It is the best time of the year for MLB fans as we are halfway through the World Series. We have a back-and-forth affair between the Houston Astros and Philadelphia Phillies. The underdogs are going up against the best team in the AL to claim the top spot in all of baseball.
The level of World Series play in October and November is something you do not see in the early part of the season. Everything means so much more at this point. With the weight of the world on these MLB players’ shoulders, sometimes their emotions get let out more than they typically would.
All of the world’s eyes are on the field for this best-of-seven series, and that continues at the conclusion of the game. So far, we have had two very alarming answers to postgame World Series interview questions from the Phillies. Let’s take a look at some of the interesting words coming out of Philadelphia’s locker room.
Nick Castellanos On Defense
Defense is my favorite part of baseball, but I completely understand if people disagree. You are being made millions of dollars to give your best effort on the defensive end, however, so Nick Castellanos’ comments after Game 1 are eye-opening.
Castellanos made a fantastic sliding catch in the bottom of the 9th in a 5-5 game. The winning run was standing on second base and would have easily scored, but Castellanos and his glove sent the game into extra innings. Philadelphia went on to win the game, and Castellanos was the hero.
During the regular season, Castellanos has -9 defensive runs saved. This is not golf, and that is among the worst in all of MLB. Of course, after his heroics, he was interviewed after the game.
“I think that, a lot of times, I have trouble keeping attention during the regular season, every day, nine innings. But with the postseason, this kind of baseball is incredible,” said Castellanos. “You don’t have a choice but to just be locked in, watching swings, watching the balls come off the bat, and I think that’s why I’m playing better.”
The moral of the story is Castellanos could not have cared less about his defensive play in the regular season. He made up for it with just one play, but that is not something you admit to the entire world.
Kyle Schwarber’s Not Please
In case you missed it, the Houston Astros threw a combined no-hitter against the Philadelphia Phillies in Game 4 of the World Series. After blasting home run after home run in Game 3, they could not string together a single hit. It is safe to say nobody in Philadelphia was happy about that, but Kyle Schwarber was not happy to be part of history.
It was just the second no-no in MLB history and the first since 1956. After a performance like this, you are going to get asked questions you do not want to hear; it is simply part of the job.
“I really don’t give a sh*t,” Schwarber said when asked how it felt to be no-hit. “I guess we’ll be in the history books.”
On one hand, baseball is all about having a short memory and this could be a good answer. Playing devil’s advocate, you want that performance to sting a little bit. It would be nice to see one of your best players angry about the performance by himself and the team.
With the World Series quickly coming to a close, there is certainly more time for some more intriguing quotes. Now, it is time to see if Castellanos continues playing defense and if Schwarber can hit the ball.
