Did Kevin Cash And The Rays Bench Their Franchise Player Because He.....Slams Equipment In The Dugout When He Gets Out? Yes, Yes They Did

Interesting development over the last couple of hours out of Tampa as they announced that their superstar, face of the franchise player, and all around beast Wander Franco is being benched for at least 2 games for the way "he handles his frustrations and not being a better teammate." Very interesting wording there. 

Apparently Franco has had some blow ups and verbal altercations with teammates in the clubhouse. That happens in sports, especially a game like baseball where you are basically living with your team for 6 straight months. There was one public display of yelling between Franco and Randy Arozarena in May in the dugout, that stuff happens from time to time but it seemed serious enough to earn Franco a gift card for at least 2 games on the bench.

Marc Topkin wrote that Franco also had blowups after he would get out, such as slamming equipment and things in the dugouts and endangering teammates. Slamming equipment doesn't seem like the biggest thing in the world to me. Guys get frustrated, upset, angry at themselves sometimes. It happens, but when you're throwing stuff and it almost hits teammates, that is where it gets dicey. Topkin also wrote that Franco had been dogging it on the bases and in the field. That is something I agree is worthy of a benching. If you're openly jogging in the field or not running out balls like you should, take a seat. It happened with Manny Machado on the base paths in Baltimore, but never in the field. Wander is too good and too young to already be finding himself in the doghouse like this, he'll rebound. 

I did find it odd that Cash seemed to just throw Wander under the bus with the public comments. Easily could have kept them in-house and said "We've had discussions with Wander about some things on the field and thought it would be best to sit him for 2 games." and leave it at that. But hey, if a division rival wants to piss off their franchise star, fine with me. 

Also thought it was funny that they decided to sit him against the Royals...and they lost. Love that so much. I will say good on Cash and the team for treating their superstar like this. He's getting paid a ton and having a fantastic season, but they're holding him accountable. Doesn't matter if you're a locked in superstar or the 26th guy, can't do that stuff.