Running away from your problems

Marlins 2, Giants 1

Rafael Devers didn’t want to come out of the game. He’s far from the only player to act out against his manager.

Mike Mussina famously told Joe Torre to stay in the dugout, a celebrated act of toughness and competitiveness between Hall of Famers (on a Yankees team that won 97 games).

This moment, though, is not that moment.

Devers refusing a pinch-runner, in the context of this awful season, is a bad look for him, Tony Vitello, and the whole organization.

The narrative of toughness and competitiveness takes a backseat to Devers, the underperforming star of the underperforming team, telling the rookie manager to stay out of his way.

For all of Vitello’s peculiar decisions, this was not one of them. Sending a runner in for Devers, three outs from being swept by the Marlins, required no justification.

Vitello tried minimizing what happened after the game. Devers wouldn’t comment, but it was too late. He’d already said plenty.

Up next: The Giants are off Monday before the A’s come to town. Time to dig that green and gold hat out of the closet.