What stood out to Dallas Braden from Sean Manaea's no-hitter in 2018

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Programming note: Watch the re-air of Sean Manaea's no-hitter Wednesday, April 1, at 8 p.m. on NBC Sports California.

Sean Manaea’s usual demeanor has him relaxed and calm -- a go-with-the-flow type of guy.

That was no different than how the A’s starter was acting in the dugout on April 21, 2018. But you see, Manaea was in the midst of throwing a no-hitter against the Red Sox. Some even say they saw him snacking on something while the Boston bats did their best trying to muster up any offensive action against him.

They failed.

Former A’s pitcher turned analyst Dallas Braden was waiting for Manaea after his outing to give the postgame interview -- after the shaving cream/Gatorade/bubble gum shower, of course.

Braden had thrown the team’s previous no-hitter in 2010 with his perfect game against the Tampa Bay Rays. But he went about it a different way.

"Absolute psycho," Dallas Braden laughed as he told NBC Sports California about how Manaea was acting in the midst of his no-no.

"Sean and I have had some great conversations, had some great exchanges just about the different ways we go about things,” Braden said.

“I do get to see him on a daily basis go about his routine, and him and I have talked in length just about preparation -- and so it's funny because you can watch him go out there and spin the gem that he did against the Red Sox in '18.”

“And you know every moment in between innings was spent, probably laughing about something, talking about something non-baseball related, and that's just how damn good he is,” Braden added.

After the game, Bob Melvin spoke to reporters saying he refused to make eye contact with Manaea each time he would come in from throwing a frame -- at least since the sixth inning.

[RELATED: Nine eye-popping stats from A's, Giants players]

That’s when it became real. 

Manaea made history, of course, but the way he went about it was something only he could do. The fun-loving, carefree way he carried himself through it all while fanning 10 Sox hitters is something that might be more memorable than perhaps the feat itself. 

We get to relive that masterpiece on Wednesday night.

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