It’s been a strange year for Dodgers catcher Dalton Rushing.
And it got even weirder Sunday afternoon.
During the second inning of Sunday’s 5-1 victory over the Brewers, Rushing took a ball up and in from pitcher Brandon Sproat. As soon as the umpire called the pitch a ball, Milwaukee catcher William Contreras immediately signaled for a challenge.
Cameras then caught Rushing saying, “that’s a ball” and shaking his head at Contreras.
Replay then showed the pitch was indeed a strike, and not particularly close to being a ball. Cameras then cut away from Rushing’s response, but Dodgers broadcaster alluded to Rushing not being thrilled by rebuking him for challenging a camera.
While the play itself wasn’t a big deal, it’s more along the lines of Rushing again being at the center of a camera-worthy controversy.
After emerging as one of the team’s better offensive players in split-action this season with seven homeruns and 17 RBI’s, he’s begun to develop a certain reputation around the league.
In just 27 games this season, Rushing has been involved in multiple attention-grabbing headlines due to on-field situations. He accused the Rockies of being ‘fishy’ during a series in Denver, and then caught flak for an F-bomb that appeared to be directed at Giants outfielder Jung Hoo Lee after a collision at the plate between the two.
After getting plunked the next day following the incident with the Giants, Rushing cleared things up by saying he misinterpreted, but the damage was done and the reputation was taking shape.
“You never want to be viewed as a guy like that from opposing teams,” Rushing told The California Post. “You want guys to hate playing against you because of the player that you are and how great you are on a baseball field. Not because of the verbalized things you say.”
“I played football half my life,” the Dodgers’ backup catcher added. “So I compete a little differently, I click a little differently.”