Stroman livid after being removed from game in 7th

Toronto Blue Jays right-hander Marcus Stroman was removed from Saturday's game against the Chicago White Sox with one out in the seventh inning, and he wasn't happy about it.

After allowing three singles in the inning, manager Charlie Montoyo came to the mound to give him the hook in favor of reliever Derek Law, and Stroman didn't mask his displeasure with the move.

Stroman also voiced his frustration in the dugout, as he had "some choice words" for pitching coach Pete Walker, according to Gregor Chisholm of MLB.com.

Following the game, Stroman chalked up his fury to his overall competitiveness on the diamond.

"The last thing I ever have in my head when a manager comes to get me is, 'Yes! I can't wait to get out of this game. Please let someone else face the next guy,'" he said, according to Chisholm.

As for Montoyo, he wants his pitchers to get fired up when he makes the call to the 'pen.

"I like it when pitchers get upset when I take them out," he said. "That's what I want. I don't want a guy to be happy. That's one thing I like about this group, even the position players, when they're not playing, they get mad at me, which I love it."

Stroman quickly quelled any suggestion that there was any lingering disappointment in being lifted, saying it's all water under the bridge between him and his coaches.

"No, not at all," Stroman said, according to The Canadian Press. "It was a minor disagreement that I’m sure you guys (the media) will try to play into a bigger issue. But, like I said, me and Charlie spoke right after the inning and it was clear right then and there."

The 28-year-old has had a generally effective season on the mound, even though the wins haven't followed. He wound up allowing four runs (three earned) in 6 1/3 innings on 97 pitches Saturday, bringing his ERA to 3.12 while also putting him in danger of dropping to 1-6 in nine starts.

As well as Stroman's pitched overall this season, he's received next to no run support from the Blue Jays' offense. The team scored a total of 18 runs over his first eight starts and hadn't plated a run at the time of his exit Saturday, though Randal Grichuk hit a solo home run in the bottom of the seventh.

It's been an eventful year for Stroman, as the six-year veteran has been the subject of trade rumors since before the season even started. Saturday was the first time he's shown any sign of frustration on the field, however.