Colorado Rockies rookie Cole Carrigg found himself back on the field Sunday, just one day after flashing an inappropriate gesture toward Atlanta Braves fans at Truist Park. Rockies manager Warren Schaeffer initially indicated Carrigg would sit for “a couple days” following Saturday’s incident, but that “punishment” ultimately lasted only six innings. Talk about a light sentence!
The Costly Miss and the Outrageous Response
The whole wild mess kicked off during Saturday’s 2-1 loss to Atlanta. Carrigg attempted a diving catch on a ball hit by Michael Harris II in the eighth inning, and he barely missed it. That play allowed two runs to score, giving Atlanta the lead, and moments after getting to his feet, Carrigg was caught on broadcast extending his middle finger toward the stands. You gotta be kidding me! Before Sunday’s series finale, the 24-year-old did issue an apology for his actions, telling mlb.com, “First, I apologize to my teammates and the organization, that’s not how I want to represent us. That’s inexcusable on my part.” He tried to explain it was an emotional reaction because of how important he believed the play was, but even he admitted his behavior crossed the line.
A Contradictory Playbook From the Rockies Manager
Schaeffer also addressed the situation, sounding tough and making it clear the organization expects Carrigg to learn from it. “Cole made a mistake,” Schaeffer said. “He knows that is an embarrassment to the organization and that we don’t stand for that.” Strong words, right? But then Schaeffer totally turned around and put Carrigg back in the game when Colorado needed offense on Sunday. In the seventh inning, with Colorado trailing Atlanta 2-1 and Mickey Moniak on first after a single, Atlanta brought in Dylan Dodd to replace Tyler Mahle. What does Schaeffer do? He sends Carrigg to pinch-hit for Troy Johnson. Carrigg struck out swinging, by the way, and then remained in the game in center field. It just makes you scratch your head when a manager talks tough, then barely backs it up.
What’s Next for Carrigg, And a Quick Mariners Look
This whole situation dropped smack dab in the middle of what’s been a promising rookie season for Carrigg. He entered Sunday batting .263 with a .345 on-base percentage, a .444 slugging percentage, and six home runs. His .789 OPS ranked fifth among qualified rookies, and his speed and defensive versatility have made him an intriguing part of Colorado’s future. So, for his sake, this emotional mistake needs to be a learning experience and not some recurring mess. Speaking of interesting stats and big seasons, our own Mariners’ Cal Raleigh is on track to hit the fewest home runs ever after a 60+ homer season in MLB history. Just a wild little stat to keep an eye on for our guy as the season rolls on!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by The Sporting News.
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