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Dodgers’ Justin Turner getting ripped by Cardinals fans for calling out top prospect

ByThomas Carannante|
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - AUGUST 20: Justin Turner #10 of the Los Angeles Dodgers celebrates a three-run home run against the Miami Marlins in the third inning at Dodger Stadium on August 20, 2022 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - AUGUST 20: Justin Turner #10 of the Los Angeles Dodgers celebrates a three-run home run against the Miami Marlins in the third inning at Dodger Stadium on August 20, 2022 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)

Though it wasn’t quite an “Old Man Yells at Cloud” moment, that’s how St. Louis Cardinals fans interpreted recent comments out of Los Angeles Dodgers third baseman Justin Turner’s mouth.

Dodgers fans can thank Barstool for the bad publicity, because Turner appeared on the “Starting 9” podcast with former MLBer Jake Arrieta and “Barstool Carl” (cool?) to talk baseball topics, and may have gotten himself wrapped up in a topic he wish he could take back.

It’s hard to blame JT for getting frustrated about what’s magnified on social media, but he expressed a particular distaste for fans getting all pumped about Cardinals top prospect Masyn Winn rifling a ball 100 MPH from shortstop to first base.

The 20-year-old, who dominated High-A before getting the bump to Double-A a few months ago, has logged 99 games at shortstop across his 106 games this year and appears to be on the proper trajectory to make a big-league impact in a couple years.

But to JT, achieving that success isn’t all about starring in a viral clip where you unnecessarily hurled a ball across the diamond to throw a runner out by five steps. Turner seemingly meant no harm by his comments, but Cardinals fans didn’t take it that way, especially since he was taking the time to put Winn, a 20-year-old kid, on blast in a major forum.

Dodgers’ Justin Turner ripping Masyn Winn has resulted in backlash

Unfortunately, Turner opened up a can of worms that won’t be shut until the Dodgers send the Cardinals packing again when the playoffs roll around.

Cards Twitter went in on the slugger over the last couple days.

This person conveniently left out Winn’s eight errors in 28 High-A games, so … yeah, that’s how divided this has gotten.

Would you, though? Winn’s only pitched one minor-league inning this year and Turner is hitting .352 since the beginning of July.

OK … so now people with World Series rings can’t be upset with whatever you might deem is “beneath” them or “beyond” their concern?

You had us in the first sentence. We’d all agree Turner probably shouldn’t have went in and then said, “Oh wait, I don’t even know the guy, I’m sure he’s nice and cool!” … but to say he’s “jealous” and that not having a Gold Glove excludes him from arguments that focus on defense is fairly insane.

He’s a Dodgers legend and has played third base at a well above-average clip for a long time now.

Damn, OK, fine, that one’s pretty good. But all Turner was trying to do here was preach that patience, concentration and rhythm on defense takes precedent over flashiness. Winn obviously isn’t “the problem” here because he was just showcasing himself on the biggest stage yet of his career. Turner was more so focused on social media creating a bigger spectacle than it needed to.

Sadly for JT, he’s living in the past, and we all have to live with the undesirable aspects of Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and TikTok in 2022. And now he’s feeling the wrath on those platforms because of his comments, but we’re sure he doesn’t care whatsoever.

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