Trump rips move to ex-Phillies pitcher Ryan Madson, who happens to be a supporter
"That's amazing. Everybody has their opinion. They don't know what it feels like, but it's OK."
During the seventh inning of Game 4 of the World Series last night, Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts turned to his bullpen to replace starter Rich Hill, whose dominant performance kept the Boston Red Sox scoreless through more than six innings.
In came Ryan Madson, a 1998 Phillies draft pick who helped lead the team to its second World Series victory back in 2008. Unfortunately, Madson quickly surrendered a three-run home run to Red Sox first baseman Mitch Moreland. The Red Sox would go on to win the game 9-6, and now lead the series 3-1.
Among the many critics that disagreed with the move was President Donald Trump, who wrote on Twitter that he was amazed that Roberts pulled Hill, who was "loose & dominating," and replaced him with Madson, who he said was "nervous."
Trump didn't mention Madson by name, and it's likely the president didn't even realize the 38-year-old reliever counts himself among the president's supporters and has defended the idea of building a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border.
"I think the media has spun it in a way to make him look like he's anti-immigrant, so I think it's more their fault and how they've made him look than what he's trying to do,'' Madson told USA Today back in 2016. "I don't think he's doing it in a way to be a Zionist. He's not trying to seal us off from the world. He's trying to just slow down or stop as much as he can what's been happening here in America with the terrorists.'
Madson, who the Dodgers acquired from the Washington Nationals in August to help bolster their bullpen, hasn't had a great World Series. Through four games, Madson has inherited seven runners, and all seven have scored. But the veteran was able to respond to Trump's criticism following the game with a smile.
"That's amazing. Everybody has their opinion. They don't know what it feels like, but it's OK. Everybody's entitled to their opinion. It's fine," Madson told reporters following the game. "I'm sure there's a lot of fans that said the same thing."
Roberts also responded to Trump's comments following the loss.
"I don't know how many Dodger games he's watched," Roberts told reporters. "I don't think he's privy to the conversation. That's one man's opinion."
Trump was a good enough baseball player during high school at the New York Military Institute that his former coach, Col. Ted Dobias, said Trump was scouted by two professional teams – the Phillies and the Red Sox.
"I was captain of the baseball team," Trump told MTV back in 2010. "I was supposed to be a professional baseball player. Fortunately, I decided to go into real estate instead. I played first base and I also played catcher. I was a good hitter. I just had a good time."