VIDEO: Mike Minor Got His 200th K in Controversial Fashion and Boston Media is Salty About it
By Adam Weinrib
Mike Minor, in the final inning of a meaningless game in an astounding season, clinched a remarkably impressive milestone. However, because we're not allowed to have fun, Boston media members chose to instead deem the exclamation mark on Minor's comeback unprofessional. Allow me to explain. The final strike came to Chris Owings with one out in the ninth, an iffy call on Minor's 126th pitch of the game.
Mike Minor 200th K on pitch 126! pic.twitter.com/65CqUO7M4N
— Greatest Show on Dirt (@greatestondirt) September 26, 2019
But that's not the story here.
Earlier in the at-bat, Owings lofted a foul popup to Ronald Guzman... who let the ball fall to the grass. He wanted his teammate to hit the mark, so he made the incredibly bold calculation to give him an extra shot. Definitely foolhardy, and I probably wouldn't have done that, but... it made Minor feel good. All well and good!
All fun and games! Wait, oh no... I'm getting a pit in my stomach... I'm about to hear from Boston media members about the sanctity of the game, aren't I?
Mike Minor’s 200th strikeout should have a big asterisk. That was bush. Chasing a milestone that way is unprofessional.
— Pete Abraham (@PeteAbe) September 26, 2019
Oh god, no.
1. You don't let a pop up drop to keep the at bat going.
— Tom Caron (@TomCaron) September 26, 2019
2. Bucknor should not have rewarded Minor by calling a borderline pitch strike 3.
3. You'll hear from Alex Cora and Mike Minor coming up in our post-game coverage.
Make it stopppppp.
200 is that much better than 199? He embarrassed himself.
— Pete Abraham (@PeteAbe) September 26, 2019
Also, important to note that Minor came out for the eighth, with a 7-5 lead and 117 pitches under his belt, in an attempt to complete the milestone. Instead... he retired the side on three pitches total.
Truly an unbelievable moment here: Mike Minor came back out at 117 pitches to start the 8th. The goal was obviously to get his 200th strikeout of the season (he's at 199).
— Sam Blum (@SamBlum3) September 26, 2019
He threw a 3-pitch inning. Never even seen that before.
If you think Alex Cora didn't instruct his team to rip it at anything close to block Minor's attempt, then you must've forgotten Alex Cora told the Yankees to "suck on it" at his team's World Series rally last season. Just a little chicanery.
It goes both ways.
.@MikeMinor36 finished the season with 200+ IP and 200+ K's. After the game, he spoke about what it meant to reach the milestone.#TogetherWe | @Rangers pic.twitter.com/fsqRdanZs5
— FOX Sports Southwest (@FOXSportsSW) September 26, 2019
If you're an opposing team having fun or rewarding your teammate, you live rent-free inside Cora's noggin. Don't want the Rangers clowning around in their final home series? Win a few more games so you're still in the race. It truly is that simple.