A look at the “code”
Posted by: Sam Borden - Posted in Misc on Apr 23, 2010 
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There are, obviously, a whole slew of “unwritten rules” in baseball and there has been some debate over whether Alex Rodriguez broke one yesterday in Oakland. Like many baseball writers, I can’t say that I’d ever heard anyone explicitly talk about a runner crossing the mound as a “violation” in the same way that, say, bunting late in a no-hitter would be, but that doesn’t mean it doesn’t exist. Obviously some “violations” come up more often than others.
Someone sent me a link to this blog, written by Jason Turbow who (apparently) wrote a whole book on the codes of baseball. As someone who has obviously done a lot of research into the unwritten rules of the game, I found his take interesting. At the very least, as Turbow points out, this isn’t the first time that A-Rod has – in the words of Eddie Murphy in “Beverly Hills Cop” – fractured an occasional law.
For me, the issue is less about what A-Rod did and more about how he reacted. I tend to agree with Mark Feinsand (scroll down to the end), who would have liked to see Alex just diffuse the issue as best he could and move on. By taking a few shots at Dallas Braden’s track record (pointing out that he’s essentially a scrub), Rodriguez accelerates the situation instead of bringing it down.
Is it understandable that he’d fire back? Sure. We all have tempers and emotions. But I would have liked to see the “new” A-Rod just take the high road, know that he’s (clearly) the bigger star and try to nip it right there.
And I would have liked to see Braden handle the situation with a little more class and maybe not carry on and on and on about with such animosity. To be honest, I don’t think the crime was worthy of the reaction. It took “research” to even unearth that this was breaking the moral conduct of the “unwritten rule”. I don’t see how A-Rod takes the brunt of this criticism.
Speaking of A-Rod, I have no problems with his reply. In my opinion Braden owns nothing but a career 4.52 ERA
I see it differently. You have a scrub pitcher taking shots at a Hall of Fame player.
Perhaps the scrub pitcher should have exercised more respect.
I think Arod handled it perfectly. He dismissed him for what he is….a nobody whining about nothing.
Arod did nothing wrong. If he says something back he’s classless if he doesn’t say anything every writer would be calling him a coward for not protecting the stripes. He can’t win
So it’s Alex’s fault that Braden making a mountain out of a pitching mound?
I thought Alex handled it perfectly. IMO, there’s nothing wrong with what he said. Braden sounds like a head case
I completely disagree with Sam’s take. I’ve never heard of this crossing the mound rule but I do know that in baseball you earn your right to say something. Braden hasn’t earned the right to have anything to say and Alex has more than earned the right to point that out.
Betsy, Vectorious: In some ways, I agree with you — Braden’s outburst seemed closer to “insane” than “merited,” but I guess part of that is my point: Braden isn’t a big star, isn’t a mega-millionaire, isn’t one of the best players to play the game and isn’t on the biggest sports team in the world.
A-Rod is. At this point, after all that’s happened to him, he should know what these situations can turn into and use his experiences to try and shut them down sooner than later. For Braden, this thing will blow over quickly; for A-Rod, well, I think we all know that things stick to him a little more than they do to other people. That’s just part of being him.
So, knowing that, I think it would have been smarter for him to try and diffuse rather than fire back. JMO.
Erin-
New muppet movie alert!!!
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/201.....nd_muppets
I’m cool with what A-rod said. Never have heard of this “rule” before-
I’m sick of the media getting on Arod. Find somebody else to pick on, why is it that Arod is always in the wrong. He did nothing wrong yesterday and I find this recent post disappointing to say the least.
As far as Feinsand, he left his best writing when he wrote for MLB.com
SJ: No doubt he’s a scrub pitcher which is why he’s got nothing to lose by speaking his mind. With Alex, past experiences show that these things can linger — so why not try and nip it in the bud?
Also, any team that plays against Braden should now walk on th pitching mound every chance it gets.
I though ARod was fine in the way he handled it; however, if he’s asked about it today, he should really move away from it.
Seriously, Braden could have said something to Alex without screaming F-bombs on the field. It seems like this guy just wanted his 15 minutes of fame, and boy is it working.
What about the unwritten rule about not talking to the media about this kind of thing? Or the unwritten rule about grandstanding on the field for the cameras?
Arod is supposed to just take all this and defuse it? This guy took a ton of classless shots at Arod as well as threatening to hit him while hes in the batters box. You want him to apologize to someone like that? Apologize for something that is totally overblown and obnoxious in the first place?
Why do you writers all seem to take shots at Arod in every situation no matter how ridiculous it is? I thought the Arod basher quit and went to Boston.com
Erica – always OPPC – Sesame Street Mafia and GTLU supporter April 23rd, 2010 at 10:45 am
Erin-
New muppet movie alert!!!
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/201…..nd_muppets
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OMG, that’s awesome! Thanks for the link!! I had heard something about that a while ago, but haven’t seen anything lately.
I see it differently. You have a scrub pitcher taking shots at a Hall of Fame player.
Perhaps the scrub pitcher should have exercised more respect.
I think Arod handled it perfectly. He dismissed him for what he is?.a nobody whining about nothing.
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Great Post SJ .
Respect
What a surprise that Pete Abe Lite would agree with Feinsand on a dig at Rodriguez. Same thing that was pulled as the fill-in. What else did he need to do? Apologize to Braden on the mound and get the media’s permission on what to say? Couldn’t wait to get on the horn and discuss this abhorrent behavior with “The Bearded Blunder”?
Braden threw a temper tantrum in the dugout like a bratty child. I’ve never seen a pitcher do that before. Maybe he has other issues.
Sorry but just because his response isn’t in YOUR nature or you don’t have the cajones to do so doesn’t make it wrong or a bad thing to do.
Anon: I don’t think that all “writers” take shots at A-Rod in every situation; there’s been plenty of positive coverage of Alex over the past eight months, including several columns written by me. I’m not even sure that anyone is “bashing” him right now — my opinion, at least, has more to do with how he handled something AFTER it happened not once it did.
I’m not ripping him, not saying he knowingly violated a rule. He says he didn’t know about this “code” and that’s fine – maybe he didn’t. All I’m saying is that he could have diffused the situation more and didn’t — and if I were him, I think I would have tried to do that.
That’s my opinion. I don’t think that’s unfairly bashing A-Rod or, really, even bashing him at all.
Ditto everyone here, completely disagree with Sam on this one.
A-Rod was pointing out that someone with just a handful of wins doesn’t have the right to just start making up phantom “unwritten rules”. What he said to the media was perfectly fine by me. Seemed to diffuse the situation pretty well.
Being a baseball player myself and one who has had his time on the pitching mound it is definitely disrespectful for a player to cross the mound when your trying to get your mind concentrated on the game. The pitcher is one of the most important players on the field and to cross the mound when he has the ball in his hand and obviously mentally preparing his next pitch is a “no-no”. Although, the way Dallas Braden reacted was a little over the top if it were me I would have just been like “comeon man you know better than that” and it would have been over.
Unwritten rules are usually quoted when you screw up and need to shift blame.
I also think Braden, after the first go round, should have quit.
But there is one thing – his statement about being the master of his universe or whatever – I know it sounds crazy, but isn’t mindset a valuable tool in baseball? I would think whatever edge he can try to give himself as a pitcher is valid. Now, perhaps to verbalize that mindset isn’t the best thing to do – or rather, perhaps he could have found a less over-the-top way to describe his viewpoint. But I don’t think he’s insane for having that mindset.
And if anyone else who “plays the game the right way” or one of the guys back in the day like Gibson had said it you reporters wouldn’t be saying it was wrong. You guys would be saying, “That’s how you handle that.”
This is where Alex’s past comes back to bite him.
Yes, Alex should stay away from controversy but that does not mean he needs to be a girl scout. This “spat” is not on the same level as any other of his off field shenanigans and should not be equated with them just because they fall under the heading “controversy.”
Alex has gotten to a point where there is only one group of people that he cares what they think about them. And that is his teammates. He could not care less about making friends around baseball, and there is absolutely nothing wrong with that. You do not gain respect from your teammates by backing down to a borderline insane punk with no track record in this game.
IMO he handled it perfectly. He did not go on some immature rant to stir up controversy. All he did is make sure to get his one dig in there so Braden knows what his place in the game is.
I wonder why no one called out Jeter or Mo for feeding the Joe West “controversy.” They could have taken the high road and just moved on, but instead were lauded by fans and the media for taking a shot back at Joe West.
GB7: If you want, I’d be more than happy to link to the slew of positive A-Rod articles/columns I’ve written in the past eight months. I give my opinions – which is my job – when things come up and this time, on this situation, this is my opinion. Same as yours. Disagree if you want, but I don’t think it’s fair to question my credibility or call me names.
Tala: Absolutely right. Again, this is my opinion. You have yours. To follow your logic, because what Alex just happens to be in your nature (or what you would do) doesn’t necessarily make it right or a good thing to do. It’s just a talking point.
Sam,
Braden made a fool of himself on and off the field regarding this issue so why should Arod have to diffuse the situation?
Dallas Braden isn’t a journeyman. He was drafted by the A’s in 2004 and has played his entire career there, so you may want to use a better choice of words. Alex was merely pointing out that “Who is Dallas Braden?” I don’t think have a problem with Arod though, he may have been in the wrong, but if Dallas wants to talk the talk, he should start walking the walk (although he has had an impressive year so far).
GreenBeret7 April 23rd, 2010 at 10:53 am
Unwritten rules are usually quoted when you screw up and need to shift blame.
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Thats what I was thinking-
Braden sounds like someone who is basically lashing out at anyone he can
I completely support Rodriguez’s reaction in this situation. I feel he has every right to defend himself when a pitcher with a career record of 17 – 21 disrespects him. I think that it is disrespectful of a player, who thinks he has an honest gripe with someone, to not confront them on the field, to throw a fit as he walks to the dugout, and then call-out that player to the media. And as for Braden’s “he should maybe watch his captain a little more often” dig, Dallas should really look in the mirror because short of taking a bat to a Gatorade machine, it looks like he’s been watching too much Carlos Zambrano. Yeah, that’s how a “major league ballplayer” should act.
If unwritten rules mattered, somebody would write ‘em down.
I especially loved the Jeter dichotomy. People love saying how A-Rod’s classless and Jeter’s classy, yet one of the major things they rip him for was essentially a page out of Jeter’s book (Jeter yelling ‘Balk!’/A-Rod yelling “Mine!” or whatever).
I understand your point Sam and it has merit, but there’s also merit to putting someone in his place. Of course, it’s usually best to do that with the bat, but that didn’t happen.
My Yankee Right or Wrong.
writers use Arod for material (period )…… . If i was a writer . .i’d do the same thing. What else are you going to write about . . Another win by the Yankees . . that doesn’t sell papers or bring people to the blog .
Arod is a lightening rod. IF this was someother player . .nobody would care.
it is . . what it is .
By the way . .I support Alex . .and i’m tired of people saying how Alex should have “defused” the situation. He’s not Jeter.. He’s nobody but Alex.. He’s old enough . and his own person . .Let him defuse it how ever he wants too.
These situations turn into situations generally because the media in their rightous might are too full of themselves and still believe that they are “The Keepers Of The Game”. Ted Williams called them by the right name: “The Knights Of The Keyboards”.
Why is no one asking Dallas Braden to apologize for his actions in the dugout?
LGY-excellent post.
Also, I love how he talked about retaliation. Moving in a straight-line path back to where you need to go is classless, but throwing a ball at somebody and potentially injuring him is fine?
Sam no matter what Alex had said the media was going to go back to Braden and he was going to pop off. Its not Alex’s responsibility to defuse a situation he didn’t create. Come on now.
Leaving off the handful of wins comment would have been ideal but in his time as a Yankee, has Alex ever called out another player either first or in response to comments made about him?
With the amount of venom that has been cast his way- Being the only 1 of 104 names outed, teammates participating in articles against him, Torre calling him out in his book, he has taken the high road.
The small swipe was fairly benign compared to what was coming out of the other clubhouse yesterday.
PR 101 would tell him to say today his intention was to get back to 1st base and he’s sorry if that was misinterpretted. Doesn’t have to apologize for doing it as Feinsand suggests just how it was received.
The learn from the captain stuff from the media and fans gets on my nerves. Let players be who they are and appreciate their differences.
Arod was fine yesterday.
Craw: Thanks for asking an important question. I think my point is that Alex shouldn’t HAVE to diffuse the situation, but it would have been more beneficial to him (and the team) if he had. He didn’t. So it goes. I thought it would have been better for everyone in the clubhouse, including him, if he had.
Sam, I see what you’re saying, but Alex is just like anyone else and he should not be afraid of the media. This is not a big deal. If people think he’s arrogant? So what? He’s liked and respected by his teammates and he’s a great player. What everyone else thinks of him really means nothing….
Erica – always OPPC – Sesame Street Mafia and GTLU supporter April 23rd, 2010 at 10:57 am
GreenBeret7 April 23rd, 2010 at 10:53 am
Unwritten rules are usually quoted when you screw up and need to shift blame.
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Thats what I was thinking-
Braden sounds like someone who is basically lashing out at anyone he can
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Anger management!!
Kevin S. April 23rd, 2010 at 10:57 am
If unwritten rules mattered, somebody would write ?em down.
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Then they wouldn’t be unwritten rules.
Exactly Mike. A-Rod is what the reporters call good copy. And they know it. He moves the dial. And a lot of what they write about him isn’t journalism. Its the equivalent of p—, used to get hits and comments.
Its like stabbing someone and blaming them for bleeding on your rug. If you’re going to write about him, fine. But just please stop acting like you’ve been forced to by him. Maybe your editors and advertisers, but not by Alex.
Alex could have given Braden a White Rose .. and somehow in someway he would have been critized .
Noel: As mentioned above, I think Braden’s actions were a little ridiculous too. At first, I thought they were particularly hysterical because I wasn’t aware that crossing the mound was an “unwritten” rule. After reading the blog I linked to above, his being angry is more understandable — apparently that is something that many major leaguers take offense to – but the extent of Braden’s actions were a little over-the-top.
Tala – -good point . . WFAN had a blast this morning about Arod !. why?? Because its Arod !.
A sure sign that the season is going well for the Yankees if when there’s a magnified story about what a Yankee does.
Alex can de-fuse the whole silly incident by walloping Braden deep in the stands when the Yankees re-visit Oakland July 5-6-7.
If Braden hits Alex with a pitch, all he has to do is trot off to 1st base with a smirk on his face.
Welcome to the big leagues, Dallas Braden !
Braden reminded me of my 3 year old nephew when another kid tried to play in his sandbox. In fact the tantrum was almost identical, substitute a plastic bucket and a toy bulldozer for Gatorade cups, and you wouldn’t be able to tell the difference.
Grow up, kid!
What makes the situation bigger than it was is the he said this, what do you have to say about that nature of the reporting.
Braden said what he did on the field and did what he did in the dugout, and that is fair game for reporters to have questions about – what happened? Why did you yell at ARod on the field? And then, of course, you go to ARod for his reaction. If ARod hadn’t given the little “dig” that he did, everything else he said wouldn’t have caused another round of the game. After the dig, of course, the next step is to go back to player 1 and report the dig and get a reaction.
Actually, I’m glad ARod had left by the time the reporters came back to report Braden’s reaction to ARod’s reaction. I am confident Alex will handle follow-up questions today in a professional manner and put an end to the story from his end.
I don’t think the reporters did anything wrong here; they did their job. It was a story. But it was a story because of Braden, who could have said I spoke my mind on the field and I have nothing more to say.
Sam,
The way I see it is, Arod is an easy target because of his past. That said, he also can’t be a wallflower and let people take shots at him unnecessarily because of his past.
I’m not of the opinion this was a “take the high road” situation because Braeden wouldn’t let it go.
If Braeden took the high road in the post-game interviews then yes, Arod should have taken the high road.
When he became America’s Guest on the subject, even going on Baseball Tonight to continue the ripping of Arod, then I think Arod was well within his rights to say what he said.
Beneficial to him because the media wouldn’t blow this up? Sorry, but forget that – Alex doesn’t need to moderate his behavior based on potential media reaction. His teammates very likely think he was justified in his comment – they are the only ones that count. The media are like umpires – they think they are bigger than they are. They have no right to try and act like moral arbiters when they’ve got serious integrity and competency issues of their own.
Sam,
They had former major league players like Rick Sutcliffe on ESPN that never heard of that unwritten rule.
Maybe, we shouldn’t assume every player (Arod) knows about this tiny unwritten rule that many of us never heard of before yesterday.
A-Rod doesn’t need to diffuse anything. He didn’t do anything wrong.
Great Post Crawdaddy and SJ !
I have no problem with what Arod said in response, I wouldn’t have minded if he took even more of a shot.
Who didn’t love this?: ‘Who is Karim Garcia? Who is he to lecture me, the great Pedro Martinez?’
“When he became America?s Guest on the subject, even going on Baseball Tonight to continue the ripping of Arod, then I think Arod was well within his rights to say what he said.”
There you go! SJ is right, Braden continued to escalate the situation, hours after the game and he should be taken to task by the media instead of blaming Arod for comments he made right after the game.
If you watch MLB network for an hour, you’ll see the interview about 15 times. ARod controversy is a big seller.
Last I checked, the A-Rod thread from yesterday is still gathering comments. That’s scary.
Interestingly, my wife, who has never been a fan of ARod, commented after seeing the interview that she was actually starting to like ARod. “He seems to have changed” were her exact words.
She also liked his outfit.
More on this important development later…
Mike RI April 23rd, 2010 at 11:03 am
Alex could have given Braden a White Rose .. and somehow in someway he would have been critized .
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You are right-
Especially since white roses symbolize eternal love. Everyone would rip A-Rod for making a move on Braden!!!!!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Language_of_flowers
Did anyone else hear the Braden interview on BBTN?
He basically said that if his grandmother did the same thing, that he would have responded in the same way. Moron.
LOL Braden owns the mound? Then was he accepting rent from CC, Phil and Javy? He sounds like an insecure punk acting macho to show everyone how tough he is. You want to own the mound? Get on it and dominate. He pitched well yesterday – that should have been enough for him.
Doreen
Reporting it is one thing but when they take sides or assign blame is where I have a problem.
Braden if pist as he was, should have waited for the next time a-rod came up to bat, and attempt to hit him. Deal with it like it was in the OL’ days. By opening his mouth, he now put a target on a-rod, but also put a target on all 9 hitters of the A’s lineup. This is what The old arod would do, talk before thinking. I guess Braden forgot that A-Rod is a changed player. Oh well good luck to the A’s Hitters, because you are now marked men……
Opposing players just might take note of the incident and if Braden is not well liked or a team wants to see him lose his concentration on the mound, somebody will try the same thing.
Didn’t hear WFAN but like a lot of the reporters I bet they didn’t even see what happened before talking about what Alex should and should not have done.
I saw it on YouTube. Alex didn’t cross the top of the mound, he crossed the back end of it. Braden was near the mound on the grass when Alex ran across. He wasn’t on the mound preparing to throw. How could he? Alex wasn’t back on first and the game hadn’t started again. He was walking and had got right up to the mound, maybe a couple of steps on it as Alex ran across. It wasn’t what his crazy rant leads people to believe.
kimoinsd April 23rd, 2010 at 11:09 am
Did anyone else hear the Braden interview on BBTN?
He basically said that if his grandmother did the same thing, that he would have responded in the same way.
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I just saw that quote this morning. Real sweet guy, that Braden.
Craw: I totally believe that Alex didn’t know it. Certainly many people seem to have not known it, though obviously some people did. That’s why I don’t believe I’m “ripping” him — I don’t think he was malicious. I just think it might have been better for him to handle the aftermath a little differently.
When in doubt, bring the grandmother into it, lol. I guess that comment is supposed to show that Braden is a man of conviction; it didn’t work. Instead, he should be convicted…….of egomaia. He’s the center of the universes? Egads.
Erica .. LOL LOL
Braden should be embarassed for acting like a Little Leaguer. ARod didn’t do anything wrong. How come all these “unwritten rules” always seem to apply to Alex?
It’s better for him that he opened his mouth; again, he should have no fear of the media. If they want to rip him, whatever, but I don’t think he cares – nor should he. Alex has to live his life and not act as if he’s stepping on eggshells. The media doesn’t like him – who cares? They are no better or worse than any of us, but they sure are judgmental as hell……..hypocrites.
It was a big media story when Aubrey Huff showed up Joba last season regarding his fist pumps.
NYYROC-
Braden should be embarassed for acting like a Little Leaguer. ARod didn?t do anything wrong. How come all these ?unwritten rules? always seem to apply to Alex?
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Because its Arod .
Maine Yankee -
I don’t like that either.
It seems the media is split on who to blame on this one, though. There’s the faction that thinks ARod should have taken the high road; there is the faction that thinks Alex did nothing wrong in the first place; there is the faction that thinks ARod knew this unwritten rule and it was just another display of his “gamesmanship” a la the “HA” play; there is a faction that thinks Braden is nuts; interestingly, there is no faction that is saying Braden shouldn’t have said anything to the media in the first place.
He didn’t have to explain his on-field, in-dugout reaction. But he did. And opened the floodgates.
“A little ridiculous”? He ran from 3rd to 1st in a line that took him across the bottom apron of the back side of the mound. Was he suppose to detour back in the direction of 2nd base? Braden was getting hit hard and had that single been 10 feet higher in the air it was going out. Perhaps Braden would enjoy a slow trot around the bases or getting undressed by a screamer back through the box. Ellie Howard was great at that, as was Frank Robinson. Not a problem. Almost a guarantee that Braden will be rubbing up a new baseball the next time. I’m sure that that tirade didn’t sit well with other players and somebody will cross over the mound again. It seems to rattle him.
@Bronx Jeers – Last I checked, the A-Rod thread from yesterday is still gathering comments. That’s scary.
Yahoo has a link on their main page from the “Big League Stew” blog they run over there…it had a link in the article to the A-Rod thread from yesterday
http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/bl.....mlb,236110
unwritten rules in baseball are a bit ridiculous anyway…..
Dallas Braden acted like a spoiled, petulant cry baby when he left the mound ranting and yelling as if it was the end of the world. When he got to the dugout he starts throwing things and knocking things over. Give me a break. I played ball a long time and have watched hundreds and hundreds of games for years and years and have never heard or read about any such baseball etiquette. It’s nonsense. No one has ever heard of such a thing.
I saw the replay over and over and A-Rod was almost to third when Cano’s pop fly fell just foul in left field. A-Rod turned and ran back to first base in a straight line across the infield crossing the mound when he did so. He was nowhere near Braden, there was nothing threatening or in your face about it. It was clearly just the most direct path to take back to first.
Now for what I think is the most salient point. That was Braden’s ridiculous, over the top, unnecessary rant to the media after the game as you detailed in your previous post. It was inflammatory, accusatory, insulting and way out of line. To me, A-Rod’s response was mild and perfectly appropriate. Braden has zero standing to say what he did the way he did and A-Rod was absolutely right to take him down a notch.
This is such a non issue. Arod running over the mound is a non issue and the shouting match afterwards is a non issue. Crap happens. I wish there was a day game today so this would just go away.
Genius move by Braden – more people have talked about him in the last 24 hours than at any time in his career. Too bad it has nothing to do about his pitching ability.
Feinsand got brainwashed by Pete. Keep hating mediots.
Sam,
Which many people knew about this unwritten rule? I didn’t hear many former players talking like they knew about this rule.
Arod’s response seems mild compared to what Braden said. Didn’t he make threat/s too?
i wonder if they’ll be a ball thrown at arod now. i got a feeling there’ll be a fight coming up.
Why does Arod have to take the high road? He wasn’t the one throwing a temper tantrum. Whether it was meant to tweak Braden or not, Arod’s comments were entirely appropriate. After all, another baseball code is young players deferring to veterans, not to mention super stars. Braden’s reaction was so over the top absurd, that he deserved Arod’s backhanded retort.
Another thing that I find annoying is the constant reference to Jeter when putting Arod down. Quite frankly, as captain, I think Jeter has an obligation to respond everytime some raises that meme. I really wish Jeter would have basically told Braden to worry about his own clubhouse. Arod has a ring now, so he doesn’t have to take this crap anymore. I would have been disappointed if he didn’t respond as he did…to do otherwise would make him a phony.
I remember a line from Golden Girls where Blanche asks Dorothy “don’t you get a nosebleed from taking the high road all the time?” I loved it, lol.
“The pitcher is one of the most important players on the field and to cross the mound when he has the ball in his hand and obviously mentally preparing his next pitch is a “no-no”. ”
Not simply important – but Master of the Universe.
That is VERY important.
Using a widely validated juridico-ethical framework from Seinfeld, one could even posit that Braden was announcing to the world his prerogative and inherent right to be “Master of my Domain.”
I also believe Arod knew nothing about the so called unwritten rule. Maybe it was some kind of local or regional kind of rule. The other thing about it is, if you think about it is why would you run up and down a hill. Good way to twist your ankle.
I also believe Arod knew nothing about the so called unwritten rule. Maybe it was some kind of local or regional kind of rule. The other thing about it is, if you think about it is why would you run up and down a hill. Good way to twist your ankle.
Craw: At least a few, as this gentleman points out in a blog post that stems from a book written on the “unwritten codes.” As he says, it’s definitely a “lesser-known” one but it (apparently) has existed for awhile.
http://thebaseballcodes.com/
Betsy – Hughes rules (Pleading the Fifth) April 23rd, 2010 at 11:20 am
I remember a line from Golden Girls where Blanche asks Dorothy ?don?t you get a nosebleed from taking the high road all the time?? I loved it, lol.
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I love that episode!!
CB April 23rd, 2010 at 11:20 am
Using a widely validated juridico-ethical framework from Seinfeld, one could even posit that Braden was announcing to the world his prerogative and inherent right to be ?Master of my Domain.?
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Nice!!
Braden was owning the Yanks yesterday. ARod probably ran across the mound to try to get into Braden’s head. Braden probably thought he was being disrespected by ARod. Braden lost his temper more than he should, but ARod is not Mr. Innocent.
Hey, what did you guys think of the Denver Brocos drafting Dallas Braden with the 25th pick of the NFL draft last night?
Gutsy move, huh? Bad arm action and all.
That Josh McDaniels-Dallas Braden axis of ideas is really thinking outside the box.
The LAST thing the media wants A-Rod or any other athlete to do is respond like Jeter. If they did, the media would have to work harder to write interesting, engaging, comment-provoking articles.
Putting aside the issue of whether or not Braden was justified in his reaction, I would just like to volunteer — as somebody who has defended A-Rod for things like the “Ha!” play, and even the slap (which was just a reflex, I think) — that I sympathize with the pitcher in this instance.
Among those of you who play ball here: can you imagine YOURSELF, after having gone from first to third on a foul ball, and while returning to fist base, stepping on the rubber on the way back?!? Speaking for myself — I just can’t. It just seems inherently disrespectful.
I would further contend that the reason it is so hard to turn up any evidence of this “unspoken rule” is because it just seems such an OBVIOUS thing that it wouldn’t bear stating.
I’ve grown to respect A-Rod more in recent years and can finally even call myself a fan. But on this one I have to agree it is a little Bush League.
GB7
I think Gibson would’ve sent a message without saying a word.
Betsy, Erin: I, too, remember that episode. I wasn’t a huge GG fan but it was good “watch at home while I’m sick and missing school” fare. I also liked “Benson” and “Mr. Belvedere.”
I would have reacted just as Arod did or worse and I’m a nice guy. Some guy barking at you for something as innocent as that shouldn’t go without a response IMO…I think it was pretty clear there was no intent in what Arod did…its not like he ran up the mound and jump off the rubber..
Not sure if you read the Rob Neyer post I dropped in earlier today, i’m reposting his “analysis” because I think he’s pretty mainstream and he seems to disagree with the Lord of the Pitching Mound:
===============================================================
” was watching that game, and my half-hearted attempted to read Braden’s lips did suggest the word “mound” preceded by f-bomb. So I thought maybe this was it, except 1) I hadn’t actually seen Rodriguez running over the mound, and 2) I didn’t know anyone would take exception to such a thing. There’s something odd about this, though: The inning was over. Braden wasn’t on the mound anymore. It wasn’t his mound. Before Alex touched it, the third out had been recorded and it was CC Sabathia’s mound. So there is, I think, something else going on here, something to which we’re simply not privy.
My take on this is that your take is all about the context. If you’re Alex Rodriguez or 20,000,000 Yankees fans, you have no idea what Dallas Braden is talking about. If you’re one of Dallas Braden’s teammates or 1,000,000 Athletics fans, you’re thrilled to see one of your guys doing his small part to suggest the A’s won’t just roll over their collective back when the Alpha dog trots into the room.
No, the Yankees won’t be intimidated by Dallas Braden or anyone else. They’re too good, too experienced, too confident. But Braden wasn’t yelling at the Yankees. Not really. He was yelling at himself, and at his teammates. Players have won MVP Awards for such things.”
http://espn.go.com/blog/sweets.....ut-to-whom
Sam that was like 50 years ago. I’ve yet to hear anyone who is playing or who has recently retired say that. You can’t hold players to what previous players did and knew. Sutcliffe and Keith Hernandez and many MLB players at ESPN (according to Ravech) didn’t know this rule.
Who are the few today that know about it?
I just the video. That’s what Braden was complaining about? How many times after a football play or basketball dead whistle do you see guys bump into each other and shoulder each other and players make nothing of it. A-Rod didn’t make contact or look at him.
The dude has to calm down.
@ Vectorious,
Thanks. That explains it. Initially I thought the thread was showing up at the top of a Google search or something. I didn’t understand how all those people found it. They’re not regulars here.
Congrats to LoHud. You’re a national destination!
Count -
If you watch the video – he passed across the back flat of the mound. It did not appear that he stepped on the pitching rubber.
SOOOOOOOOO….how about the first triple play after 40 years !!!
How long are people going to comment on this other nonsense and keep giving it a life??? If it were any other player it would have been a dead issue…so ridiculous …
Go Yankees 2010 !!!
Bronx Jeers April 23rd, 2010 at 11:28 am
@ Vectorious,
Thanks. That explains it. Initially I thought the thread was showing up at the top of a Google search or something. I didn?t understand how all those people found it. They?re not regulars here.
Congrats to LoHud. You?re a national destination!
========================
it’s linked to on ESPN, too
Does Dallas Braden wear 42 on Jackie Robinson day or does he honor and cherish all unwritten rules from decades past?
There is also a link to the thread on Yahoo-
We are famous!!!!!!!
http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/bl.....ng-content
YankeesWFAN I have no prob slamming ARod for stupid things but this one was far from the worst. Am I only one who thinks Braden overreacted a tad?
34 minutes ago via UberTwitter
Another case of writers saying that Alex should “know better”. Here’s an idea. He does know better, but chooses not to.
I for one, like the way he plays. He tries to get the competition off their game. I didn’t mind when he tried to smack the ball out of the glove against Boston or when he yelled Ha! in that other game against Toronto. Sometimes it backfires and sometimes it makes him look petty and unsportsmanlike. But, no one can deny the guy just wants to win. He tries as hard as he can and he finally has his goals aligned with how the team does instead of what he does.
You’ll be hard pressed to find a Yankees fan who thinks what ARod did or said in retaliation as repulsive. Those days were over when the Yanks hoisted the World Series trophy last year and ARod was a beast in the playoffs.
ARod has now earned the designation of being loved by his fanbase and despised by everyone else.
Rodriguez was pretty much benign with a touch of humor. This attitude by Braden will not sit well with hitters, especially hitters of note and with a temper. Milton Bradley or AJ Pierzynski, anyone?
Another thing that I find annoying is the constant reference to Jeter when putting Arod down. Quite frankly, as captain, I think Jeter has an obligation to respond everytime some raises that meme. I really wish Jeter would have basically told Braden to worry about his own clubhouse. Arod has a ring now, so he doesn’t have to take this crap anymore. I would have been disappointed if he didn’t respond as he did…to do otherwise would make him a phony.
_________________________________________________________________________
I see what youre getting at, but chances are that Jeter didnt even know Braden made that comment yesterday. I mean did one of the writers go directly back to Alex and say ” Braden says you should act more like your captain!” ??????
Count of Montefusco did you see where A-Rod crossed? And where Braden was when he did it?
I’m convinced most people haven’t. Don’t know about you.
I’m with A-Rod on this one. If he had said nothing in reaction to Braden’s childlike behavior, the press would be calling him a … well, you know.
Never heard of this “unwritte rule”, and I think it’s BS.
A-Rod has deserved some of the many criticisms he’s received in the past, particularly in regard to the stupid stuff he had said, but criticism for taking a straight line back to first is unwarranted. Period. It’s not like he forearmed or spit on the punk when he passed by.
Yanksgal07 -
That play was a thing of beauty, wasn’t it??
It was so smoothly executed. Loved it!
I can’t believe it had been 42 years since the last time the Yankees turned a triple play. And it wasn’t an easy one, either. The ball had to be fielded and Alex and to go to his right to third base and make a great throw to Cano who had to make a great throw to Johnson. SMoooooooth!
pitchers throw inside to players to get in their heads and have them be antsy at the plate. Why can’t A-rod get into the pitchers head. I think it should go both ways.
@tala08
Actually this issue was brought up during the Mets telecast last night and Gary Cohen asked Darling/Hernandez about the rule in question. Hernandez said that he “never found his way across the mound while a pitcher was on it” and Darling said that he “was probably respected enough not to have anyone do that to him”. Cohen then asked “why” he thought A-Rod did that and Darling’s response was simply, “Because A-Rod is known to do some pretty silly things”
The conversation was broken up by a base hit but both of those former players seemed to at least know about it. I still don’t believe it was worthy of that reaction but interesting nonetheless. I think it goes to show you that the fall-out from this is because of A-Rod’s previous rep.
lol kiddin me, A-rod did nothing wrong. I would of done the same thing if someone is going to take shots at me, not just sit back and take it. No way.
Also, why do we have no statement from MLB regarding Braden’s promise of repercussions? Or was there one and I missed it?
I didn’t think a pitcher could make a threat like that.
MaineYankee April 23rd, 2010 at 11:24 am
GB7
I think Gibson would’ve sent a message without saying a word.
———————————————————————————————————————-
Yes, but, two things…Gibson earned it and how many other pitchers would scream at their All-Star catcher (McCarver) to get back behind the plate because the only thing he knows about pitching is he couldn’t hit it?
Damn. I bet you that “Unwritten Rules” book is going to sell a couple of hundred copies this weekend.
I don’t like this at all.
It could hurt sales of my aforementioned future book “A-Rod: Glove Slaps, Mound Runs and Hah!”
A-Rod hate is a cottage industry and I want some of those dollars!!!
Again, he didn’t cross over the top, he simply had the audacity to cut the back end of the mound vectorious.
I guess after Braden backs up a throw at home he detours around the batter’s box.
Sam Borden April 23rd, 2010 at 11:25 am
Betsy, Erin: I, too, remember that episode. I wasn?t a huge GG fan but it was good ?watch at home while I?m sick and missing school? fare. I also liked ?Benson? and ?Mr. Belvedere.?
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I don’t think I’ve ever seen Benson (I think that was a little before my time) but I remember watching Mr. Belvedere reruns after school. I think that if I saw the show now I’d be asking myself why I found it so funny. LOL
“And ESPN, in its stable of former players, had trouble finding anyone who had heard about that unwritten rule. Rick Sutcliffe said he was unaware of it — and he’s a guy who pitched in the majors for 18 years.”
http://soxvsstripes.blogspot.c.....raden.html
In any event, it’s a no-win situation for Alex. He’s not naturally glib, suave or funny (think: “savoir-faire”). His great gifts don’t include verbal jousting and he doesn’t appreciate that a well placed “apology,” even if delivered a little tongue-in-cheek, would have been a winning volley. It’s like asking Gardner to become a HR hitter; A-Rod is a verbal singles hitter.
I think it’s pretty interesting that no one is talking about the “over the top” reaction by Braden – anyone who can read lips knows what he was saying….and then in the post-game he basically threatened that “this isn’t over” – I’m hoping MLB keeps a watch on this guy – especially if Braden pitches against the Yankees again……
Dallas Braden will put up a 1.11 ERA this year with an ERA+ of 269.
If as The Baseball Codes blog says there is an unwritten rule about a runner crossing the mound (the mound, note, not the rubber), then it was bush for ARod to cross it. I’d like a little more back-up for what the blog says, but if avoiding the mound is part of the code, then I’d guess ARod knew it. ARod has played the game a long time, how often has he run across the mound or seen other runners do it?
Bronx Jeers April 23rd, 2010 at 11:38 am
Damn. I bet you that ?Unwritten Rules? book is going to sell a couple of hundred copies this weekend.
I don?t like this at all.
It could hurt sales of my aforementioned future book ?A-Rod: Glove Slaps, Mound Runs and Hah!?
********************
I couldn’t disagree with you any more….The Scrub shouldn’t have opened his mouth with his talk after the game. He should’ve left it at what happened on the field….I don’t blame ARod for what he did during the game (He was pitching good, if ARod could get him off his game by breaking this “unwritten rule” and getting him to lose his concentration then go right ahead and try it, do what it takes to win, I have no problems with it). But for him to take a shot at ARod with his captain comment after the game, ARod had every right to say what he did.
Anybody who has ever played even high school basketball or football see and hear worse things there than in ML baseball. Hell, even high school cheerleading is more nasty and cut throat.
Darling saying that about A-Rod doing silly things is funny coming from an ’86 Met, one of the craziest and most hated teams ever. Yeah they were a model of professionalism. All they did was try to intimidate opponents. It was like a fight every week with that team a lot of which they started. A-Rod does silly things. Yeah ok.
The scrub didn’t take the high road. I think he came off like looking like a fool as well. How long did he carry on? I don’t want to hear they kept asking questions cause he could have said he was done talking
tala – I wasn’t disagreeing with your take but you’d just mentioned that former players (including Hernandez) were unaware of this “rule”. I was just pointing out something I’d heard on the Mets telecast is all. I re-watched the video and I’ve seen Braden’s reaction. I’m completely with A-Rod on this one
“(He was pitching good, if ARod could get him off his game by breaking this “unwritten rule” and getting him to lose his concentration then go right ahead and try it, do what it takes to win, I have no problems with it)”
Doing something like this is close to the definition of “bush”.
Erica-”Rubber Duckie” on the ipod
I’m sure that “The Baseball Codes” is a highly respected place to go for all thoughts and baseball ettiqette. I know that I myself will never be unprepared again.
GB7
I agree about Gibson. My point was may Braden would have been better served to let his pitching send the message not his mouth.
SO because this “unwritten rule” is in a unofficial book, it should be respected? Let me go publish a book, put what I think is the unwritten laws in it, and see how many people follow…This is just ridiculous and once again just the media making a bigger deal out of something simply bc it’s ARod.
Doreen
The repurcussions quote didn’t seem to find it’s way into many of the stories written. It made King’s article in the Post but didn’t make it into Feinsand’s story in the News.
Chris Rose brought it up on MLB Network last night and they all agreed it was a stupid thing to say and likely to cause problems for the A’s if a pitch gets a little too inside when the 2 teams meet up again no matter which A’s pitcher is on the mound.
If Braden faces ARod again and hits him, he should be suspended for two starts (10games). His intonation about rerpecussions was pretty clear when he was being interviewed. It’s on tape and has been shown a zillion times. In fact, it’s possible he’s already earned a suspension just by making the threat. After all, how many times have Yankee pitchers been suspended for not hitting people?
***etiquette***
Here’s a good unwritten rule that gets ignored:
“Don’t throw near a batter’s head”
Meh. It’s harmless so… might as well just let it slide.
GB7-
I don’t know if the Baseball Codes guy is right or wrong. He probably has researched it more than I have, though. But the point isn’t what that guy says, it’s what the actual code is that’s important. If it exists, ARod shouldn’t have done it, if it doesn’t exist then its all a big nothing-burger.
Sorry Sam: I disagreed with Marks comments and and yours. I think Alex handled it just fine. Does a batter flip out when a pitcher crosses home plate or is in the batters box to cover a play? No. Dallas Braden was the one who went bonkers over this perceived “slight” by Alex.
Even the TV analysts on both MLB TV and Baseball Tonight couldn’t understand what his beef was. Yes Alex has done some stupid and goofy things in the past but this wasn’t one of those times and it definitely didn’t deserve the reaction it got.
Erin April 23rd, 2010 at 11:45 am
Erica-?Rubber Duckie? on the ipod
************
YAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! LOL
It seems that there are a lot of “bush” remarks usually made by people on here that don’t like certain players for perceived slights or diminished expectations, whether false or made up.
Wave
Sounds like this rule fell out of favor long before fraternization became popular in MLB.
Michael Duca, co-author of “The Baseball Codes: Beanballs, Sign Stealing and Bench-Clearing Brawls: The Unwritten Rules of America’s Pastime,” said the running-over-the-mound rule was known better years ago.
“It was very common (to observe the rule) in the ’40s, ’50s and ’60s,” Duca told FanHouse.
This why we needed to keep Kyle Farnsworth. He would’ve ran out of the bullpen, speared Braden, fought the entire A’s team, and then been suspended and out of our hair for a while until the next incident.
When the Oakland A’s play interleague games, I’d like to see Braden (somehow) get on base and have a 1st, 2nd, or 3rd baseman tell him not to step directly on the base and just have his foot only touch the base on any of the sides because of an unwritten rule.
YankeesWFAN RT @YankeesPR: 2009 World Series Trophy will be on display at the Bronx Zoo’s 5K “Run for the Wild” on Saturday, 4/23 from 9:00am-12:00pm
murphydog
Your description of Arod as a “verbal singles hitter” is the best I have ever heard. He just doesn’t have the polish that alot of people in the public’s eye have. There is nothing wrong with that and if he wasn’t the third baseman for the New York Yankees it would never rear its ugly head. It’s just Arod being Arod.
Look- Joel Sherman brought the funny today
Who had April 22 in the pool for when K-Rod would get his first save and A-Rod would get his first controversy?
Look, at this point, I want to see Alex Rodriguez combine his greatest hits and really show us something. Next time he is on base and there is a pop up around the mound, why doesn’t A-Rod cut across the field, step on the rubber, scream at the opponent trying to catch the popup and – if that doesn’t work – slap at the glove. No wait, don’t scream, belt out a Madonna tune.
Rick Sutcliffe, who pitched for 18 years in the majors, never heard of this “unwritten” rule. Neither has the manager of my nephew’s team or his coaching staff.
I’ll take the word of people who have played the game over someone on a blog saying this “rule” exists.
It’s much ado about nothing.
ESPN baseball tonight was literally laughing at Braden when he phoned into the show and said, “the pitcher on that mound is the center of the universe”.
The host mentioned that Sutcliffe commented that he was not aware of this rule.
Braden is trying to make a name for himself and be a leader on the team, but he was way out of line.
He said if that happened 1 more time, there would be repercussions. Is that a threat to A-Rod? Is Braden going to bean A-Rod with a 85 mph fastball!!
I think Braden overreacted a lot. I also think ARod should have said exactly what he said, but not mention the guy is a nobody (although he pitched well yesterday). I never liked the comment who cares what someone says, they are a nobody, that is not classy. that being said, this is a non story. the real story was CC not being comfortable all night against a weak offense and our own offense not getting it done and bailing out CC
Strange that these “unwritten codes” are unknown by so many ex-players. Even Magrane couldn’t explain whether it exists or not, but, without coming out with a straight lie, skirted the issue.
I’d like to see a Yankee push a bunt down the first base line against Braden. Let’s see who owns the first base line.
I completely disagree with criticsm of AROD’s reaction. What would you have felt if someone showed you up in the middle of the field?
pat-
That’s interesting. Sounds like more of a nothing-burger then.
Erin April 23rd, 2010 at 11:51 am
YankeesWFAN RT @YankeesPR: 2009 World Series Trophy will be on display at the Bronx Zoo?s 5K ?Run for the Wild? on Saturday, 4/23 from 9:00am-12:00pm
**************
Note to self: Seriously consider going to the Zoo tomorrow
Added bonus- I can see the Polar Bears!!!!!!!!!!!!
How bout last year when the Jays just kept throwing at ARod everytime he came to the plate and never said anything? Yeah…. ARod is the classless one!
Morons. ARod has put up with more than enough to change his image. He doesnt need to now…
He laughed it off. He could have made threats like Braden did. You know, these pitchers and their threats. The hitter has a much more dangerous weapon in their hands than the pitcher so pitchers should be more careful because one day someone will snap and take the bat to the mound.
I don’t know about an unwritten rule, but i do know that pitchers don;t like where the land their foot to be messed with at all. In fact, it has been poor etiquette (maybe unwritten rule) to mess with the other pitchers landing spot. if a runner jogs over that, they would be doing the same thing.
Either way Braden is full of himself too much and I wish the Yanks would have responded by hitting the ball off of him because right now he got the best of them
And where is this so called “Bush-League”?
Does anyone have a link where I can catch some of their games? I’d like to check it out.
Erica – always OPPC – Sesame Street Mafia and GTLU supporter April 23rd, 2010 at 11:56 am
Note to self: Seriously consider going to the Zoo tomorrow
Added bonus- I can see the Polar Bears!!!!!!!!!!!!
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World Series trophy and polar bears…..I definitely think you should go!
Dallas Braden is not even a household name in his own house.
I prefer Chad. Sam reminds me too much of Pete Abe.
well tim mccarver wins idiot of the day
http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/s.....ril-040310
Hey Tim, how bout when the pitcher backs up home plate on a play at the plate? You are telling us they never touch home plate?
REALLY!?!?!?!?!
McCarver is senile.
Braden isn’t really a “nobody”. In addition to owning us yesterday, he’s pitched very well this year, he pretty much shot through the minors, he’s only 26 and this is already his fourth year in the majors. He pitched better than his won-lost record last year. As a pitcher I like him, although he didn’t do himself any favors with his outburst yesterday.
You’re really going to call Dallas Braden a scrub? He’s only been in the league for 3 years and has played on an awful A’s team. He just beat us and has started off 2010 season 3-0 with a 2.77 era – wouldn’t exactly say he’s a scrub. Braden had a 1.36 WHIP and 3.89 ERA last year, while Joba had a 1.54 WHIP along with a 4.75 ERA last year. But you wouldn’t call Joba a scrub, right? Of course not because he’s not a scrub. Nor is Braden. He is just a young inexperienced pitcher, which is how you should have described him. The kid has good stuff and if he was on a better team you’d think a lot more of him.
I don’t know about an unwritten rule, but i do know that pitchers don;t like where the land their foot to be messed with at all. In fact, it has been poor etiquette (maybe unwritten rule) to mess with the other pitchers landing spot. if a runner jogs over that, they would be doing the same thing.
—————————————-
If Alex somehow was messing with Braden’s landing spot at the back of the mound than Braden’s got much bigger problems than getting dissed.
Brooklyn Vinny April 23rd, 2010 at 11:59 am
Dallas Braden is not even a household name in his own house.
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I think his grandma would agree with you.
another issue is “sign stealing”. If a team is so stupid as to make them decypherable then they deserve having them “stolen”. i’m not taliking about bino wearing spies in the scoreboards with radios. I’m talking about relaying signals to team mates. Not a thing wrong with it. It’s hardly as dishonest as making the dirt around the bases look like a swamp or tilting the foul lines to stop other teams from bunting or the way grass is tailored from team to team. Bullet bob Turley could steal pitches after watching the other pitcher warming up. He used to whistle.
Erin April 23rd, 2010 at 12:01 pm
Brooklyn Vinny April 23rd, 2010 at 11:59 am
Dallas Braden is not even a household name in his own house.
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I think his grandma would agree with you
___
Unless she is out cold from getting beaned with a fastball.
Sam, at it again huh?
When you quote a known Alex hater feinsand, you get no respect!! How about the pitcher’s over reaction and being ANAL, about a piece of rubber in dirt ? petty fool!!
How about some context? Context is usually helpful for informed opinion making.
I think Oakland may also have unwritten rules for reporters and the media about what questions they can and can’t ask.
The A’s have an clear dislike for the yankees and have made it a symbolic issue in their club house. A bay area reporter this week asked Ben Sheets about facing the World Champion yankees – Sheets wasn’t real happy with the question. Justin Duchscerer took offense a reporter asking about the yankees in the A’s clubhouse:
“Now the moment of conflict arrived. A good story generally needs conflict. Duchscherer, who had been listening to us, put down his food, wiped his mouth and said to me, “I want to know why you would ask that question.”
This was a direct challenge and I knew it would lead to lively debate. Lively debate makes life delicious. I left Sheets, walked over to the table and stood near Duchscherer. I said the Yankees are world champions and I want to know what the series means to the A’s.
“If I pitch against Tampa Bay no one would ask me that,” Duchscherer said.
“If they were the world champions I would.”
“I don’t believe that,” Duchscherer said. “You mean if Philadelphia beat the Yankees in the World Series you would ask me about the Phillies if we were going to play them.”
“Yes.”
“Or if Seattle was the world champions you would ask me about Seattle.”
“Yes.”
“I don’t believe that,” he said.
“I’m telling you the truth but I can’t make you believe me,” I said. “I think a competitor wants to test himself against the best. That’s why I asked the question.”
Duchscherer stared at me. “You think the Yankees are devastatingly better than any other teams we play?” he asked.
“I don’t know,” I said.
“No,” he said. “Teams that suck can beat them sometimes. They can get their ass kicked as well as anybody.”
He fell silent.
“I have a question,” I said.
“Yes,” he said.
“Did you think I was obnoxious or rude for asking my question about the Yankees?”
“Yes, I did.”
I told him I appreciated his honesty.
“I’m going to make an observation,” I said, “and I hope you won’t be offended.”
“Yes,” he said.
“You seem defensive and overly-sensitive about the Yankees.”
“I am.”
“Why?”
“Because they get all the coverage from the media. We have some damn good players on our team. If they played for the Yankees they’d be superstars.”
After that, Duchscherer and I smiled at each other and then we shook hands. We understood we had a discussion and not an argument. I still think it’s special the Yankees are coming. It gives the A’s a chance to gauge how good they are. A young team on the rise should embrace that opportunity.
I also understand why Sheets and Duchscherer did not like my line of questioning. From their point of view, I was placing the A’s beneath the Yankees and no athlete with pride ever wants to hear that.”
http://www.pressdemocrat.com/a.....to-chew-on
I Like Inge April 23rd, 2010 at 11:06 am
A-Rod doesn’t need to diffuse anything. He didn’t do anything wrong.
====
Right. Everyone wants to see Alex do the “mea culpa” routine.
He’s done with that. Alex is supposed to apologize for being born, apparently.
I like this liberated Alex. He won a World Series, he seems at peace and comfortable in his own skin and on the Yankees.
Deal with it, world. He’s going to shine on – and it’s just too f-ing bad if people don’t like it or him.
You go, ARod!
Sam, I LOVED Mr. Belvedere – and Benson was hilarious. I’ve only seen a few Benson episodes, but the one where they are in a plane and have to fly it themselves is a classic.
Braden said he learned that rule from his American Legion coach. Probably the same type of insane Am Leg coach who throws his best pitchers every other day and has them throw 150 pitches.
This “unwritten rule” sounds to me like an extension of the “We must protect this house” garbage that started with the Under Armour commercial a while back. That sprouted all sorts of garbage, from stomping on logos and brawls that followed, to Ravens players ‘marking their territory’ on the field before games.
McCarver’s an idiot when talking about pitchers not going into the batter’s box to dig in. What goes he think that pitchers are doing on the mound when digging two holes…one for a place to push off and another to land so they can get more on the ball? I doubt that they are digging for truffles.
Remember this chump undressed Alex in front of 35,000 people and a NY tv audience……..The whole notion is absurd …….Branden wasn’t on the hill yet as Alex took the straightest route back to 1st, but he was close …..I said this at the time that I thought Alex was getting into Braden’s head somewhat….
Unlike the reporter I don’t know why Sheets and the other pitcher (not worth me trying to spell his name right) were offended by the question. You ARE beneath the Yankees when it comes to who proved it on the field in 2009, along with every other team.
I wonder if the Yankee players are discussing this as much as the media and the blog. Do you really think it is the number one item on their agenda when they get to the clubhouse? Jeez much ado about nothing. Braden should be happy, he got his name in the papers not because he won a ball game and beat the Yanks. Now that is weird. Enough already let’s play baseball.
I think Braden’s reaction somehow stemmed from Duchsherer’s comments. He opened the door to this respect issue.
Actually all of this is fueled by the media. But it’s probably good for baseballs’ bottom line. The Angel’s probably won’t have a problem packing them in this weekend but think about Baltimore next week? Their owners are probably happy about this.
Come on out to the game and boo A-Rod!
doubt they are. hopefully they are discussing how to play better in Anaheim. They havent been real good there (except alex).
“Because they get all the coverage from the media. We have some damn good players on our team. If they played for the Yankees they’d be superstars.”
Non snarky question:
At what position do the A’s have an advantage over the Yankees?
I would think Granderson, Cano and even Swisher would be batting 4th in their line-up.
I couldn’t disagree with Chad more on this one and am having a hard time understanding where he’s even coming from.
I agree with many who have already said the same, ARod handled it just fine. After being attacked, I’d rather not just swallow his pride and let people think it’s ok to do so. He stood up for himself.
How anybody could either side with Braden, or blame Alex for having a response, is beyond me after Braden’s comments.
Braden threw an absolute temper tantrum. If he had a problem with it, he could have said something to Alex like a normal human being.
This is barely different than someone flipping out on a waitress and throwing their plate against the wall because their toast was cut in diagonally in triangles instead of across in rectangles.
Bronx-This topic might be discussed again when the a’s visit NY or when the Yankees return to oakland. ARod is a veteran and won’t concentrate on this topic a minute longer.
As for McCarver-His lack of knowledge is overwhelming. He’s living in the 60′s and his opinion is full of holes.
“Because they get all the coverage from the media. We have some damn good players on our team. If they played for the Yankees they’d be superstars.”
After that, Duchscherer and I smiled at each other and then we shook hands. We understood we had a discussion and not an argument. I still think it’s special the Yankees are coming. It gives the A’s a chance to gauge how good they are. A young team on the rise should embrace that opportunity.
I also understand why Sheets and Duchscherer did not like my line of questioning. From their point of view, I was placing the A’s beneath the Yankees and no athlete with pride ever wants to hear that.”
http://www.pressdemocrat.com/a…..to-chew-on
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CB, there never seems to be any whining by the players with NYYs coming to town and especially by the owners, because they draw enough to meet payroll for 3 months per visit. That means players earn more money. If they want to be considered superstars, they need to play like superstars. Even with winning teams, these teams can’t draw any local interest until NYYs show up. The reason is fan apathy towards team owners that continue to sell off their players.
* sorry, couldn’t disagree with Sam more. Not Chad
Tone on here got a bit silly didn’t it? GB7 is acting like a bit of a bully on the playground and others sure reading a lot into what Sam wrote.
I for one agree with what Sam wrote. I don’t see anything wrong with asking a 34 year old man on the most respected teams in the world to ignore some comments from some random pitcher. As to go so far as make a comment about the pitchers track record is a bit silly in my opinion.
But what Alex said was for the most part fine so who cares? Could he have handled it better? Sure. But he didn’t so oh well. I think that was what Sam was getting across.
And GB7, come on man, Sam was trying to get some research into this silly rule. No need to make light of him linking to some other blogger who appears to be quite in the know on baseball codes. And I doubt Sam had time to watch Rick “The Master” on Baseball Tonight dismiss the rule as he probably had to catch a cheap early flight to LA so you can get your Yankees coverage.
I’m done with this dead horse.
It’s a guarantee that Buck & McCarver will get as much mileage out of the incident as they can possible squeeze on tomorrow’s Fox game.
This isn’t an off-day so, thankfully, the natural course of events will wash this one off the boards shortly with talk of today’s game. Still, what a bunch of envious pansies the Oakland Athletics are. They seem to have “market envy.”
Small market envy? Like boston’s small market? with 6 states to draw from and 20 million people within no more than a 3-4 hour drive? That’s what always amazed me about the payroll whining from them. Just like Oakland. That’s hardly small market. t
I don’t care about Braden. He’s a punk.
I’m just glad Sam wasn’t President during the Cuban Missile Crisis. He would have hid in the corner with his thumb in his mouth.
Somebody needs to learn what it means to stand up for yourself.
Diffuse it better? After one of your “peers” calls you out?
Sounds like something that somebody who got too many wedgies in high school would say.
“It’s a guarantee that Buck & McCarver will get as much mileage out of the incident as they can possible squeeze on tomorrow’s Fox game.”
Holy moly that is going to be a brutal telecast tomorrow. You will get to hear a lot about how A-Rod “IN MY VIEW broke an unwritten rule of the game! In my day when I was a catcher for Bob Gibson, this WOULD NOT HAPPEN! Did I mention I caught Bob Gibson? In my view…” etc. etc. for 4 hours.
Best moment of the night: on Baseball Tonight, not one member of their panel, including Rick Sutcliffe thought what A-Rod did was a big deal. When they asked Braden about it, he said he woulda yelled at his grandmother too. Karl Ravech said “Come on, Dallas.” He comes off looking like an idiot.
Jimbob,
I agree.
I hope they showed the footage of Braden throwing a temper tantrum in the dugout, throwing and kicking everything in sight.
It was really unbelievable.
“By taking a few shots at Dallas Braden’s track record (pointing out that he’s essentially a scrub)”
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LOL…that’s hilarious. And I’m sorry but Braden started this crap, not Al..if Al took a shot good for him. Who the hell is Dallas Braden to write some unwritten baseball law. He crossed the mound b/c he went from 1st to 3rd, shorten the time to get to 1st base and keep the game moving. Braden acted like an immature ass. I would have said worse to him than what Al said.
braden broke the biggest unwritten rule there is which is know your place in the game.
there are different unwritten rules for different people.
when you’re new in the league , you don’t run your mouth.
braden ran his mouth against someone who trumped him in every way.
it’s that simple.
he hasn’t been around long enough to know what the unwritten rules are.
A-Rod is such an easy target. Unfortunately, that’s just the way it is and probably always will be.
But that fact shouldn’t discourage A-Rod from sticking up for himself. He’s got to be sick of being vilified for every little thing he does – on the field or off it.
Nonetheless, A-Rod’s teammates have his back. This is a different group than the one under Torre.
Is there an unwritten rule that says if a player on one team has a complaint with a player on the other team you first go to that person and explain your displeasure and sort it out in private so that it doesn’t happen again? Mr. Braden had an opportunity to take the high road (he did win the game after all) when instead he chose to take the gutter.
I think the way Braden reacted was far worse than anything Arod did…unwritten rule or not (though I’ve never really heard of it). He looked like a childish punk on the field and during the interview as well IMO. Arod handled it better than I would have to be honest.
I kind of see both sides. I don’t think Arod respects the game. Anyone who cheats to gain results, doesn’t respect the integrity of the game. Arod has made actions on the field over the years that have riled up other teams, like the infamous “Ball Slap”, or the “Shout”. The guy is a great player, but he’s a jerk. Pure and simple. If it was Pujols calling him out people would listen. Dallas what’s his face is right about Jeter. Jete’s an example on how it’s done with class, from A-Z.
Now, as far as Dallas is concerned, keep your mouth shut kid. You are right to an extent, but you telling Arod how to play the game is a laugher, seeing how you’ve been in it so long. I’m sure if it was Beckett, Halladay, or Santana out there Arod would have gone out of his way to avoid the mound. Sure, you have a point, but you’re a nobody, and Arod treated you as such, right or wrong. Next time do it the right way, grow a pair, wait to face him, and buzz one by. He’ll get the picture fast.
I hope Bob Geren gave you a lesson about doing that, instead of crying in the dugout, and taking your frustrations out on the gatorade cups like a little girl. But calling out Arod on the field is not the order of the day kid.
Also, to say that Braden is newer to the league, and thus doesn’t know the unwritten rules, is straight up ridiculous.
I could be wrong, but I am confident in saying Braden has played baseball in the past; before he came to MLB. Those unwritten rules aren’t just limited to the Majors, you guys know that right?
Sure, Braden overreacted, but A-Rod showed his true colors again by acting holier-than-thou and arrogant attitude. He’s a punk who thinks he is a better human being than everyone else, it’s disgusting. Neither player is in the right here, but for you people to stick up for A-Rod is retarded.
One last thing on the supposed acerbity in ARod’s “…handful of games…” comment. Then I’m done with this.
Braden may be a pitcher on the rise or he could fade into obscurity but one thing for certain is that he is not putting coin in anybody’s pocket.
That’s not true in A-rod’s case. His talents and even his persona provide people with paychecks. Lot’s of people.
Baseball’s a game to fans but to the players, owners, execs, media etc. etc., it’s an extremely lucrative entertainment business. Obviously.
And please don’t consider this as a comparison to Jackie Robinson but A-Rod also broke a barrier of sorts; that being the 25mil$ AAV contract barrier. His contracts are perhaps the loudest statement to owners in regards to the players significance in baseball’s bottom line.
Arod’s contracts say to owners “There’s a ton of money being made here and we’ll be damned if we’re not getting the lion’s share because we’re the ones getting people to open their wallets”
So if Braden’s career survives and succeeds to the point of free agency? He just might have Alex Rodriguez to thank if there’s an extra zero on his check.
Getting vilified for things he doesn’t do but assumed that he has done also. Funny how many stories about him that are proven wrong or outright lies in the media, but, never get retracted.
Never heard of any rule about the pitchers mound be off limits.
Maybe it’s just a matter of A-Rod invading another person’s personal space.
I view this as one player trying to intimidate another and I see nothing wrong with that.
A-Rod should not comment farther about this issue…JMHO
Think about it, put yourself in Al’s shoes…he has 13+ yrs. in the majors and some punk kid after he was trying to shorten his run to 1st base tells him, GET OFF MY MOUND!
EL Duderino nicely put.
The Yankees need to bring back Shelley Duncan for the next A’s series.
I want him to run across “Braden’s Universe” and then snap that twig in half when he says something.
I wonder what Babe Ruth or Ted Williams or Reggie Jackson would have done if some no-named pitcher had called them out for some seemingly insignificant transgression.
I doubt they would have held their tongue as some are suggesting ARod should have done.
Go figure. Three trolls are here to hand out their half a cent’s worth of BS.
Wonder if there were no DH if Braden would be so quick to mouth off?
Ty Cobb woulda busted him in the mouth.
Peter R April 23rd, 2010 at 12:51 pm
EL Duderino nicely put.
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You two need to get a room somewhere.
New Post: Yankees White House visit kicks off three-day
If we ever face him again, i expect Arod to run across his universe again. At least we know how to get inside that guys head now.
Joe West agrees with A-rod: “It’s about saving time!!!”
You think that Cobbdidn’t do the same thing? Anybody that sharpens his spikes on the dugout concrete before going to bat and making sure the infielders see it wouldn’t worry about going to the bottom part of the mound, he’d go over the pitcher.
Yankee players will be asked about this today and I will be disappointed in anyone who backs Braden. If they agree with Braden, that conversation can be between them and A-Rod and not in the news.
Who cares about Dallas anyway. The guy is no Randy Johnson or some top flight pitcher so he should keep his mouth shut. He looked like a fool getting all mad walking off the mound throwing his glove and equipment down. It’s not A-rod’s fault that the pathetic A’s haven’t won anything in years and that they can’t compete in that weak division.
# NYY626 April 23rd, 2010 at 10:48 am
Seriously, Braden could have said something to Alex without screaming F-bombs on the field. It seems like this guy just wanted his 15 minutes of fame, and boy is it working.
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seriously did anyone ever hear of him before yesterday?
One thing that Braden may have not thought of…
Of all the teams CC Sabathia has faced more than 5 times (not counting the Yanks) he has his highest ERA of 5.63 against the A’s. Theyre his hometown team so he’s probably had a hard time getting up for them in the past.
But I doubt CC, who is big team first kind of guy, appreciated Braden calling out his teammate on a day when he’s being beaten.
We’ll see how it plays out next time CC faces the A’s. Could end being a case where they should have let a sleeping dog lie.
i ran into an unwritten rule once.
i knocked mark sullivan on his ass once when he bad mouthed clete boyer and his” yankee bobos” as mark phrased it.
he was the red sox owner’s son at the time( meaning he was a little too full of himself) and he was a player on our team and i was the bullpen catcher.
i was promptly told to apologize before anyone heard about it because a bullpen catcher can’t knock a regular player around without getting fired.
so i went over to him and said let’s agree to disagree and keep it to ourselves figuring he didn’t want it to get out that a 6’4 guy got knocked around by a much smaller bullpen catcher.
he agreed and that’s how it ended. i never said anything to anyone , but found out later i made the team for doing it and he got cut because of it . clete found about it anyway.
so i broke the unwritten rule of attacking a player who broke the unwritten rule of bad mouthing our manager. mark also broke the unwritten rule of bad mouthing clete boyer, a former yankee to a yankee fan.
he didn’t know i was a yankee fan because i didn’t break the unwritten rule of being a fan when you work in the game. so mark didn’t know i was a yankee fan.
because we both kept our mouths shut over the incident, respecting an unwritten rule about keeping it in house ,we developed a respect for each other and would laugh about the incident years later when he worked for the rangers.
of course, i just threw it all out the window by probably breaking some unwritten rule about by talking about it now.
these unwritten rules can get pretty complex.
How long till certain members of the media run to Joe Torre to ask him what he thinks of this? After all he threw his Alex under the bus after the HA incident Nice manager sticking up for and protecting your player. I bet Joe will defuse this and move on.
Hope I’m not too early for GTLU
Jeter SS
Johnson DH
Teix 1B
ARod 3B
Cano 2B
Posada C
Granderson CF
Swisher RF
Gardner LF
BTW the Yanks have been great, but the Rays even greater. Not only are they 1/2 game ahead of the Yanks, look at the run differentials: Yanks 81-52 TB 93-54. The Pythagorean rule would equate TB’s run differential to a .748 winning percentage, or 121 wins.
I wonder what the record is for most games won in a season by each of 2 teams in the same division. This record could be broken in 2010.
new thread
David- try posting that on the new thread and see if Doreen accepts
Poor Old Arod, Whether he broke an unwritten or not if he did it wasn’t spiteful, just the shortest route. No one follow the path back to first from third.
Often the established player being known by umps to do certain things well get close calls. Maybe Braden should pay attention to the conduct of umps as opposed to Arod mimicking Jeter.
Braden who?
Let’s just get another winning streak going, I want the Sox to be twenty games back by the ASB.
Arod is a clown and a coward.
Jetes never would have done this in a BILLION years, neither Bernie, Mariano,Posada, etc.
It kills me we have to root for this knucklehead, who then spreads his arms wide and says ” Me? What did I do” like when he patty-caked the ball of out Arroyos hand.
Arod’s fundamental insecurity and concomittant arrogance are different sides of the same core.
He is a class A doosh.
But he is OUR doosh!
I love how Braden notes that Jeter has class and would never do that – this after he had acted like a classless, spoiled little baby. Whether unwritten rules were broken or not, who lacked more class here, Braden or ARod?
I understand your point Sam, but it sounds as if you’re suggesting that ARod could’ve handled it better so that people in the media wouldn’t be so hard on him – and that this would be better for the team, and him personally. The problem then is a media problem, not a player problem. The “high-road”? Putting your personal integrity aside for people who (for the most part, not the writers of this blog) have no integrity, is considered the high-road? It’s a non-story fueled by the media, and yet Alex needs to bow down to them?
The new Alex is an Alex who is trying not to care how people perceive him, including those in the media. Everyone asked to see the “real Alex”, and here it is. I, personally, like what I see.
As for Braden, if it really was that important to him, and if he really is a professional worthy of such respect, he would’ve directed his ire toward the strike zone – not the helpless equipment and water coolers in the dugout. This was classic, “I’m somebody and nobody seems to notice” behavior. And who better to manifest those feelings on, than someone who everybody seems to think is somebody.
Back when Joba came up and the etiquette of the fist-pump was in question, Big Papi implied Joba was a rookie and wasn’t established or respected enough to do that. My take on that was that Papi shouldn’t have been talking that way about a guy (rookie or veteran) whose slider he couldn’t even hit. And that was the fearsome Papi of a few years ago. If Joba had no talent and got lucky, maybe it’s the other way around. But Joba was embarrassing the American League.
This scrub pitcher yapping at A-Rod is little a little chihuahua at the end of an old lady’s leash, yapping angrily at a nearby rottweiler who could eat him for lunch. Is there an “unwritten rule” about who’s doing this kind of talkin’ to who? IMO, that one supersedes a scrub whining about someone running across the (excuse me … across “HIS”) mound.
It’s not like A-Rod bunted in the 9th to bust up the guy’s no hitter. Something like that would make A-Rod the guy outside the unwritten laws, even if the guy was making his major league debut. This? Feh ….
This may be entirely out of context but this is my first shot back since this morning and my last for a while.
Something tells me hit girl is not female. Too many posting similarities to a guy who was booted from here a short time ago.
GO YANKEES!!!
Later y’all.