Finally Video of “The Slap,” Tommy Pham’s Side of the Story, and Joc Pederson Has Receipts (UPDATE)
This is like a ridiculous Hollywood drama that would get overhyped and then cancelled almost immediately. Or something unbelievable that would happen at an awards ceremony. But now it is forever a part of baseball history. We have our own “The Slap.”
And now there’s actually video of the moment when Reds outfielder Tommy Pham, prior to last night’s game against the Giants, slapped outfielder Joc Pederson over a years-long fantasy football beef:
BREAKING: 96.3/92.5 The Big Jab has obtained exclusive rights to a never before seen video of Tommy Pham slapping Joc Pederson (via Chad McCormack’s sources) #JocPederson #Pham #tommypham #Joc @MorningJab @MannixBrothers @ThePMJab pic.twitter.com/0oXBwDDRdH
— Chad McCormack (@mccormack_chad) May 28, 2022
That’s a slap right there. No messing around intended.
Pham today spoke about the situation, and, for him, it came down to disrespectful comments from Pederson about the Padres (wut?), and money:
Pham said there was “too much money on the line” and “he was messing with my money”
“I’m a big dog in Vegas. I’m a high roller at many casinos.” https://t.co/atfAOnj6Th
— Evan Webeck (@EvanWebeck) May 28, 2022
Tommy Pham says Joc Pederson forgot to tell the media the “disrespectful shit” he said about Pham’s former team
Pham also confirmed the fantasy football feud: “I didn’t like the sketchy shit going on. Too much money on the line. Fucking with my money.” pic.twitter.com/d5TnmYauB9
— Jomboy Media (@JomboyMedia) May 28, 2022
I suppose we should see if more comes out on EXACTLY what Pederson said about the Padres, but if it was just trash talking in the context of the sport – they were division rivals, after all – and if the only other issue was the whole fantasy football rules argument, then, uh, this was not a remotely reasonable reaction by Pham. I kinda can’t believe he only got a three-game suspension.
In either case, I hope the back and forth never ends – or at least goes on for another three or four episodes so we can get a full Limited Event Series out of it.
UPDATE: It’s still going! Joc Pederson has the receipts from the text group, include the GIF insulting the Padres that apparently set Pham off:
“It is true, I did send a GIF making fun of the Padres, and if I hurt anyone’s feelings I apologize for that.” pic.twitter.com/lE0enI2Ril
— Alex Pavlovic (@PavlovicNBCS) May 29, 2022
Joc Pederson was waiting for us after the game, with receipts from his group text exchange with Tommy Pham. He sent a GIF of three weightlifters with Giants, Dodgers and Padres logos superimposed on them. The Padres guy collapsed under the weight of his dumbbell. (1/)
— Evan Webeck (@EvanWebeck) May 28, 2022
That was around last September. A few weeks later, Pham dropped out the league. Pederson confirmed "there was a lot of money involved in it."
About seven months later, Pham slapped Pederson across the face.
— Evan Webeck (@EvanWebeck) May 28, 2022
If I got slapped every time I sent a mild insult to a group text thread, I would no longer have a face. If this really was the entirety of everything – that VERY mild joke from Pederson (and kind reply), and him stashing a player on IR – then Tommy Pham has completely lost his mind to slap Pederson.
BUT LET’S SEE WHAT HAPPENS ON THE NEXT EPISODE!
