San Diego Padres manager Mike Shildt had a slight altercation with a reporter before Monday's game against the San Francisco Giants regarding Ryan O'Hearn not being in the lineup.
The Padres have had an eventful past seven days. First, they were swept by their rival Los Angeles Dodgers, then lost their first-place lead in the National League West; and finally, Mike Shildt was ejected from Monday's game, arguing a fan interference call on a presumed home run.
So, what did Shildt say to the reporter?
The Giants had Robbie Ray on the mound in Monday's contest, and Mike Shildt chose not to put Ryan O'Hearn in the lineup.
O'Hearn has hit left-handers well in his first handful of at-bats with the Padres, so fans and reporters to quick to question why he was not facing the southpaw Ray.
Before the game, a reporter asked why O'Hearn was not in the lineup, and this is what Shildt responded with:
"Where would you have started him? Ryan’s done a nice job, and he is a great option off the bench."
O'Hearn did his due diligence in the game by proving his manager right with a two-run pinch-hit home run to get San Diego back in the game. However, they lost 4-3, and Shildt was faced with more questions following the game.
Here is what he had to say to the media following the game about O'Hearn:
I mean, I don’t know how to answer your question. He’s getting a lot of opportunities and at-bats. We have other guys that are doing it too. He’s getting a lot of at-bats. I don’t know what else to say. He’s basically an everyday guy, but other guys play occasionally too.”