Philadelphia Phillies manager Joe Girardi is developing a contentious relationship with the media in 2021. It started with Jean Segura and Bryce Harper, and appears to be growing bigger.

Girardi would not address a scuffle he had with Segura during a loss to the Toronto Blue Jays last week and grew angry with media members trying to press the issue.

The Phillies manager then admitted he withheld information from the media regarding Harper's status as a “competitive advantage.” Now, it seems, he is just not going to be giving reporters anything at all.

Girardi refused to answer a question about why Segura did not stay in Thursday's game after a pinch-hit appearance in the Phillies' 3-2 win over the Miami Marlins. Well, he didn't just refuse. He went on this strange diatribe:

“Just so you guys know: we're going to approach this different,” Girardi said, via Matt Gelb of The Athletic. “I've talked to people in our organization. Just a manager's decision. And I'm not going to share anything–who's available, who's not available–because I think it's somewhat unfair to us. Just like if you were to do something, you're not going to necessarily share it with a rival reporter.”

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It's not so much that Girardi refused to answer the question. He doesn't always have to explain the smallest details of the Phillies' in-game strategy. Still, this was a very odd answer to a baseball-related question.

Perhaps Girardi's statement would not come across quite as strange were it not for this weird string of events tangentially involving the media. Granted, the Phillies manager has always played things a bit tight to the chest when it comes to reporters, but this is next-level obstinance.

The Phillies improved to 25-26 with the win, though Girardi is still a bit moody.