Pete Rose Questions Josh Donaldson for Leaving ALDS Game 1 vs. Rangers

Pete Rose played the game so hard that he earned the nickname Charlie Hustle.

Now as an analyst, Rose is questioning Toronto Blue Jays star and American League MVP favorite Josh Donaldson for exiting Game 1 of the AL Division Series against the Texas Rangers on Thursday.

Donaldson was lifted for a pinch hitter in the fifth inning. That came an inning after he took a knee to the head while sliding into second base in a successful attempt to break up a double play. 

Donaldson was slow to get up and suffered a cut to his forehead on the play. The third baseman did play in the field in the top of the fifth inning, but when it was time for him to bat in the bottom of the inning, he was taken out of the game.

That early exit didn't sit well with Rose, an analyst for Fox Sports 1. As Big League Stew showed, the hit king called out Donaldson during the postgame show as he wondered how the Toronto star could have left the game, likely because the Blue Jays were losing.

The Blue Jays later announced that Donaldson cleared concussion tests:

Concussions are a serious issue, so when there were possible signs of one for Donaldson, the Jays made the decision to lift him from the game. It may have hurt Toronto's chances of winning the contest, but it was in the best interest of the player.

Texas took a 1-0 series lead with a 5-3 victory.

[MLB.com]