The MLB All-Star Game is celebrated as a joyous moment in the game of baseball, where fans get to see the best players in the sport compete at the highest level. Unfortunately, it seems like American League manager Dusty Baker seems to care more about this celebratory game than the long-term health of one of his players in the game.
Toronto Blue Jays reliever Jordan Romano briefly appeared in Tuesday’s All-Star Game, throwing five pitches before exiting the game with an injury.
Romano was able to retire the first hitter of the seventh inning, but appeared to injure himself during his second at-bat of the inning against Lourdes Gurriel. He left the game mid-at-bat as umpires were reviewing a home-run call from Gurriel.
Jordan Romano leaves the game with a trainer as Lourdes Gurriel Jr.’s home run gets overturned. pic.twitter.com/fmnw1UgQZq
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) July 12, 2023
Dusty Baker then spoke to Fox’s Ken Rosenthal about Romano’s injury, shockingly saying that he had known that Romano experienced tightness in his lower back during his warm-up in the bullpen, and played him anyways.
“He threw his last pitch in the bullpen before he went out there, and he felt a little tightness in his lower back. We have to take every precaution to take care of these players, even if they are on another team because they have to go back and play.”
Dusty Baker tells Ken Rosenthal that Blue Jays closer Jordan Romano felt "tightness in his lower back" on his final bullpen pitch.
Romano then entered the game, exited after 5 pitches (the last resulting in a flyball that was ruled a home run before being overturned to foul). pic.twitter.com/prh1bkE2th
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) July 12, 2023
Baker claims that he took him out as a precaution. But fans on social media quickly pointed out that he should have never been in the game to begin with if Baker knew he was injured ahead of time.
If Romano demonstrated this back tightness to them and they proceeded to let him enter the game, that's so stupid and reckless. https://t.co/ATJFRzorPj
— Matt Clapp (@TheBlogfines) July 12, 2023
For real. How did he throw five pitches after the bullpen?! https://t.co/7vzGshE228
— Sara Sanchez (@BCB_Sara) July 12, 2023
A cursory look at the standings would show that Dusty let a pitcher from a team he's directly competing with throw in a completely meaningless game. https://t.co/Ph2YGoOJv1
— Andy (@Behind_The_Ivy) July 12, 2023
name a better duo than dusty and throwing hurt pitchers. https://t.co/4vU5loPeFZ
— gabe (@simplyjustgabe) July 12, 2023
Dusty doing Dusty things. https://t.co/eO3WdHoqCt
— CubsPS+ Podcast – Mike Waller (@CubsPSPlus) July 12, 2023
Well he's certainly used to abusing and ruining pitchers (cc Prior, Wood, et al)…💯 https://t.co/2uyWiVh9pR
— John (@AZCapsFan) July 12, 2023
If Baker indeed knew of Romano’s injury ahead of time and still let him pitch, it is obviously incredibly irresponsible to let him still enter the game, and he should be rightfully criticized.
