Rookie outfielder Cole Carrigg got himself benched “for a couple days” after a moment of frustration boiled over, and he flipped off Braves fans in Atlanta. No minor league dust-up, folks; this was a national broadcast moment.
The Game-Losing Diving Effort
It all went down in the eighth inning of Saturday’s game against the Braves. The Rockies were up 1-0, with a shot to snatch a road win. But Atlanta then got runners on the corners with two outs. Michael Harris smacked a line drive to left-center. Carrigg, in center, made a valiant, diving effort, but the ball tipped off his glove toward the warning track. That turned into a two-run double, giving Atlanta a 2-1 lead they wouldn’t give up. A total heartbreaker, right? For a struggling Rockies team, it felt like a gut punch. After the play, Carrigg heard something he didn’t appreciate from the bleachers. That’s when the camera caught him giving a quick middle finger to the Braves faithful. Yikes.
No Room For That, Says Schaeffer
Rockies manager Warren Schaeffer didn’t waste any time. On Sunday, he announced Carrigg was benched. “Cole made a mistake he knows that is an embarrassment to the organization and that we don’t stand for that,” Schaeffer told MLB.com’s Thomas Harding. Everyone makes mistakes, he stressed, but this one was different. Schaeffer put it plainly, “We will not put up with that here.” Carrigg, who loves to play every day, will sit a couple of games as “the repercussions of this.” And credit where it’s due, Carrigg totally owned it. He apologized to his teammates and the organization, admitting, “That’s not how I want to represent us. That’s inexcusable on my part.” He spoke about his passion, playing at 110%, and giving his all, even adding, “Braves fans are pretty passionate themselves. Kudos to them. But that can’t happen.” He gets it, but the damage was already done.
Rockies Still Floundering, Carrigg Still a Talent
This incident highlights how tough things are in Colorado. The Rockies dropped another one Sunday, 3-2 in 10 innings to the Braves, and they’re sitting at an MLB-worst 52-85. Ouch. Carrigg didn’t start that Sunday game, though he did come in as a pinch hitter and defensive replacement. Schaeffer’s comments suggest he’ll be on the bench for at least one more game. The crazy part? Carrigg, at just 24, has been a genuine bright spot in what’s otherwise been a miserable season. Since his call-up, the 2023 second-round pick has slashed .263/.345/.444 with 6 home runs, 36 RBI, and 8 stolen bases in 67 games. He’s clearly got talent, but that passion needs to be channeled correctly.
The Rockies head home Monday for a three-game series against the Orioles. Carrigg will likely still be watching from the dugout, learning a tough lesson about keeping his cool. For a team struggling this much, they desperately need their young talent focused on the game, not the bleachers.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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