When it comes to baseball, there is no narrative more exhausting, more played out than getting angry about how a player celebrates.
And for whatever reason, the NLDS series between the Braves and Cardinals had plenty of that.
First, we have to go back to Game 1. Cardinals closer Carlos Martinez came into the game with a 7-3 lead and promptly gave up huge home runs to Ronald Acuña Jr. and Freddie Freeman. Though the Cardinals would hold on to win that game, Martinez was especially irritated with how Acuña — one of the most entertaining and talented players in all of baseball — watched the 450-foot home run and celebrated around the bases.
Martinez said at the time:
“I wanted him to respect the game and respect me as a veteran player.”
Like, come on, Carlos. In the interest of not re-litigating Respecting The Game for the millionth time, let’s just fast forward to Game 3 and see what Martinez was up to on Sunday.
Yes, as the Braves were threatening in the ninth, Martinez was so preoccupied with pinch runner Billy Hamilton’s lead on second base that the Cardinals closer mockingly blew a kiss at him. It didn’t look like Martinez respected Hamilton — a fellow MLB vet — too much in that moment.
He also exchanged words with Acuña during an at-bat that inning and nearly hit Acuña with Ball 4.
Martinez would go on to allow three runs in the inning as the Cardinals dropped Game 3 to Atlanta, 3-1. The Braves can clinch a spot in the NLCS with a win on Monday.
