11/05/24
April 24, 2010
A-Rod Crosses Mound, Makes Pitcher Cross: After running from first to third base for a hit that drifted foul Thursday, New York Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez went back to first by crossing over the pitcher's mound -- incurring the wrath of Oakland As pitcher Dallas Braden. "Get off my [expletive] mound!" he yelled.
A-Rod making more friends...
I have never heard of that particular unwritten rule, but if it is that easy to get in that guy's head, I would run across the mound every time we played.
posted by bender at 10:31 AM on April 23, 2010
I have never heard of that particular unwritten rule, but if it is that easy to get in that guy's head, I would run across the mound every time we played.
Typical pitcher head case.
posted by lil_brown_bat at 11:34 AM on April 23, 2010
I have never heard of that particular unwritten rule...
That's usually what happens when it's unwritten.
/snark factor on 3
posted by BornIcon at 11:57 AM on April 23, 2010
I've never quite heard that, especially from a guy that has a handful of wins in his career. I've never even heard of that in my career and I still don't know.
Sigh. When will someone just go in spikes up into this guy's big mouth?
Yes, it's unwritten -- but it's also pretty well known. I could forgive him the transgression on account of ignorance, but throwing in the shot about a "handful of wins"? Classless, and points out that a guy hasn't been around much knows more about playing the game than its supposed brightest star.
posted by wfrazerjr at 03:26 PM on April 23, 2010
Yes, it's unwritten -- but it's also pretty well known.
I'm not sure it's "pretty well known".
It might be a pet peeve of the pitchers, but I think it's one of those "no one cares until it happens to them" things, like tacking on extra runs in a game.
(Or, when a player shoots the puck into the opposing team's net during warm-ups in hockey.)
ARod's comment is definitely a cheap dig at Braden, but it's just more gamesmanship that is "classless" when someone on the other team does it.
If Braden is serious, then he'll plunk ARod, who will trot down to first and score when the Teixeira clubs one over the wall.
posted by grum@work at 05:16 PM on April 23, 2010
Please, please get rid of the DH rule in baseball so these big- mouth pitchers have to step into the batters box in the AL! Dallas Braden of all people thinks he has earned the right to start screaming at one of the greatest players ever? Bullshit. A-Rod should be able to go up and take a shit on the mound if he feels like it when a unproven pitcher like that guy thinks he owns any part of the field. Let him go up to bat, and then a hitter like A-Rod can tell him (Braden) to stay out of his batters box. These clown pitchers can walk around and yap whenever the urge comes over them because they don't have to ever have a pitch thrown at them.
posted by dyams at 08:31 PM on April 23, 2010
If Braden is serious, then he'll plunk ARod, who will trot down to first and score when the Teixeira clubs one over the wall then get suspended for hitting ARod after saying there would be reprecussions in his post game interview after the 'ARod walking on the mound incident'.
There.. Now that sounds more like the MLB to me.
posted by BornIcon at 07:46 AM on April 24, 2010
Braden and the A's went on to win the game. Given A-Rod's history, it seems likely to me that he crossed the mound to mess with the pitcher. I'm glad it failed.
Dallas Braden of all people thinks he has earned the right to start screaming at one of the greatest players ever? Bullshit.
Respect has to be earned. A-Rod's a great player, but he's been a chump too many times to deserve any special deference. His management has been chumps too -- remember Scott Boras upstaging the World Series by announcing his decision to opt for free agency?
posted by rcade at 09:00 AM on April 24, 2010
Dallas Braden of all people thinks he has earned the right to start screaming at one of the greatest players ever? Bullshit.
Furthermore, shouldn't one of the "greatest players of all-time" be subject to the same mores as everyone else in the game? His statistics don't make him bigger than the game or immune to criticism. He can get called on his bullshit like anyone else, even when it's by a guy "with a handful of wins."
If a legendary hockey player, say Stevie Y, shot a puck into the opposition's net before a game, he'd be subject to the same treatment as any rookie. (Of course, Stevie Y's a bad example because, unlike ARod, he consistently carried himself with class and respect for the game.)
posted by tahoemoj at 12:12 PM on April 24, 2010
The natural thing to do when going from third back to first is NOT to take a trip directly over the mound. Whether A-Rod did it for gamesmanship or just wasn't thinking or was thinking but didn't care, who the hell knows. I'm pretty sure the inside of his head is a three ring circus.
But Braden probably took it a little too far. The stare probably got his point across just fine.
A-Rod should be able to go up and take a shit on the mound if he feels like it when a unproven pitcher like that guy thinks he owns any part of the field.
Wow.
posted by justgary at 12:29 PM on April 24, 2010
He did not just cross the mound; he stepped on the pitching rubber. Whether it was right or wrong, an unwritten rule or what, I wish there was some way to tell how many other players do it on a normal basis or even at all. This certainly is not the first time that a player has had to return to first base from around third base after a foul ball.
posted by graymatters at 02:12 PM on April 24, 2010
Former major league player Morgan Ensberg reveals all of the rules in the "unwritten rule book".
That should solve any future problems.
posted by grum@work at 02:36 PM on April 24, 2010
I have an ambivalent attitude towards "unwritten rules", but if A-Rod is on the sharp end of someone else's dick move, I can't wait for dyams to show up and either whine about the lack of respect accorded to him, or claim that it shows an even greater respect for him.
(It's not as if baseball lacks a long history of hyper-talented douchebags, though.)
posted by etagloh at 03:05 PM on April 24, 2010
A-Rod should be able to go up and take a shit on the mound if he feels like it when a unproven pitcher like that guy thinks he owns any part of the field.
Double wow.
posted by BoKnows at 04:09 PM on April 24, 2010
shot a puck into the opposition's net before a game, he'd be subject to the same treatment as any rookie.
I've been a huge hockey fan for over 14 years now and have never heard about this faux pas before. I know it is considered bad form to shoot the puck after a whistle but I had no idea there was any pre-game etiquette. Sorry for the derail.
posted by HATER 187 at 04:09 PM on April 24, 2010
I've been a huge hockey fan for over 14 years now and have never heard about this faux pas before. I know it is considered bad form to shoot the puck after a whistle but I had no idea there was any pre-game etiquette. Sorry for the derail.
Montreal vs Philadelphia, 1987
posted by grum@work at 08:39 PM on April 24, 2010
Dallas Braden is a drama llama.
posted by lil_brown_bat at 08:59 PM on April 24, 2010
Just another case of people looking to pile on A-Rod for whatever reason comes up. If this was Manny, people would chalk it up to "Manny being Manny." I stick to my original statement: A-Rod has more of a right to the pitchers mound at this point in his career as a third baseman than Dallas Braden does as a pitcher. Get your record above .500 and your career ERA under 4.50 before you yell at an actual baseball player for anything, you freakin' tool!
posted by dyams at 09:38 PM on April 24, 2010
A-Rod has more of a right to the pitchers mound at this point in his career as a third baseman than Dallas Braden does as a pitcher.
This was stupid enough the first time you said it. The pitcher is getting ready for the next hitter. It doesn't matter who the pitcher is or who the batter is or how A-Rod has earned the right in your estimation to shit on the mound. Running right across the rubber to get back to first is either clueless or obnoxious. There's no other option.
posted by rcade at 10:47 PM on April 24, 2010
In the background of the Montreal-Phila. brawl, the house organist is playing 'Hello Dolly".
"Find me an empty lap, fellas..."
posted by beaverboard at 11:16 PM on April 24, 2010
A-Rod has more of a right to the pitchers mound at this point in his career as a third baseman than Dallas Braden does as a pitcher.
I personally think that ARod did it to rattle Braden, and for that I don't care. Gamesmanship is something that "beloved" players get praised for, and "hated" players get piled-on for. ARod is "hated" because of his contract, so that's what's happened here. It's all bullshit, because if it was anyone OTHER than ARod, no one would have given a flying fuck about it.
With that as the background for my feelings on this matter, I do have to say one thing:
Your statement is really stupid.
Would you really be saying the same thing if it was Jason Varitek or Kevin Youkilis cutting across the mound and messing with Phil Hughes?
No. Fucking. Way.
posted by grum@work at 12:50 AM on April 25, 2010
watched that video for the 5th time, not suer A-rod steps on the rubber, and not sure that it matters if he does. He clearly runs across the mound well before the pitcher is gettin ready for the next hitter, so I think Braden is over-reacting here.
A-rod hasn't earned the right to shit on the mound, but if he runs in the most direct line back to first I'm okay with that, even if it takes him over the mound. From the video it doesn't look like he ran out of his way, nor did he stomp on the rubber to make a point.
I'm not much of an A-rod supporter, but I'm on his side on this one .
posted by dviking at 12:51 AM on April 25, 2010
I'm with LBB, drama llama. The guy threw a hissy fit on the way back to the dugout and blew it way out of proportion so I don't mind A-rod taking a little shot at him when asked about it later. I'm a little confused as to how A-rod is the biggest dick in this equation.
Then again, I've never heard this unwritten rule before today. I don't doubt it exists as others seem to have heard of it but it has to be one of the pettiest unwritten rules I've ever heard of. Other unwritten rules are there to prevent players from being shown up, injured, etc. This unwritten rule seems pretty pointless.
posted by tron7 at 02:37 AM on April 25, 2010
An interview with Jason Turbow who wrote "The Baseball Codes: Beanballs, Sign Stealing, and Bench-Clearing Brawls: The Unwritten Rules of America's Pastime":
Q: Among this latest incident, the pop-up in Toronto and the slap against Boston, has Rodriguez become the king of breaking the game's unwritten rules?
A: The only guy in A-Rod's class is A.J. Pierzynski who also makes a habit of crossing over pitcher's mounds. The primary difference between A-Rod and A.J. is that Pierzynski is devious; everything he does on a ball field is calculated. He'll cross close enough to the pitcher to actually brush him nothing so obvious as a bump, but enough to tick the guy off. It's all designed to take the pitcher's focus off the hitter. I don't give A-Rod that much credit.
The whole interview is interesting.
Also: The Man Baseball Loves to Hate
ARod is "hated" because of his contract, so that's what's happened here.
I'm not saying everything with Arod isn't overblown, nor that it's sometimes unfair, but there's certainly more to Arods reputation than his contract. Give Albert Pujols or Joe Mauer the biggest contract in the game and I doubt they'd see much trouble.
If this was Manny, people would chalk it up to "Manny being Manny."
Well, I think most people are chalking this up to "Arod being Arod".
posted by justgary at 03:29 AM on April 25, 2010
Well, I think most people are chalking this up to "Arod being Arod".
Take a poll and get back to us on that "most people" thing. I'm still going with "Dallas Braden being Dallas Braden".
posted by lil_brown_bat at 06:49 AM on April 25, 2010
As for my statement being "stupid," what I'm really speaking about is young players learning something about earning respect in major league baseball, which is something that players in past eras knew something about. Braden knows nothing about this, and obviously lets other players get in his head. As for the pitchers mound being some sacred piece of ground on a baseball field, as I said before, bullshit.
Would you really be saying the same thing if it was Jason Varitek or Kevin Youkilis cutting across the mound and messing with Phil Hughes?
Let me ask you, would this incident have resulted in a post on this site if the player crossing the mound was Alberto Callaspo, for example?
No. Fucking. Way.
posted by dyams at 08:39 AM on April 25, 2010
Let me ask you, would this incident have resulted in a post on this site if the player crossing the mound was Alberto Callaspo, for example?
If Dallas Braden had gone off on Callaspo to the media like that, and Callaspo responded in a snarky way?
Def-fucking-nitely.
I did notice that you didn't answer my question about defending Varitek/Youkilis in the same situation, which I guess is an answer in some ways.
Q: Among this latest incident, the pop-up in Toronto and the slap against Boston, has Rodriguez become the king of breaking the game's unwritten rules?
Interesting that people love to bring up ARod's "slap" against Boston, but no one seems to bring up the Jockey's slap against Cleveland.
posted by grum@work at 09:48 AM on April 25, 2010
Let me ask you, would this incident have resulted in a post on this site if the player crossing the mound was Alberto Callaspo, for example?
Prince Fielder's choreographed bomb stunt was heatedly debated here.
As for the pitchers mound being some sacred piece of ground on a baseball field, as I said before, bullshit.
Read the Turbow link. This bit of baseball etiquette wasn't invented by Dallas Braden. You seem to want it both ways. Respect must be afforded to A-Rod because of his status, but A-Rod doesn't have to respect the etiquette of the game.
posted by rcade at 09:56 AM on April 25, 2010
I'm not saying Braden can't speak to A-Rod about his actions. But to start screaming like a bratty child? Walk by and tell him to go around the mound next time without looking like you (Braden, in this case) are trying to show up one of the game's biggest names. Throw at him if you don't like his response. Whatever. But to stand there and yell and scream? No.
As for the Varitek/Youkilis/Phil Hughes example? I don't know. Any response I would have possibly had to that particular example if it happened may have been due to getting caught up in Yankees-Red Sox rivalry emotions. If Youkilis would have done this vs. KC, I probably wouldn't have commented because I wouldn't have cared. In my mind I may have been thinking Youkilis is a pain in the ass, but I always think that.
posted by dyams at 10:25 AM on April 25, 2010
I will concede that Braden overdid it and made himself look foolish. The announcers said the cups he kicked in the dugout bounced off his head. But the original "get off my [expletive] mound" and staring daggers at A-Rod was fine.
posted by rcade at 10:48 AM on April 25, 2010
Take a poll and get back to us on that "most people" thing.
In fairness to Gary, he must have used the same equation you used to describe 'everybody' in an earlier thread.
posted by BoKnows at 12:09 PM on April 25, 2010
Take a poll and get back to us on that "most people" thing.
How about 'many people'? A 'high number' of people? Many comments I've read? When I get enough money to hire a statistician I'll get right on that.
At the risk of your wrath, I find the 'manny being manny' attitude just as appropriate with Arod. I see three camps of thought in regards to Arod. One, where he can do no right. Where even sneezes are malicious (especially if he's hitting home runs against your team). A second where Arod can do no wrong and anyone doubting him is a jealous hater (especially if he's playing for your team). And a third where people shrug their shoulders and chalk it up to arod being arod.
I agree with rcade, braden did himself a disservice by going berserk, but I don't understand the attitude of 'how dare' he question the great arod. I don't believe statistics are the one determiner of respect.
posted by justgary at 12:14 PM on April 25, 2010
How about 'many people'? A 'high number' of people? Many comments I've read? When I get enough money to hire a statistician I'll get right on that.
Don't get all huffy, justgary; you might have a slim majority in this comment thread, but that doesn't translate to "most people". Don't get peeved because I pointed that out.
At the risk of your wrath, I find the 'manny being manny' attitude just as appropriate with Arod. I see three camps of thought in regards to Arod. One, where he can do no right. Where even sneezes are malicious (especially if he's hitting home runs against your team). A second where Arod can do no wrong and anyone doubting him is a jealous hater (especially if he's playing for your team). And a third where people shrug their shoulders and chalk it up to arod being arod.
Eh, well, if these are the only "three camps" you see, I guess your "most people" comment makes sense. I can see at least one other "camp": those who just don't read that much into a runner trotting across the pitcher's mound while the pitcher wanders around in circles on the infield grass, waiting for everyone to resume their positions so that the game can continue. That would be the camp where I reside, and while you probably won't be able to see this, it is a disjoint set from the "believes Arod can do no wrong" "camp".
posted by lil_brown_bat at 02:22 PM on April 25, 2010
The announcers said the cups he kicked in the dugout bounced off his head.
Heh.
posted by cjets at 07:42 PM on April 25, 2010
Don't get all huffy
It was delivered in the same wonderful tone as your original comment.
justgary; you might have a slim majority in this comment thread, but that doesn't translate to "most people". Don't get peeved because I pointed that out.
I'm not peeved because you caught me in a slip, I'm annoyed because it's just a ridiculous derail. My comment has my name after it. It seems pretty obvious that my comment pertains to my opinion. I would hope you would understand I wasn't referring to a scientific poll I conducted over night.
And it was in reference to a comment dyams made, that if this was manny it would be chalked up to manny being manny, which you ignored. Would people really be calling it Manny being Manny had he done the same thing? I tend to agree with dyams, but I doubt he's taken a poll.
Eh, well, if these are the only "three camps" you see, I guess your "most people" comment makes sense. I can see at least one other "camp"
Yes, I agree there is a 4th camp. But I think Arod, like Clemens, or Bonds, is a lightning rod. I think the percentage of people that can look at him without bias is smaller than with most players. No, before you ask, I haven't taken a poll.
That would be the camp where I reside, and while you probably won't be able to see this, it is a disjoint set from the "believes Arod can do no wrong" "camp".
You're right. Considering you have a conniption every time a front page post puts the yankees in a bad light at all, you'll have to forgive me if I can't see it.
posted by justgary at 08:30 PM on April 25, 2010
A-Rod making more friends. And being polite while doing it: "I've never quite heard that, especially from a guy that has a handful of wins in his career. I've never even heard of that in my career and I still don't know. I thought it was pretty funny, actually."