Rangers manager blasts Yankee Stadium after walk-off homer
Sep 6, 2021; Anaheim, California, USA; Texas Rangers manager Chris Woodward (8) watches in the dugout during a game against the Los Angeles Angels at Angel Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
The Texas Rangers lost in walkoff fashion to the New York Yankees in the first game of a doubleheader Sunday, and Rangers manager Chris Woodward was so salty about it.
Gleyber Torres hit a solo home run to right in the bottom of the 9th in a 2-1 Yankees win. The ball looked to be a no-doubter, at least in Yankee Stadium.
GLEYBER TORRES WALKOFF HOME RUN! YANKEES WIN! pic.twitter.com/sDaYQVz9Qi
— Talkin' Yanks (@TalkinYanks) May 8, 2022
Still, Woodward was not pleased. After the game, he delivered a very salty quote, blaming the short porch for the home run and calling it an “easy out in 99 percent of ballparks.”
“It’s a small ballpark. That’s an easy out in 99 percent of ballparks,” Woodward said after the game. “The wind wasn’t helping today, obviously. 3-1 count, (Rangers pitcher John King) is one guy that, you put him back out there, you go, okay, he’s not going to give up a homer. Just happened to hit it in a Little League ballpark to right field.”
Yes, right field at Yankee Stadium is a notorious short porch. However, Woodward’s criticisms are not backed by data. According to Statcast, the ball traveled a respectable 369 feet, and would have been out of 26 of 30 stadiums.
Gleyber Torres vs John King#RepBX
Home Run 💣
Exit velo: 106.5 mph
Launch angle: 28 deg
Proj. distance: 369 ftThis would have been a home run in 26/30 MLB ballparks
TEX (1) @ NYY (2)
🔻 9th pic.twitter.com/nOhTfVxbe6— Would it dong? (@would_it_dong) May 8, 2022
The Rangers lost a tough game, and Woodward’s frustration at that is understandable. He just sounds bitter here, though, and it’s not the first time he’s sounded needlessly cranky over something an opponent did.
