Terry Francona is shocked fans think he was flipping off the TV in Game 3
Much ado about fingers on Monday night during a wild ALCS Game 3 that saw Cleveland Indians starting pitcher Trevor Bauer get pulled in the first inning after his pinkie -- which he sliced while fixing a drone -- opened up on the mound and started gushing blood. There was also the matter of Indians manager Terry Francona's middle finger.
In case you missed it (video here) when cameras panned to Francona in the dugout early in the game:
During an appearance on "Mike and Mike" on Tuesday morning, Francona addressed the bird. Asked straight up by Mike Greenberg if he intentionally gave the finger to the camera:
“God, I was so embarrassed when I heard that or when somebody asked me that after the game,” Francona said. “I think I have a nervous habit of kind of picking at my face a little bit. I would never do that [intentionally].”
“My goodness, I mean maybe in the clubhouse, but not out there.”
Francona added that the moment was “just a quirk of fate.” Well, that quirk of fate has happened more than a couple times:
If that's his nervous habit, maybe he should scratch with two fingers just to keep things Rated-PG.
Francona says what finger, this finger? #MLBPlayoffs #Indians pic.twitter.com/rtGpzfSF3g
— Kevin (@Lundqvistador) October 18, 2016
The middle finger to the camera is nothing new for Terry Francona. 8/2015, 10/2015, 10/2016. pic.twitter.com/mTohuIA4yl
— Chris Cotillo (@ChrisCotillo) October 18, 2016
