Castro, Jax's ninth-inning exits lead to confusion, even in dugout

MINNEAPOLIS -- An otherwise forgettable 13-1 loss for the Twins at Target Field got very weird in the top of the ninth inning on Wednesday as two players who have been prominent in trade rumors were removed from the game -- but not because they were traded.

Willi Castro was removed in an attempt to “give him a little pat” in front of the home fans, while Griffin Jax was pulled after not retiring any of the three batters he faced. The combination led to confusion, even in the dugout.

It also led to anger from Jax, who was irritated at not being able to finish the inning he started. It was unusual to bring him into an 8-1 game in the first place. He expressed his displeasure to manager Rocco Baldelli in no uncertain terms, then apologized after the game in a meeting with Baldelli and Carlos Correa.

“I think it was just one of those moments of emotion, fire and a little bit of selfishness on my part,” Jax said. “I apologized to [Baldelli]. I shouldn’t act that way on the mound when he’s coming to take the ball from me. It’s just one of those times where I have to grit my teeth. I understand he’s doing the best he can to take care of me in that situation, which I think ultimately is what he was doing. … For that, I apologized to him. I said it’s just that competitor in me, that fire, but it’s no excuse. It’s something I can’t do.”

Jax started the inning because he was one of the freshest remaining pitchers in a fatigued bullpen, but he was removed so as not to have to throw 30 or more pitches. The Boston lead had expanded to eight runs when Jax was pulled, allowing the Twins to use position player Kody Clemens on the mound.

“I talked to [Jax],” Baldelli said. “It was a good conversation. I think we left the conversation on the same general terms and found some -- I don't know if it’s common ground but we understand what we’re talking about here. He wants to stay in the game. I don’t blame him for wanting to stay in the game.

"I’m perfectly fine with that, but sometimes there are moves and decisions that we have to make in this game that are the best for the team. And honestly the best thing, I think, for Griff going forward -- and pitching for us next week when we’re going to need him -- [is to pitch] in games that are close and the situation really matters.”

Things were less fraught, but no less confusing with Castro. The inning began with the veteran utilityman taking the field to play second base as he’d been doing all game, then immediately being removed before a pitch was thrown. The idea was for Castro to get some recognition from the home fans. Baldelli did not explicitly say that it was a chance for Castro to say goodbye in case he was traded, but that undertone was hard to miss.

The problem was that Castro wasn’t sure what was going on.

“I was anticipating everything,” he said. “Obviously, you prepare for anything with the Deadline and all that stuff. But, yeah, obviously, you just go out there, just play ball. It took me by surprise, but I saw [Rocco motion] for me to take it in and like I said, I don't know anything yet.”

In the clubhouse after the game, some players were still perplexed at the sequence of events.

“There was a lot going on there,” said Ty France, who entered the game for Castro. “There was a lot of confusion going on, on all ends. We’ll take the off day and see what happens.”