By Jacob Calvin Meyer - The Washington Times - Sunday, July 24, 2022

It wasn’t the first time Madison Bumgarner took offense to a batter’s celebration, and it certainly won’t be the last.

The Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher on Saturday didn’t appreciate the way Nationals center fielder Victor Robles celebrated his solo home run off the veteran lefty. Robles admired his long ball in the eventual 7-2 loss by stopping briefly to watch it and then backpedeled a bit before beginning his jog around the bases. 

“Guy’s a clown. Golly, no shame,” Bumgarner told reporters after the game. “No shame. Like, it’s 7-1, you hit your third homer of the year and you act like Barry Bonds breaking the record. Clean it up.” 

Robles was then asked by reporters in the Nationals’ clubhouse what his reaction was to Bumgarner’s comments. 

“When he’s pitching well, he’s able to celebrate and do what he likes to do,” Robles said through a team interpreter, per the Washington Post. “It seems like he calls everybody a clown that actually has a big hit or home run against him. If he doesn’t want anyone hitting a home run against him or having any issues with that, then just strike people out or make better pitches to where he doesn’t have to worry about that.”

Bumgarner has a well-earned reputation as someone who is eager to voice his opinions when opposing players don’t play by the rules — or, rather, the unwritten rules. He even admitted Saturday night that he was being a bit of a curmudgeon. 

“It’s frustrating,” Bumgarner added Saturday night. “I’m the old grumpy guy, I know, but that type of stuff — that didn’t used to happen. That’s ridiculous.”

• Jacob Calvin Meyer can be reached at jmeyer@washingtontimes.com.

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