A scary collision on the field led to a heated confrontation off of it.
Padres outfielder Tommy Pham and shortstop Ha-Seong Kim ran directly into each other chasing down a shallow fly ball from the Cubs’ P.J. Higgins with the bases loaded in the fourth inning. Both players would leave the game, with Pham needing stitches and Kim suffering a concussion.
However, it appeared Padres third base coach Bobby Dickerson still thought it was a good time to chastise Pham for the lack of communication. Pham disagreed, and the two exchanged heated words before Pham went to get treated.
“Let me be clear on this, we have a passionate group,” Padres manager Jayce Tingler told reporters after the 6-1 loss, per ESPN. “And passion is a good thing. At times, things are going to get heated. Passion is a good thing. Competitiveness is a good thing. We’ll move on and become closer because of it.”
Unbelievably, Kim was able to retrieve the ball and, amid the confusion, turn it into a double play. Tingler blamed the mishap on the “language barrier” between the two players and a boisterous Wrigley Field crowd.
“It was the perfect storm,” Tingler said. “A little bit of a language barrier and no matter how many times you practice it, [was] a packed house. Incredibly loud. Both guys got their bell rung.”
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