Boston Red Sox star Alex Verdugo expresses distaste for Blue Jays pitcher Alek Manoah's on-field antics: "S--t like that pisses me off"
Born in Arizona to an American mother and a Mexican father, Alex Verdugo decided to represent his Sonoran father's heritage by suiting up for Mexico in the recent World Baseball Classic.
Verdugo, 26, has gained more than his fair share of notoriety since entering the league in 2017. The Boston Red Sox outfielder is known for his hitting ability and visible passion.
However, that passion has limits. In a recent appearance on Rob Bradford's podcast, Verdugo stated that he is no fan of the exuberant on-field celebrations employed by pitcher Alek Manoah, a divisional rival of Alex Verdugo's
Alek Manoah had a breakout season for the Toronto Blue Jays last season. The 24-year-old amassed a record of 16-7, with 180 strikeouts and an ERA of just 2.24. In addition to his skills, Manoah is known for his on-field taunting and emphatic celebrations. Speaking about the Florida-born Manoah, Verdugo said:
""So it’s s--- like that just pisses me off. It’s not the way it should be played. It should be played like you’re celebrating it with your team, you’re not f---ing disrespecting another player who is -- at the end of the day we’re just trying to compete, that’s it."
Although recognized as one of the best, Manoah is off to a lackluster start to the 2023 season. He lasted just 3.1 innings in his opening day clash with the St. Louis Cardinals, surrendering five earned runs on nine hits.
Meanwhile, Alex Verdugo has a triple, a home run and four RBIs in his first four games of the season. His home run was pivotal for the Red Sox as they completed a miraculous come-from-behind win against the Baltimore Orioles on April 1.
Although Manoah's antics have garnered widespread attention, some believe that Alex Verdugo may specifically be pointing to a case wherein Manoah became involved in an altercation with Boston Red Sox player Bobby Dalbec after a strikeout.
Alek Manoah strikes out the side with a side of beef 😡 https://t.co/OZKTuMvIsb
"Alek Manoah strikes out the side with a side of beef" - Tim and Friends
Alex Verdugo's trash talk is vital for a healthy divisional rivalry
Alek Manoah is no stranger to trash talk. This past offseason, he labeled celebrated New York Yankees pitcher Gerrit Cole as "a cheater." Although Verdugo's harsh critique of Manoah is likely to liven up the next time the two teams face each other, the Red Sox outfielder should remember that Manoah led the MLB in hit batters last season.