SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA – OCTOBER 15: Carlos Correa #1 of the Houston Astros celebrates a walk off solo home run to beat the Tampa Bay Rays 4-3 in Game Five of the American League Championship Series at PETCO Park on October 15, 2020 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
Dave Stewart and the Oakland Athletics broadcast booth didn’t like a play Carlos Correa made.
The Houston Astros are 2-0 on the season, with both wins coming against the Oakland Athletics. It’s an early statement to doubters of their AL West supremacy, especially after a down 2020 campaign saw them finish second in the division.
With A’s star Matt Chapman running to second base in hopes of breaking up a double play, Correa made sure he got the tag on before throwing the first base, shouldering Chapman in the process. ‘Shouldering’ might be kind phrasing in this case, as Correa looked more like an NFL strong safety on the play.
Do the Athletics have a legitimate gripe with Carlos Correa?
Not particularly. Correa was technically making a baseball play, and Chapman was in the way on the basepaths. While the Athletics may wish to plunk him again at the dish at some point this season as a result, in terms of the actual written rules, there’s nothing Bob Melvin can do about it.
The Athletics and Astros are division rivals and slated to meet at least 18 times. This is only the beginning of the ire Oakland feels towards Houston, especially after fans at the Coliseum openly cheered when Correa was hit by a pitch.
It’s Stewart’s job to stir the pot a little bit and be an Oakland homer. Chapman likely doesn’t share the same viewpoint, because if the roles were reversed he would do the exact same thing as Correa.