Giants tie it up 3-3 in the 9th with some shady business ? pic.twitter.com/i4BNUPMEgb
— A's on NBCS (@NBCSAthletics) July 22, 2018
OAKLAND – In the bottom of the ninth inning of the Battle of the Bay Series, Hunter Pence hit a game-tying double against the A’s in controversial fashion. What was at the center of this controversy you ask? A chair.
As with all controversial baseball plays, Twitter was quick to conduct a thorough, impartial and serious investigation. We have rounded up the best of Twitter’s top-notch sleuthing below. While some might call these memes, to others, these are pure examples of by-the-book detective work.
First, we have a throwback to Mark Melancon’s appearance/preparation for Saturday’s game in a chair-throwing competition on the Steve Wilkos Show:
Live footage of Mark Melancon #giants #BattleOfTheBay #RootedInOakland pic.twitter.com/d5c0h7XEdB
— oɔnqɐᴚ ɥsoſ (@joshrabuco) July 22, 2018
Next, an accredited lip-reader broke down what Melancon said to Piscotty at the moment of contact between Piscotty’s body and the chair:
PICTURED: San Francisco Giants relief pitcher, Mark Melancon screams “THIS IS MY HOUSE!” as he slams Oakland A’s right fielder, Stephen Piscotty in the face with a chair at the Oakland Coliseum on Saturday night. pic.twitter.com/T6JvUQNYYe
— LOLKNBR ? (@LOLKNBR) July 22, 2018
A high-resolution gif of Melancon’s chair-wielding power:
Melancon walking to the bullpen tomorrow like pic.twitter.com/SNMpw2d1NC
— Dave (@gggiants) July 22, 2018
Word. Play.
chairs looking at you kid
follow @GrantBrisbee
— Grant Brisbee (@GrantBrisbee) July 22, 2018
There’s no such thing as too much wordplay.
3 Chairs for Mark Melancon #SFGiants
— Josh Holub (@JoshHolub) July 22, 2018
Melancon’s true identity as a WWE superstar is finally being revealed:
Live look at Mark Melancon… pic.twitter.com/PblhpgloJk
— Roxy Bernstein (@roxybernstein) July 22, 2018
Prime-time game analysis:
Piscotty clearly dived into the chair to escape! What an act of cowardism! pic.twitter.com/jcTuCpbBSB
— King of Beers©️ Ⓜ️ (@duderibe) July 22, 2018
Know your history folks.
A contemporary history of chairs at the Oakland Coliseum:
2004: Frank Francisco throws bullpen chair into the stands
2014: Drew Pomeranz breaks hand punching chair
2018: Mark Melancon tries to take out RF with bullpen chair— Alan Torres (@cuppingmaster) July 22, 2018
Best Giants of all time imo pic.twitter.com/wD3zR6eOJ0
— STATS (@baycityball) July 22, 2018
The people need answers, chair. Stop hiding the truth:
Has Amy G interviewed the chair yet?
— Bad Boch (@BadBoch) July 22, 2018
That’s just good form:
Real footage of Mark Melancon. #SFGiants #RootedinOakland pic.twitter.com/xd75ctZT13
— Damon Bruce (@DamonBruce) July 22, 2018
Finally, we have the true inspiration for Melancon’s relationship with the chair:
Well, I guess we'll go to the bottom of the ninth. pic.twitter.com/jqHEQmTFiD
— Andrew Baggarly (@extrabaggs) July 22, 2018