By Matt McCarthy, 985TheSportsHub.com
Bush league or fair game?
How about just plain dumb?
The Texas Rangers beat the Red Sox 7-5 in a meaningless game for both teams, but it sure seemed to mean a lot to Rangers starter Mike Minor.
Minor, sitting on 199 strikeouts for the season with two outs in the ninth inning, appeared to yell at first baseman Ronald Guzman telling him to let a foul pop-up drop. Guzman did, and Minor followed that up by striking out Chris Owings to notch his 200th K.
The Rangers let this pop-up drop so Mike Minor could reach 200 strikeouts on the season.
Fair game?pic.twitter.com/vIOaAafewB
— Sporting News MLB (@sn_mlb) September 26, 2019
Red Sox manager Alex Cora did not seem amused, saying he didn't want to comment specifically on the matter but adding that his players approach the game "the right way."
"I'm just happy our guys are playing the right way."
-Alex Cora after watching the Rangers' Ronald Guzmán let a foul pop fall so Mike Minor could record his 200th strikeout of the season on the next pitch. #RedSox #Rangers #MLB #baseball— Tom Caron (@TomCaron) September 26, 2019
For what it's worth, Rangers manager Chris Woodward didn't seem to be a big fan of Minor's move, either.
Rangers manager Chris Woodward told reporters he "wasn't thrilled" with Guzmán letting a foul pop fall without an effort to catch it, but then quickly pointed out that he thought Alex Cora had his batters swinging at first pitches from the eighth inning on.
— Tom Caron (@TomCaron) September 26, 2019
There's noting quite like September baseball between two teams that have already been eliminated.
You can hear Matt McCarthy on 98.5 The Sports Hub's own Hardcore Baseball podcast and on various 98.5 The Sports Hub programs. Follow him on Twitter @MattMcCarthy985.