced Soler. https://t.co/ZPtawZNwoc
– Pete Grathoff (@pgrathoff) August 16, 2020
The Royals dugout was slow to leave after the match, although there was little chance of a change taking place. “A little taunting happens,” Kansas City manager Mike Matheny told reporters. ‘I think what you see is the result of being able to hear what every bench is saying, and that you can’ t get any emotions out of this game either, and a little bit down outside and the boys did not like it at all. ”
Jeffrey Flanagan, who heads the Royals for MLB.com, tweeted that problems apparently started after Romo’s first pitch to second baseman Nicky Lopez was called a strike. The Kansas City dugout began voicing its objections to Bacon.
Nicky Lopez: “Without fans you can hear a lot of things and (Romo) may have heard something (from us to the ump). There was a ball called that was a little down and we said it was down and he probably thought we were talking to him. I do not think we have said anything out of line. ‘
– Jeffrey Flanagan (@FlannyMLB) August 16, 2020
But things heated up afterwards.
After the game, the Royals, and especially coach Vance Wilson, were fuming with the Twins over apparent taunting. Mike Matheny and Nicky Lopez said it was a consequence that players from both sides can hear everything now, and sometimes are misinterpreted.
– Jeffrey Flanagan (@FlannyMLB) August 16, 2020
Lopez just mentioned that having no fans in the crowd – and a limited amount of piped-in crowd noise and music – makes it much easier for teams to hear everything that is being said with each volume.
Twins manager Rocco Baldelli tried to reduce the situation after the game. “Everything that is said on opposite sides of the field, you hear it pretty clearly overall,” Baldelli told reporters. “Probably could create a few more problems than normal, but all that said, I saw nothing at our end that I would be worried about one bit.”
Tensions went up to the final pitch of the Twins-Royals game.
Managers Rocco Baldelli and Mike Matheny discuss what happened. pic.twitter.com/ey55jH2WYx
– FOX Sports North (@fsnorth) August 16, 2020
The interesting thing is the Royals and Twins, who have played six games in the past 10 days, will meet again on Monday night at Target Field to close this series and then play three more games in Kansas City next weekend. The Royals have won four of their first six meetings so far.
Maybe what happened on Sunday will be nothing, but confidentiality betrays contempt and a man like Romo will not make any adjustments in the enthusiasm he brings to the ballpark. He shouldn’t either. Will the Royals realize they are overreacting on Sunday, or will they hold a grudge? We’ll find out Monday.
