Uh, we don’t think the national baseball audience signed up for HBO After Dark! They tuned in for some Sunday Night Baseball featuring the Los Angeles Dodgers and Chicago Cubs.
In what ended up being a Dodgers’ 7-1 victory (and weekend series sweep in Chicago), the viewers at home got a little more than they asked for.
In the top of the fourth inning with the Dodgers trailing 1-0, Max Muncy was at the plate with runners on first and second when Justin Steele uncorked a wild pitch and sent catcher Willson Contreras scrambling to find the ball to prevent the runners from advancing.
The ball ricocheted off Contreras and hit Muncy. Trea Turner advanced to third, but Will Smith got stuck at first base with Contreras getting to the ball like a madman. He got a lot more than just that, too.
On the slow motion replay, you can see Contreras grab Muncy’s midsection after the wild pitch went between his legs. We know the game happens fast … but this fast? Contreras really though the ball was still hanging around Muncy’s crotch? Or did he offer that little pinch to Muncy because the Dodgers’ slugger didn’t move a muscle in the batter’s box and managed to impede Contreras’ path to the ball?
Whatever it was … we didn’t sign up for this. Neither did Muncy! Hope he was wearing a cup or else he might be a little sore this morning.
Why did Willson Contreras grab Max Muncy’s crotch during Dodgers-Cubs?
Not that ball, Willson. Come on, dude! Muncy doesn’t need another ailment as he continues to get back to normal following last year’s elbow injury!
In the end, Muncy walked in this at-bat, the Dodgers scored two runs to take the lead, and they never looked back. Plus, fans got a funny comment from Justin Turner on the live ESPN broadcast. He probably got the best view of it all in the on-deck circle.
Perhaps this serves as a wake-up call for Muncy, who is hitting .138 with a .288 slugging percentage. If an unexpected cup check from an opponent on national television doesn’t do the trick, then we’re not sure what will.
Are Max Muncy’s struggles a result of his elbow injury from 2021?
Los Angeles Dodgers slugger Max Muncy has been struggling terribly to start the season. Is it because of his elbow injury from 2021?