Phillies’ Matt Strahm on ejection after national anthem standoff went too far: ‘Not the wisest decision'

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Philadelphia Phillies reliever Matt Strahm finally walked back into his home dugout at Citizens Bank Park on Saturday after going through a long standoff with his former Boston Red Sox teammate Kutter Crawford following the national anthem. 

Little did he know he'd have to head to the clubhouse instead because umpires ejected both him and Crawford for their actions. 

Standoffs on the field, court or ice have been going on for quite some time in sports when the national anthem comes to a conclusion. It's simply for bragging rights, as the last man standing on their respective playing surface gets the "win."

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Pitcher Kutter Crawford of the Boston Red Sox during the Tigers game at Comerica Park on April 9, 2023, in Detroit. (Duane Burleson/Getty Images)

Well, with MLB instituting their new pitch clock rules to speed up the game of baseball, Strahm and Crawford took things a bit too far when umpires warned them to leave the field, and then had no choice but to kick them out. 

Speaking with Audacy's "Baseball Isn't Boring" podcast, Strahm explained the whole situation that resulted in not just an ejection, but a fine from the league as well. 

"Zero of it was planned," he explained. "The anthem was over, I looked across, and Kutter kind of gave me a grin. And I knew exactly what that grin meant so I just stood there. Zero plan on that. Just locked eyes after the anthem and both still had our hat over our heart and neither of us were moving.

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"I’ve never done anything like that in my life, but if you know me, you know