04/27/24
April 16, 2010
How Do You Punish Lying in Baseball: FanGraphs asks the question in response to a Rob Neyer post about all-around good guy A.J. Pierzynski pretending he got hit during a no-hitter. Neyer followed up with a response.
Fine line here. While I'm all for some sort of punishment for an obvious situation like this, where do we draw the line?
Suspensions for outfilelders that trap the ball, but try to cover it up? Fines for a hitter that clearly steps too far out of the base path to avoid a tag? Or, perhaps tags up too early and knows it? Point is, there are many times when a player knows that the umpire called it incorrectly. I don't think i want the league investigating every play for non-disclosure.
That being said, in this case the player went out of his way to influence the call, and like flopping in basketball/soccer, I wouldn't mind some league action to curtail that behavior.
posted by dviking at 10:18 AM on April 16, 2010
I can't believe Brandon Morrow didn't give Pierzynski the chance to try method acting
Beautiful.
While I'm all for some sort of punishment for an obvious situation like this, where do we draw the line?
I'm with you on all your points. This comes up every year and it's just something baseball fans have to deal with. Pushing the limits of "cheating" is written into baseball's DNA. They even condone an activity called "stealing". Stealing signs is considered gamesmanship, etc. I think this is as much an issue because of Who as because of What, just like A-Rod yelling at an infielder trying to catch a popup.
Come to think of it, why's everybody picking on the Jays?
posted by yerfatma at 10:24 AM on April 16, 2010
Why can't the league or the director of officiating simply issue a statement that Pierzynski was not hit by the pitch and should not have been awarded a base? Leagues could discourage diving and other forms of cheating by calling players out for the behavior, even if they did not fine them.
posted by rcade at 10:45 AM on April 16, 2010
With the next at bat for AJ, they should have taken a page out of the Dave Cowens playbook.
Cowens purposely flattened Mike Newlin in transition after Newlin pulled a cheap flop on him and got the call, then told the ref, "Now THAT'S a foul!".
If they had thrown at AJ's feet, he would have either had to do a gringo dirt dance from a old western to avoid being hit, or get served notice that what he had pretended happened previously needed to be converted into hard reality.
Some players inspire evil thoughts. AJ is one of 'em.
posted by beaverboard at 10:58 AM on April 16, 2010
First 2010 candidate for ARod Symbol of Sportsmanship award.
However, what is real significance? Was this a perfect game that he broke up? It just says no-hitter. If it was a no-hitter but not a perfect game, then he really did not cause any harm, did he? It was the next batter that hit the homerun to break up the no-hitter.
posted by graymatters at 06:54 PM on April 16, 2010
I will admit to having faked being HBP at least twice in my all-too-brief baseball career. I considered it part of the game, and I felt the same when I got drilled in the ribs the next time I came up in the second instance. AJ should have gotten the same treatment, but maybe the Jays felt it too obvious.
Cowens purposely flattened Mike Newlin in transition after Newlin pulled a cheap flop on him and got the call, then told the ref, "Now THAT'S a foul!"
Ahhh, Dave Cowens. We could all learn a little something from him.
posted by wfrazerjr at 07:52 PM on April 16, 2010
Amazingly, the same thing happened last night in the Yankees-Rangers game. A pitch skipped in, and ARod started limping like he had been hit. Replays show he clearly was not. Only faking.
Second 2010 candidate for the ARod Symbol of Sportsmansip award. Of course, he already has the lifetime achievement award.
posted by graymatters at 12:42 PM on April 17, 2010
Two things:
1. The official DrJohnEvans TiVo replay booth has verified that he was indeed NOT hit. The top-down angle shows that he wasn't hit on the front foot (but the back foot is obscured). The frontal angle shows that the ball bounced well before it reached his back foot, and missed it cleanly.
2. The next game, he was up in the top of the second, with two outs and nobody on. I can't believe Brandon Morrow didn't give Pierzynski the chance to try method acting.
Where's Jesse Carlson when you need him?