The Tiger Beat: Javier Baez opens up about his ejection

Phil Cuzzi messed this one up.

Fireworks aren’t an unusual sight after a baseball game in the summer, but they are certainly unexpected in the middle of an inning. But fireworks are what we got during Monday afternoon’s game between the Tigers and Guardians. We’ll get into it below.

Beyond that, we’ll share more of Tarik Skubal’s incredible outing and what brought a tear to his eye. Plus, which veteran player has been optioned by the Royals, and which Hollywood stars were hanging out at the Cubs game?

Let’s get into it!

Detroit Tigers News:

• During Monday afternoon’s Tigers/Giants game, tempers flared between Javier Baez and umpire Phil Cuzzi after Cuzzi made an outrageously bad strike call. If you missed it, it was certainly high tension.

Baez got candid about the moment after the game, talking about how things escalated and why he got so fired up because of Cuzzi’s curt dismissal of his concerns.

• Cody Stavenhagen looks at how Tarik Skubal keeps one-upping himself. ($)
• Tarik Skubal admitted that hearing the hometown crowd cheer him on as he took the mound in the ninth was an emotional moment for him, even bringing a bit of a tear to his eye.

Little teary-eyed out there, honestly, before the inning started. It was pretty cool. I just thought to myself, “12-year-old me wouldn’t believe that was an opportunity to have the fan base support you the way it does and be in that moment.”

AL Central News:

• The Royals have optioned Cavan Biggio to Triple-A. However, because he has five years of service time, he can elect free agency .

MLB News:

• Freddie Freeman has donated $1 million to the hospital that helped care for his son Max .
• Red Sox outfielder Rob Refsnyder admits “We suck right now,” as the team is in a losing skid.
• Petco Park went full Wicker Man with an invasion of bees.
• Francisco Lindor used a Mets reporter as a human shield to avoid an ice bath.
• Keith Law suggests that college baseball coaches need to stop abusing pitcher arms.
• Quite an array of Hollywood stars out at Wrigley yesterday.