Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Alek Manoah has made headlines recently after his response to criticism from Boston Red Sox outfielder Alex Verdugo. In a post-game interview, Verdugo called out Manoah for what he deemed to be excessive celebrating during their game. However, Manoah did not take kindly to the criticism and made it clear with his response. As the dust settles on this heated exchange, many are left wondering what this means for the two teams moving forward, and how Manoah’s response could impact his future.
Red Sox outfielder Alex Verdugo has criticized Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Alek Manoah for his on-field behavior during a game last July. Verdugo accused Manoah of being disrespectful to Boston players after striking out Franchy Cordero and Bobby Dalbec, and claimed that he has a history of taunting batters. Verdugo stated that celebrating with teammates is the right way to play the game, rather than disrespecting the opposition. In response to Verdugo’s comments, Manoah stated that he is focused on pitching and getting batters out, and does not care about Verdugo’s opinion.
Manoah’s behavior on the field has been a source of controversy in the past. Last August, he was involved in an altercation with New York Yankees slugger Aaron Judge after hitting him with a pitch. While Judge remained calm, Gerrit Cole came to his teammate’s defense, and the incident intensified the rivalry between the two teams.
The Blue Jays and Yankees will meet for the first time this season in a three-game series in the Bronx later this month. If Toronto’s rotation remains unchanged, Manoah would start the second game of the series. Verdugo will not face the Blue Jays until May, when the Red Sox and Blue Jays play a four-game series at Fenway Park.
In the world of professional sports, trash talk and criticism are a part of the game. But Alek Manoah has taught us that sometimes the best response is simply not caring about what others have to say. As the Blue Jays ace gears up for the rest of the season, we can only hope that his fierce determination and unwavering confidence lead him to continued success on the mound. And who knows, maybe one day Alex Verdugo will eat his words and regret ever doubting Manoah’s abilities. Until then, we’ll all be watching this rising star make his mark in the league.
