clock menu more-arrow no yes mobile

Filed under:

Ryne Sandberg swears revenge on the Nationals for something

It was music.

Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports

Here's what we know about Ryne Sandberg:

  • He once said managing the Cubs would be his ideal job
  • He is not and probably will never be the manager of the Cubs
  • He is not a very good manager
  • His heart is full of revenge

Sandberg finally broke, but it wasn't due to the Phillies' poor play, their lack of hits with runners in scoring position, their baseball-worst 153 runs scored, their almost baseball-worst .293 OBP, or his inability to figure out how a bullpen works and what his role is in using it. It was music.

As we know by now, the Nationals have matured from giggling toddlers to smirking teenagers who think they are going to live forever. Instead of trying to keep Phillies fans out of their park with computer trickery or signing former Phillies and getting them to say the Nationals are better, they have resorted to more subtle pranks.

The most recent was playing slow jams by the likes of Linda Ronstadt or the theme from "Fievel Goes West" (of which Justin De Fratus was actually a fan) during the Phillies' batting practice sessions at Nationals Park, rather than letting the Phillies listen to the "white noise" or "sounds of whales being killed" that they normally listen to while preparing to not hit in a baseball game.

And Ryne Sandberg is pissedaccording to WGN in Chicago. Media outlets in Chicago still apparently track the movements of their former star player and minor league manager who left them to help guide the Phillies into last and sometimes second-to-last place. Sandberg, according to them, "promises payback" on the Nationals. This was after he referred to the tactic as "bush league" and "irrelevant" and also complained that the Phillies weren't given enough time to get on the field for BP.

But the fooling about with the music was relevant enough to warrant cold, hard revenge. That's right, 'Ol Sandy's got some pretty devious tricks planned. Tell 'um, Sandy:

"We'll take care of that," Phillies manager Ryne Sandberg said before Saturday's game against the Nationals at Nationals Park. "We're going with the silent treatment at our place."

Ha ha, yeah! The Nationals will have to squirm uncomfortably as they knock the crap out of the ball during BP at Citizens Bank Park in utter silence, the only noise coming from their bats consistently hitting the baseballs. Then the Phillies will listen to cool music, whatever Ryne Sandberg believes that to be.

So, as most doctors recommend, the Sandberg will hold onto that anger until the Phillies' next home series against their division rival in late June.