A-Lightning-Rod

I'm not going to talk about the draft today. Waiting until the end to do so. I didn't plan on posting until then, but Alex Rodriguez managed to get himself into another contra very regarding baseball's "unwritten rules". Now, A Rod's been involved in a few of these before.

The first came in the infamous 2004 collapse against Boston. In game 6 Rodriguez grounded down the first baeline with two outs and a runner on. The pitcher Bronson Arroyo picked up the ball and tried to tag Rodriguez out, who ended up slapping the ball out of his glove. At first, he got away with it, but the umps eventually overruled it and he was out. For this he was ripped for a few reasons. One was he should've just taken the out, not tried anything. Which is fine, but I'm convinced that if Derek Jeter had done the same thing the media would've lauded him for trying to do whatever it takes to win. The second reason he got ripped there was for slapping the glove. People said it was a girly move. He should've lowered his shoulder or punched. That's just dumb. Lowering your shoulder only works if the person is completely in front of you, not just his glove. Punching would not have had the same chance of success as slapping would've.Still, it was something he probably shouldn't have done. Oh and by the way, Dustin Pedroia tried an eerily similar move in the playoffs in 07 and no one said anything. See that here.

Then came a game in Toronto two years ago. When Jorge Posada hit a pop up on the left side of the infield. A Rod, while passing the third baseman shouted "Ha!" and the fielder didn't catch the ball. The fielder, Howie Clark, alleged that the shout distracted him form making the catch. Really? You can't catch a pop up because someone shouted? I've seen many football games in the park where defenders shout at a reciever trying to catch a pass. The reviever, you won't believe this, still usually makes the catch! If amateurs playing for fun could keep their concentration, a pro can't? The truth is, the guy was struggling on that pop up and used Alex as a scapegoat. Warch it herre. You can't tell me it was A Rod's fault he didn't catch the ball.

Now we come to yesterday. Alex on first runs around second on a pop up hit by Robinson Cano that ended up landing foul. Already halfway to third, he cuts across the diamond to go back to first going over the pitcher's mound. This upsets the pitcher, who remains quiet, Until, that is, he gets out of the inning and gets close to his own dugout and near his own teammates. Then he starts shouting in a "hold me back" manner. After this he throws his glove against the wall and kicks, kicks, a stack of paper cups. You know, because he's tough. All because A Rod stepped on the mound and Thou Shalt Not Step On The Pitcher's Mound, apparently.

Now, I've never heard of that particular unwritten rule. And A Rod may not be the best guy in the world, but this seems ridiculous. Does the pitcher mind when his cathcer steps up onto the mound? What about the infielders? What about the other team? When he's running to back up home plate, does he make sure not to step in a batter's box? This was plainly and simply because it was Alex Rodriguez. You can't tell me Alex did anything worth the attention here.

Peace