Dugout dust-up for Garza and Navarro

Rays starter Matt Garza was removed from Sunday's game after two altercations with catcher Dioner Navarro - a heated exchange on the mound during the fourth inning and then a shoving match in the dugout that spilled into the tunnel leading to the clubhouse.
Manager Joe Maddon termed it "an exchange of ideas" and "just little in-house kind of stuff'' and said he didn't know the cause of the disagreement, though he did say, "Navi was not the irritant.''
"It's just one of those things that happens on occasion and we take care of it,'' Maddon said. "Just write what you saw. That's all I got. Just write what you saw. It's something that we're going to take care of, and we're going to take care of soon.''
Garza then spent about 15 minutes in Maddon's office, but wouldn't go into any specifics.
When asked what happened, Garza said: "Nothing really, just keep it in house and fix it. That's about it. ... Heat of passion, probably. We're both competitors, whatever happened will stay here and we're going to fix it. We definitely can fix it. This is a great bunch of guys and everybody's on each other's side, and we're gonna fix it. It's a big step and we're gonna fix it.''
Garza, who is known for being emotional, sometimes to a fault, on the mound, said his conversation with Maddon was "nothing about today, it was just some stuff I have to fix. Nothing physically, nothing like that, just stuff I have to fix, that's about it. I'm good.''
Nor would Navarro: "It was just something that happened during the game and it's being taken care of. It happens in the family. I think everybody is going to be fine from this point on. It was really nothing.''
The first sign of trouble came in the bottom of the fourth. After a blooper dropped into shallow left field, Garza allowed a two-run homer to No. 9 hitter German Duran, then a single to Ian Kinsler. Navarro came to the mound and he and Garza engaged in a heated exchage. Pitching coach Jim Hickey came to the mound to take over the discussion with Garza, and Navarro went back to the plate.
Two batters later, the Rays called for a pitchout on a 1-2 pitch to David Murphy and Garza sailed it to the backstop.
At the end of the inning, Navarro was already in the dugout when Garza came in and appeared to say something, and they started shoving each other and as they moved into the tunnel several players and coaches raced behind them to break it up.

The frustration continued the next inning when Eric Hinske objetced to being called out on strikes and said enough to home plate umpire James Hoye to be ejected, then slammed his bat and helmet down in frustration as Maddon ran out from the dugout.

Comments

[Ray F]

Garza showed promise with the 10 strikeout performance 2 starts ago. Since that, it seems him and Navi can't get on the same page.

Maybe Riggans can catch him next time to see if it's Garza or the battery combo. Javi Lopez never caught Greg Maddux in Atlanta. Varitek didn't catch Wakefield last season. These mismatches are common and it lets the second catcher stay fresh.

...and, for me- Keep Balfour, lose Glover. Every time Glover comes in, I think- "Well, who do we play tomorrow?"

[Brian]

How awesome that we are upset about missing a sweep on the road and being 1.5 out of first place in June. Let's pack the stands when they get back.

[Bodog]

Ed, I'm gonna agree with you on #1 and partially on #2. The players definitely came to the game like slugs, don't blame this one on the coaches. If I'm a player and I see where the Rangers were throwing a guy who has an ERA of 9, I'm salivating, chomping at the bit to get at this guy, but instead they go out there and play wiffle ball. Did ya see Crawford on that last at bat - looked like a deer caught in the headlights of an oncoming vehicle at night. Yup! games like that are gonna come back and bite us in the tail. Instead of just being .5 game out, we're 1.5 game out with the Angels on the horizon.

[Bodog]

Guys, we all make good valid argument concerning Garza's pitching ability and his mental state, however; he is not and never will be a great pitcher - he has good stuff and like the previous blogger mentioned - he needs a put-away pitch. This guy gives up way to many two strike hits.
Melissa, it's gonna be between Hammel and Balfour, both are out of options and subject to waiver pick-up. Until we get some kind of consistency out of our starting pitching, we're gonna have games like this. Kaz finally understands the program and look at his pitching since returning from DL. Ya just don't know what you're gonna get from game to game. After Friday and Saturday's tough games, I thought Sunday's game would be a cake walk with Hamilton and Young out of the Rangers line-up and this pitcher having an ERA of about 9. Hell, we had our third best pitcher on the mound and he loses it because of two freaking defensive errors. Joe should have reamed Graza a new azz for his lack of professionalism

[Edgar]

1. Blame Matt Garza for switching the pitch selection right in front of the batter. That was obvious that Duran knew what was coming.
2. Rays offense and coaching stuff came unprepare looking lifeless. Plus, the Rangers were missing Michael Young, Josh Hamilton, and Hank Blalock. The Rays made the MIGHTY DOUG MATHIS looking like Don Drysdale.
3. Joe Maddon for wasting games when you need a victory; especially when they have an opportunity to sweep. First, it was Oaklnad series now the Rangers. This kind of stuff will come back to haunt you down the stretch. I am tired of that already.

[raysfanbutnoexpert]

leave the second guessing to the people who get paid to do it. imo garza is a great pitcher and he'll prove it with time. glad I don't have some of you as my critic get real and go rays!!!!

[melissa]

Is Garza where they're gonna make room for Percy to come off the DL? I'm with some of you... he hasn't shown, IMO, he belongs as a starting pitcher. He needs some time to learn to cool off and go with it. He's young yet. I think with more experience he'll be good. He's just not seasoned enough yet.

[The Clown]

Garza has yet to show me anything this season to be quite honest with all of you. We need to come out strong these next 3 games the schedule doesn't get any easier

[Roman]

AReader, would you rather have Fossum or Garza? Is you say anything other then Garza, you should really check the dates on your refrigerated items. Garza is WAY better then any third, forth, or fifth option that the Rays have EVER trotted out there. I would take this blemish over Delmon Young's 0 HR and .258 avg. anytime.

I file this game with the 9-1 lose in Oakland. We just weren't in the mood to win.

[Bill]

Garza's got great stuff but he hasn't developed that 'out' pitch yet. Think about all the 0-2 counts that he just couldn't put the players away with. This is the big difference with big time pitchers..........that out pitch, Clemens splitter, Kazmir's Slider, etc.

However, Garza does seem very 'mental'........he's definately going to have to get over himself.

[AReader]

I'm still waiting for Garza to show me something, anything, to show why we traded for him.

[Bodog]

Give me the address Jonatheena and I'll join ya.

[Bodog]

Hell Bill, he didn't come out for the beginning of the game either, for that matter, neither did any of them, weird game - fellas didn't have that look in their eyes today. They should have had this kid for lunch. Hamilton and Young are out of the lineup and we still lose the game.

[Jonatheena]

Rough one today, boys.

If you need me, I'll be at Senor Tadpoles having a margarita made in my mouth.

[Bill Sudaikis]

"Garze did not come out to start the sixth inning"...hell, he didn't come out to start the fifth!

[Raymond]

Oh boy.

(First!)

[Navy]

I like to eat, not learn about pitching. Sometimes, lately, I like making lots of noise.