Cincinnati Reds manager Dusty Baker refused to shake the hand of Arizona Diamondbacks manager Kirk Gibson before Monday's spring training game due to a spat over the use of designated hitters.
The Diamondbacks were the home team and by rule are allowed to choose whether or not to use designated hitters. The Diamondbacks are said to have wanted new pitcher Brandon McCarthy, who has spent his entire career in the American League, to get used to hitting so they decided to go without the DH. Baker, however, wanted free agent signing Shin-Soo Choo to get at-bats without roaming the outfield because of a sore quadriceps.
Despite Baker's protestations Gibson remained steadfast. Choo was held out of the game, and Baker ignored Gibson's outstretched hand. Steve Gilbert of MLB.com got the reactions of both managers. Gibson said "They knew we were going to do it that way. I had it happen that way with a team. They tried to put the DH in there. That's not the way it's done. I wanted to play a National League game. I notified them several times. They just wanted to do it their way. They couldn't do it. They didn't like that. We play by the rules here. If we were over there, we'd play by their rules. It's very simple. It was good locker room talk." Baker seemed to downplay the situation as well saying, "He wanted his pitcher to hit and I wanted Choo to DH," Baker said after the Diamondbacks won 7-2. "We didn't have a very pleasant encounter at home plate. It's over."
During the game Reds starter Johnny Cueto never lifted the bat off his shoulder in his sole at-bat, saying afterward that "I wasn't allowed to swing." Gibson's Diamondbacks went on to win the game 9-6. McCarthy pitched three innings and gave up no runs, one hit, and one home run while striking out five batters and walking none. The one run came on a home run he surrendered to shortstop Zack Cozart.
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