San Diego Padres interim manager Pat Murphy ignited a social media firestorm late in the team's matchup with the New York Mets on Wednesday night.
With the trade deadline quickly approaching, fans and media are keeping a watchful eye for players suddenly pulled from lineups. Oftentimes, this indicates that a trade is imminent.
When Murphy took Matt Kemp out in the sixth inning and did the same with Justin Upton in the eighth inning, Twitter went insane. Everyone, including the media, thought a trade was coming 'round the bend.
So why were Tyson Ross and Matt Kemp taken out of the game?
— Bronze Kneecap (@jrtoads) July 30, 2015
MATT KEMP COME HOOOOOME https://t.co/p1OjNf3Lmp
— pitchtojohnny (@PitchToJohnny) July 30, 2015
Kemp's removal was one thing. Then, it was Upton's turn -- and the speculation started up in full force.
Justin Upton has just been taken out of the game for the #Padres. Overreaction time everyone!
— jeff gerharz (@jeffg2112) July 30, 2015
Justin Upton is out of the game? Please put that fella on a plane to STL and get us out of our misery.
— Melissa Meador (@MelissaMeador14) July 30, 2015
WAIT.
JUSTIN UPTON BE GOIN? THIS TRADE DEADLINE IS CRAZY.
— Barnaby Jones (@BaseballBalks) July 30, 2015
Fans were already coming up with potential trade scenarios.
@SpencerL I note this because Justin Upton got pulled out of the Mets-Padres game tonight and nobody knows why.
— Juvenile Cinephile (@juvie_cinephile) July 30, 2015
All of this panic for nothing, apparently. Neither player was traded before reporters got the chance to ask Murphy about it.
Murphy was ready for the questions, because, well, he started the whole thing in the first place.
#Padres int manager Pat Murphy said he pulled Upton and Kemp late to get them off their feet "and give you guys something to think about."
— Joe Trezza (@JoeTrezz) July 30, 2015
It may have caused the Padres fans some unnecessary heart palpitations. But if you're looking for comfort, don't go to Murphy.
He's probably thrilled.
