Dodgers Infielder Max Muncy Weighs in on Anthony Rendon's Fan Altercation

If you've been under a rock for the last few days, allow me to catch you up on the drama in the MLB. Amid the excitement of the league's opening week, there was some chaos after the Angels vs. Athletics game on Opening Day.

Angels third baseman Anthony Rendon got into an altercation with a fan after the game, grabbing his shirt and trying to hit him in the face. The swing fortunately missed (that brought the jokes), but Rendon was still hit with a five-game suspension, that was moved to four after his appeal.

The altercation had a lot of people talking, and rightfully so. It's not something you usually see in a game, as Rendon tried to hit the fan.

Dodgers infielder Max Muncy was on the Foul Territory show this week, and was asked about the Rendon situation. He offered some great insight, as a player who obviously has received criticism from fans in his career.

"I think as players we're all on Anthony's side a little bit. But he took it a little too far," Muncy said. "It's a tough one for me because you know, obviously as a player you have to understand you have a lot more to lose, you have certain responsibilities. But, if that situation happens in any other situation in life, you know, whatever that guy said he's probably going to get his ass beat for that. But, unfortunately that doesn't work in our world. So you have to understand where it's at — you ever have a situation like that, you're over.

Muncy also spent the first two years of his career in Oakland, and spoke about the interesting dynamics of that ballpark that make a situation like this even possible in the first place.

"I think that situation doesn't happen anywhere but Oakland," Muncy said. "That's the only Stadium where, as a visiting player, you're literally walking through the stands to get back to the clubhouse. It's not like you're just walking down the line, you're literally walking through the stands to go up the tunnel, and it's also the same tunnel that the fans walk down to get to those seats, too. So it's the only place in baseball where you're doing that. So I think anywhere else maybe that situation doesn't happen."

Muncy was also asked how he has acted or would act in a similar situation. Muncy, who has always seemed pretty even keeled, talked about keeping your cool in difficult situations like that one.

"I try to stay away from the edges there just to prevent situations like that from happening. There's been a lot of things said to me over the years and it's just one of those things where you understand that as a player, that's that's what's going to happen. That's what you're going to get. Whether it's good or bad either way. It's just, if you do good and you're on the road and then that fan base hates you. If you do bad at home, then that fan base hates you. It's just one of those things where there's really like a no-win situation, you have to understand. That's what it comes with the territory and you have to know how to handle it."

Rendon is serving a four-game suspension, and will likely be booed whenever he goes back to Oakland.