The "unwritten" rules of baseball....are athletes/commentators/fans/etc getting too sensitive?

[doublejs07]

Bush league, etc etc....

-Alex Rodriguez yelling "HA!"

-Admiring a home run

-Flipping your bat

-Taunting the pitcher (I wouldn't even call this "taunting," but dude got rattled...)

After getting the third out of the third inning, Figueroa turned toward the Nationals dugout and made a mock clapping gesture into his glove in response to what he perceived was the Washington bench's rhythmic clapping for his walk and error during the inning. Figueroa was not happy afterward. "They were cheering in the dugout like a bunch of softball girls," he said. "I am a professional, I take great offense to that. ... They won tonight, but in the long run, look who they are, a last-place team." Milledge defended his teammates: "We didn't try to rattle him. We're trying to get our guys going." Lopez, on the other hand, dismissed Figueroa's complaints. "If he's worried about the dugout, he should be worried about the catcher," he said. "We won because we got in his head."


-Pitchers celebrating after getting a K

Hall of Famer Goose Gossage has some issues with New York Yankees reliever Joba Chamberlain's expressive celebrations on the pitcher's mound."There's no place for it in the game," Gossage told reporters Monday during a tour of the Hall of Fame, according to MLB.com.


-Wearing your hat crooked or backwards

-Stealing a base up by 5+ runs in the 7th inning or so....

and it goes on and on....I love baseball, but some of the things that people take issue with are downright pathetic. I love seeing things like RickeyHenderson popping his collar running the bases after hitting a HR...I love seeing Ken Griffey Jr. rockin his hat backwards during BP. I love the enthusiasmand emotion that Joba Chamberlain pitches with....I could go on forever about the things that I like about the game. However, as long as there is an old-boynetwork of people who will fight to keep the game as bland as you can get, these things will always be frowned upon....

*on a side note...anyone who has played baseball in HS or college knows that it's pretty much a cardinal sin to rock your hat backwards....

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=3393773
http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/recap?gameId=280512121

 

[wildkycat]

good topic...i'll hit it later.

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[am 1 fiend]

I love baseball, but some of the things that people take issue with are downright pathetic. I love seeing things like Rickey Henderson popping his collar running the bases after hitting a HR...I love seeing Ken Griffey Jr. rockin his hat backwards during BP. I love the enthusiasm and emotion that Joba Chamberlain pitches with....I could go on forever about the things that I like about the game. However, as long as there is an old-boy network of people who will fight to keep the game as bland as you can get, these things will always be frowned upon....

I am glad that flashiness is frowned upon, it has no place in baseball. Jr. wearing his hat backwards isn't a big deal, neither are playersplaying with a lot of enthusiasm. When you get a player that shows up a pitcher or other players, they should get one in the ear for the next at bat. Thissport isn't for everyone, if you want to see people acting out just watch the NBA or the NFL

 

[CP1708]

I saw somethin where Ryno like charged the other teams manager when they stole a base with a 6 run lead or something.

He's been ejected more as a manager for a couple seasons, then all theyears he was a player.

The world is too sensitive about everything, so this is no different. When I played in high school the game was taught to me the "right" way by mycoach. He told me in a blowout once, if they take an extra base on you, your next pitch is in his earhole. I sorta did the

, but he wasn't kidding. Sure enough, I threw a wild pitch later in the game,the runner advanced from first to second and I looked over at my coach and all he did was nod his head at me one time. I was like, oooook. I actually hit thenext batter in the leg, but I think I was afraid to throw towards a batter, as opposed to trying to miss his bat. It was weird. After the inning, my coachpulled me aside and said, "no, you don't actually hit the batter, you just throw it inside, send a message." As a 15 year old kid, I didn'tknow what the hell he was talking about, but I learned over the course of the year. Hell, he taught me with "next pitch is in his earhole", butreally he meant, brush him back inside, but not above the letters, and don't actually hit him. How many kids can actually figure that out without spokenwords?

Later in the year a stud player in our league went yard off me. It was the first homerun I'd ever given up, I was heated. Just pissed. So the nextbatter comes up and he's literally squeezing the hell outta his bat, he wants to do the same, he thinks he's getting one off me too. I was so jacked,I straight drilled him in the ribs. Hard. Not like the other guy I just mentioned where I sorta through it soft at his leg, no I drilled this guy. Heobviously wasn't very happy with me and was glaring at me on the mound, I walked towards home plate waiting for a new ball and I just shouted at him"F you, take your base" caught the new ball, turned and went back to the mound. After the game the coach patted me on the back, made fun of megiving up such a bomb, and then told me the I had earned the #1 spot because I had learned how to pitch.


Point of all my ramblings, back then you were taught how it was supposed to be done. Now? We are talking about money. If A-Rod has to HA, to get a win, thendamn it, do it and get the win. We can agree or disagree all we want, the Yankees need to win, they gotta do whatever the hell it takes.
Last place team has to clap their hands like a bunch of girls, then clap til your hands bleed til you get a win. Sports is big biz, and as such, some ruleswill go out the window. The mentalities of fans, broadcasters, whoever, need to catch up with the times of these athletes and realize that winning/money takeprecedence over a book that isn't even written.

Sorry for babbling.

 

[truthmain]

completely agree with the redbird fan. If you want chest thumping, showmanship, individual play over team play go watch that garbage you call the NBA. Has noplace in this game.

 

[thetruth03]

Jr. wearing his hat backwards isn't a big deal,
Yes it is.. he can do it because he's "the kid"

but coaches in college and up DO NOT allowed that..

at least mycoaches took that %%+% beyond serious.. Like its completely disrespecting the game..

 

[RyGuy45]

I agree I like the old school rules of MLB....but one I find almost pathetic is how sensitive teams are for things that arent even "showing up."

We've seen countless times a batter get nailed by a pitch simply because he may have hit 2 HRs in the game. Or teams completely analyzing a player runningthe bases after a HR to see if they are showing up. The other day a player from my squad almost got plunked because last at bat he "ran the bases a littletoo fast" after he hit a HR. There's some serious junior hight antics with these teams.

 

[johnnyredstorm]

Last night the Nats were a little out of line but Figueroa is too professional to acknowledge that and mock them.

I have a problem with Joba show boating and celebrating. Its different when you strike out the side after coming on with the bases loaded 0 outs and your teamis up 2-1. What makes me mad is how he showed up David Delluci the other night when the Yankees were up like 6-3.

 

[fc1114]

---

I love seeing things like Rickey Henderson popping his collar running the bases after hitting a HR*




^ How does one pop a collar on a baseball jersey that doesn't have collars.. unless Rickey was wearing a special jersey with a collar.

 

[fear the mongolian chop]

-Stealing a base up by 5+ runs in the 7th inning or so....

This is the only thing I have a problem with. You're ahead by 5 or more runs already in the 7th inning. Do you REALLY need to get into scoring position?


If you celebrate hitting a HR or striking out someone, it's not that big of a deal to me. I figure, you get a hit 3 out of every 10 AB's if you'relucky and to hit a HR is even less common. If you want to go crazy, then you probably don't hit many HR's or it's a game winning HR or something. If I hit the HR Joe Carter hit in the world series, I would c-walk all the way to 2nd base and then get carried from 2nd to home by Ernie Witt or Kelly Gruber.

 

[mrmossyman84]

*on a side note...anyone who has played baseball in HS or college knows that it's pretty much a cardinal sin to rock your hat backwards....


so aggravating

I would rather not wear a hat

 

[dman14]

how about when rickey henderson or barry bonds use to "snatch catch" the ball?

i remember bonds smacking his glove on his chest a couple times before snatching the ball, lol

 

[j rain 23]

there was nothing wrong with the cheering by the nationals last night. it was a cold, crappy, night and dukes was just trying to liven up the dugout, give someneeded encouragement after being swept by the marlins, and keep active/warm. it was hilarious to see it clearly rattled "figgy" and he was fired upabout it.

the series is starting to heat up with the shots both sides are taking at each other, i could def see a bench clearing brawl erupting. i DARE any of the metspitchers to mistakingly try and beam dukes. dukes would end that with the quickness. i could see dukes straight up hit-sticking the pitcher for a 5 yard loss.

 

[varisoxfan]

Im not a big fan of what Manny does with the bat flip and I wish the Red Sox would make the players wear the uniform the same way the yankees do. But lordknows you cant tell any of these guys what to do.

 

[jrp44]

Originally Posted by Fear the Mongolian Chop

-Stealing a base up by 5+ runs in the 7th inning or so....

This is the only thing I have a problem with. You're ahead by 5 or more runs already in the 7th inning. Do you REALLY need to get into scoring position?


If you celebrate hitting a HR or striking out someone, it's not that big of a deal to me. I figure, you get a hit 3 out of every 10 AB's if you're lucky and to hit a HR is even less common. If you want to go crazy, then you probably don't hit many HR's or it's a game winning HR or something. If I hit the HR Joe Carter hit in the world series, I would c-walk all the way to 2nd base and then get carried from 2nd to home by Ernie Witt or Kelly Gruber.



I dont know i mean its the MLB....a 5 run lead isn't always safe

 

[badboyf0life420]

Originally Posted by Fear the Mongolian Chop

-Stealing a base up by 5+ runs in the 7th inning or so....

This is the only thing I have a problem with. You're ahead by 5 or more runs already in the 7th inning. Do you REALLY need to get into scoring position?


If you celebrate hitting a HR or striking out someone, it's not that big of a deal to me. I figure, you get a hit 3 out of every 10 AB's if you're lucky and to hit a HR is even less common. If you want to go crazy, then you probably don't hit many HR's or it's a game winning HR or something. If I hit the HR Joe Carter hit in the world series, I would c-walk all the way to 2nd base and then get carried from 2nd to home by Ernie Witt or Kelly Gruber.


its the 7th inning.. anything can happen in the next 2 innings.. example?

sunday .. .. Watching the dodgers game... No hitter to the 7th inning i believe ..up by 3 or so...went out for a couple of hours only to watch onsportscenter ..we lost the game 8-5..


and btw.. id rather watch players showing up other teams and being cocky then not showing any emotions..

homeruns/ strikeouts are basically like Dunking on someone and getting a touchdown.. let them celebrate..

 

[fear the mongolian chop]

Originally Posted by jrp44

Originally Posted by Fear the Mongolian Chop

-Stealing a base up by 5+ runs in the 7th inning or so....

This is the only thing I have a problem with. You're ahead by 5 or more runs already in the 7th inning. Do you REALLY need to get into scoring position?


If you celebrate hitting a HR or striking out someone, it's not that big of a deal to me. I figure, you get a hit 3 out of every 10 AB's if you're lucky and to hit a HR is even less common. If you want to go crazy, then you probably don't hit many HR's or it's a game winning HR or something. If I hit the HR Joe Carter hit in the world series, I would c-walk all the way to 2nd base and then get carried from 2nd to home by Ernie Witt or Kelly Gruber.

I dont know i mean its the MLB....a 5 run lead isn't always safe

You are correct. It's not ALWAYS safe. Nothing in sports is always safe. I'm just saying, that if i have a 5 run lead in the 7th, I'mtelling my guys to stop stealing. Now if there were a passed ball or wild pitch, I would expect them to go. I know it's a case by case thing depending onyour team, the opposing team, your bullpen, etc. IF they start scoring runs, then I would let me guys steal if the situation called for it. I just feelit's wrong to steal in this situation but managers can do whatever they want.

 

[slayer carcetti]

at a certain point the league is gonna have to change if they want to appeal to the younger generations.

 

[wildkycat]

Originally Posted by Slayer Carcetti

at a certain point the league is gonna have to change if they want to appeal to the younger generations.

what are they gonna change...rules that are not actually rules?

i think players earn somewhat of a pass doing this kind of stuff. remember last year when Ryan Braun hit a homer (it was either his 2nd or3rd homer of the game) and flipped his bat and started walking? Ned Yost ripped his +@%. i was like, "dude, you're Ryan Braun, get outta here withthat."

remember this?:

had that been someone like Dustin Pedroia, there woulda been problems.

as far as Joba Chamberlain, maybe a little excessive...but if you're doing what he does with your head down on the way to the dugout, not really a bigdeal.

 

[wildkycat]

and on the complete opposite side of guys like Manny...watch Scott Rolen or Jason Varitek next time they hit a homer.

 

[rolla808]

I love baseball and have played since I was a little kid but all this "unwritten" rules are just ******ed. This isn't golf or somegentlemen's sport so baseball should stop kidding themselves and relax.

 

[jawnstockton]

-Alex Rodriguez yelling "HA!"

-Admiring a home run

-Flipping your bat

-Taunting the pitcher (I wouldn't even call this "taunting," but dude got rattled...)

-Pitchers celebrating after getting a K

-Wearing your hat crooked or backwards
- That was bush...not so much because it was that dirty of a play, but because it was A-Rod, the supposed classy Yankee, pulling some 10 year oldstuff. It really is nothing compared to him trying to slap the ball out of Bronson Arroyo's glove, though

That's the definition of bush.

- Admiring a home run/flipping your bat isn't that big of a deal to me...the same as pitchers celebrating after a K...people get fired up, and that's agood thing...just don't complain if someone tries to show you up after that.

- There is a legitimate gripe with baseball's "old boy" atmosphere...this is why I started to hate playing the game in HS/college...a lot ofplayers and coaches tend to be meatheads and or ignorant bigots, so it was not uncommon to encounter various forms of racism out there. I'm sure thisvaries depending on where you are located, but the RBI program is out there for a reason.

One thing I do wonder is, how do announcers get away with saying "bush" on television?

 

[hnydlr]

People need to leave JOBA alone.

 

[wildkycat]

Originally Posted by hnydlr

People need to leave JOBA alone.

 

[johnnyredstorm]

I would pay to meat Erin Andrews.