On Monday, we discussed the shenanigans that took place at Fenway Park during Sunday night's game between the New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox. Red Sox pitcher Ryan Dempster (6-9, 4.77 ERA) deliberately hit Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez (.296, 2 HR, 6 RBI) in the back with a pitch after badly missing his first three attempts to do so in the at-bat. Yankees manager Joe Girardi exploded indignantly and was ejected by home plate umpire Brian O'Nora, who only issued a warning to both benches.
Major League Baseball then fined Girardi $5,000 while fining the aggressor, Dempster only $2,500. Dempster, who went on to earn an loss on Sunday night, was also suspended for five games. However, the Red sox have two off days in the next seven, meaning Dempster may not miss a start.
Dempster is not having a great season. His performance has deteriorated since the All-Star break and his efforts are doing very little to help the Red Sox build a lead in the American League East division race. Today's retweet, by Jeff Winfield @jwinfieldnrg is fitting:
"Doesn't suspending Ryan Dempster for 5 games actually help the Red Sox?"
The Yankees got screwed from every direction with the handling of the discipline in this incident.
Every time I have written about Yankees third baseman Alex
Rodriguez (.319, 2 HR, 6 RBI, .897 OPS) in light of the Major League Baseball
Biogenesis performance enhancing drugs (P.E.D.s) investigation, I tell myself
that it will be the last time for “a while”. There is no benefit in beating a
dead horse. It isn’t interesting.
Yet every time I think this story is going to cool off, it
takes a new twist or dramatic turn. I’ve consistently explained how much I am
not a fan of the New York Yankees and never have been. I think their
operational philosophy is bad for baseball and bad for sports in general.
The putrid stench of the handling of the Biogenesis investigation
and discipline is making a piece of me root for the Yankees to have success in
2013. That part of me is the part with a short tolerance for hypocrisy, self-righteous
double-talk, and pawns being used as scapegoats. I probably will not be able to
bring myself to cheer the Yankees along the way. However, if the Yankees have
any measurable postseason success in this season (particularly if Rodriguez
continues to play a significant role in their success), I will have a sense of
gratification with the outcome when their season has concluded.
A picture says a thousand words, even if only one word is written. 1
VIGILANTE BASEBALL
The A-Rod story took another turn late last week when multiple
sports media outlets revealed that a 60 Minutes report would allege that
members of Rodriguez’s “inner circle” leaked information to Yahoo! Sports
implicating Ryan Braun of the Milwaukee Brewers and teammate Francisco Cervelli
in the Biogenesis flap in February, when the spotlight shone heavily on Rodriguez’s
involvement. In essence, A-Rod was accused of ratting out his peers to deflect
attention from his role in the scandal, taboo in any fraternity of any kind in
any organization.
Boston Red Sox starting pitcher Ryan Dempster (6-9, 4.77
ERA) was the starting pitcher in last night’s rubber match against the Yankees
at Fenway Park. Rodriguez came up to bat in the second inning. Demspterthrew a pitch behind Rodriguez’s back followed
by two pitches way inside that forced Rodriguez to move to avoid being hit. On a
3-0 count, Dempster release a pitch that drilled A-Rod in the back. The attempt
to hit Rodriguez could not have been more blatantly obvious to anyone with a
baseball I.Q. greater than that of a raisin.
Rodriguez's girlfriend: Rebeca Yunen Finke: "Why you gotta hate?" Again, A-Rod is having the last laugh. 4
At this point, all but the most vitriolic of anti-A-Rod
fans, in my opinion, should have been able to empathize with Rodriguez had he
charged the pitcher’s mound and served Dempster a fresh knuckle sandwich. Dempster
took it upon himself to police the game, which is traditional in baseball, and
made his intentions crystal clear by making four consecutive over-the-top, obvious attempts to hit Rodriguez with the ball.
Dempster should have been ejected on the spot.
Was Dempster ejected? No. What happened? Umpire Brian O’Nora
issued a warning to both benches, essentially saying the next incident would
result in an ejection (meaning the Yankees could not return the favor – also traditional
in baseball). Yankees Manager Joe Girardi was beside himself, vaulted from the
dugout to argue O’Nora’s handling of the situation, and then O’Nora ejected
Girardi.
I am sure Girardi thought, “Let me get this straight. Their
pitcher deliberately hits my player. You warn OUR bench and throw ME out of the
game? Somebody’s getting hit.” On his way to the Yankees clubhouse, his lips
could clearly be read saying, “Somebody’s getting hit!”
You be the judge.
KARMA
Rodriguez didn’t charge the mound. The Yankees’ bench didn’t
empty. Instead, Rodriguez would go on to score the first run of the game. A-Rod
would later drive in a run and then hit a home run off Dempster to spark a
Yankees comeback in the 6th inning. New York would go on to win the
game, 9-6.
I’ve read about how egg is a great source of protein for
athletes, but I thought it was supposed to be eaten, not smeared on one’s face.
Ryan Dempster was brought in via free agency to help the Red Sox make a serious
push in a very tight American League pennant race. He is underachieving relative
to last season and his career. His season has been in a tailspin since the
All-Star break.
So what do you do to help your career? What do you do to help
your team, only one game ahead of the Tampa Bay Rays in the A.L. East at a time
of the season in which the significance of the outcome of every game is magnified?
You walk a leadoff runner in a manner so blatant that you are all but certain
to be suspended for five games (meaning you miss your next start and your team
needs to find a less desirable replacement). Why? You’re choosing now, in the
middle of August on national television, to be the sheriff of Major League
Baseball.
But wait! There’s more! So now you’ve pissed off one of the
best power hitters in the history of the game and given his team, which was
dead in the water two weeks ago but is now surging in part because of that
hitter, a rallying point…you fire up your archrival. What does he do? Goes 3
for 4, makes a jackass out of you by getting an RBI at your expense followed by
a homerun that gets them back in the game and gets you pulled out of the game. You
go on to get the loss and your slim division lead gets slimmer. Bravo! Nice
going! Cue in the “sports movie slow clap” for a job well done!
It's deep and I don't think it's playable. Dempster sure taught A-Rod a thing or two! 2
WHAT COMES OUT OF THE SOUTH END OF A NORTH BOUND BULL
I’m glad Dempster’s antics blew up in his face and the Red
Sox faces. I’m glad Rodriguez had the last laugh and proverbially danced on
Boston’s grave yesterday. I’m glad that every new development in this story
looks worse and worse for Major League Baseball and its interests in the public
eye.
Depmster isn’t holding up his end of the bargain when the
Red Sox signed him for $27 million for two years. He decided to be a champion
for the integrity of baseball. Because, of course, no Red Sox player ever
juiced.
Major League Baseball reaped the benefits of juiced up
players bashing out homeruns at unprecedented rates in the late 1990s and
re-engaging the fans it turned off in the strike-shortened, conclusion-less
season of 1994 with a more exciting, higher scoring offensive brand of baseball.
MLB decided to make a scapegoat out of its least likable, most polarizing, and
most overpaid superstar whose contract is an albatross on its most storied
franchise in its biggest market.
The Yankees enjoy an oppressive competitive advantage over
most other Major League Baseball teams because of its relatively limitless
ability to spend money on player salaries and the absence of a salary cap in
baseball. They knew they would be over paying Alex Rodriguez on the back end of
a 10 year, $250 million contract extension to which they signed Rodriguez,
taking effect following his American League Most Valuable Player award winning
season of 2007. They knew that the salary they were offering Rodriguez would
make it impossible for any other team to compete for his services because they
were overpaying him.
Some call this "funny". I call it "a motive". 3
YOU MADE YOUR BED, NOW LIE IN IT
The Yankees thought they were getting a company man whose
reputation would remain squeaky clean for the remainder of his career. They
thought they were getting a player who, even on the decline, would surpass
Barry Bonds’ record of 762 career home runs and do it in a Yankee uniform without
the taint of P.E.D.s. Their deep pockets and fiscal bullying in free agency
saddled them with possibly the worst value for a player’s contract in the
history of American sports.
MLB brought the hammer to 12 other first-offender players
tied to Biogenesis and then attempted launch a nuke on Rodriguez for the same
first offense, justifying the attempt at the augmented punishment with claims
of aggravating factors. Rodriguez is
still playing. He is playing so well that his contribution is impacting the pennant
race and rejuvenating a team that was left for dead before his return. He has embarrassed
every entity that has attempted to profit from his P.E.D. ties and controversial
image.
Dempster? Embarrassed…. The Red Sox? Embarrassed…. Yankees
GM Brian Cashman, who is dying to find any avenue to weasel out of some or all
of Rodriguez’s contract? Embarrassed almost weekly…. Major League Baseball Commissioner
Bud Selig? Embarrassed almost daily….
You get out what you put in. Something has stunk from the
beginning of the Biogenesis/Alex Rodriguez witch hunt. It appears that MLB is
completely full of crap.
I don't see too many signs like this for Bud Selig or Brian Cashman at MLB parks. Don't hate the player; hate the game. 5
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The New York Yankees trail the Detroit Tigers, 3-0, in the American League Championship Series. Third baseman and Hall of Fame resume holder Alex Rodriguez (.272, 18 HR, 57 RBI) has struggled in the series, badly, going 1 for 7 in the series and hitless against right handed pitchers. Rodriguez was scratched from the lineup for Games 3 and 4. Game for was postponed until today due to weather concerns, but A-Rod is expected to be on the bench when the game starts.
The sports media have poured generous amount of blame on Rodriguez. Following the Game 4 scratch, rumors have been rampant that the Yankees are seeking to deal Rodriguez, and the reported $114 million owed to him on the remaining 5 years of his contract, even if the Yankees would have to absorb up to 80% of the money owed. Those are the breaks of the game!
Just imagine, if Rodriguez just got his act together, the Bronx Bombers would be just a game away from returning to their first World Series in three years. Let’s have a look at Rodriguez’s performance in this series and contrast it to everyone else in pinstripes who is stepping his game up only to be let down by A-Rod.
These ladies are thrilled to be leaving the stadium holding A-Rod's balls. 1
Curtis Granderson, CF (0-10, 6 Ks, .000 BA, .167 OBP, .000 SLG) – A-Rod is holding him back.
If you don't succeed the first 10 times, try again. 3
Robinson Cano, 2B (1-14, 2Ks, .071 BA, .067 OBP, .071 SLG) – If Rodriguez just instilled a little more fear in opposing pitchers, they wouldn’t be so aggressive with Cano.
Cano is too valuable defensively to remove from the lineup. It didn't help him much in Game 2. Besides, defense isn't the problem. 4
Mark Teixeira, 1B (3-12, .250 BA, .333 SLG, 0 RBI) – See, this isn’t a putrid stat line at all (it isn’t really “good”, either). If only A-Rod had driven him home, this series would be headed back to New York.
Teixeira is putting the team on his back with three singles! 5
Nick Swisher, RF (2-8, 3 Ks, .250 BA, .375 SLG, 0 RBI) – Now THERE is leadership with the stick. Too bad A-Rod is killing the strong momentum!
I can hear NBC Dateline's Chris Hansen telling Swisher to, "Have a seat," after all of the strikeouts. 6
The Yankees should keep in mind that when you point one finger at someone else, there are three pointing back at you! 7
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Sports can often be a parallel of life. Like sports, as in life, great careers have a finite shelf life. There is a beginning, a rise, a peak, a decline, and an end. In professional sports, this cycle is much more rapid than in other professions in life. Just six weeks into the Major League Baseball season, we are seeing an example of how the downside of the player career cycle, if not handled properly, can distract, if not derail, the efforts of an entire team.
In the 15 seasons prior to the current MLB campaign, no single team has had more success than the New York Yankees. The Bronx Bombers, in that time span, have won 5 World Series championships, 7 American League championships, 11 American League East Division titles, and have made 14 playoff appearances. Two constants on the Yankees roster during that 15 year run have been shortstop Derek Jeter and catcher Jorge Posada.
1996 was a long time ago. 1
WHAT HAVE YOU DONE FOR ME LATELY?
Contract negotiations between Derek Jeter and the Yankees were a major hot stove headline this past offseason. Jeter, age 36, wanted a four year, eight figure contract. The Yankees were willing to offer three. The sides eventually came to an agreement on a fourth player option year with incentives and a buyout clause. Still, the negotiation process became very public and, at moments, very tense.
Jorge Posada, age 39, is in the final year of his contract, earning $13 million in 2011. The baseball world was abuzz with reports that Posada had asked out of Saturday’s lineup against the Boston Red Sox. Many media outlets speculated that Posada was disgruntled because he had been moved to the bottom of the Yankees’ batting order in the ninth position. Posada’s batting average had fallen to .165 as of Saturday.
Father Time is undefeated and untied. 2
Yankees manager Joe Girardi voiced his displeasure to the media with the situation. Prior to Sunday night’s game, Posada apologized to the Yankees fans, coaches, and players for his actions on Saturday. Jeter later told the media that he saw no cause for Posada to apologize and, according to ESPN’s sources, management was not pleased with Jeter’s public remarks on the situation.
Jeter is in his 16th year with the Yankees. In 2010, Jeter finished the regular season with a .270 batting average, the first time in his career he completed a full season with a batting average below .290 and far below his .313 career batting average. His 10 home runs, .340 on base percentage, .370 slugging percentage, and 1 sacrifice bunt were all career lows for Jeter. This season, Jeter is hitting .260. While a shortstop hitting .260 or .270 is better than the average Major League shortstop, clearly it is far below Jeter’s standard. Still the Yankees signed Jeter to a lucrative contract this past offseason that will pay him through age 40.
Posada was at or near career lows in the same batting categories in 2010. His disastrous start to this season is a clear signal that he is at the end of his career. Being moved from the field to the designated hitter spot and being moved to the bottom of the batting order sends another such signal. Girardi has a delicate situation on his hands.
THERE IS NO "I" IN "TEAM"
The Yankees are a team that should be in a three way battle for the American League East division, with the Tampa Bay Rays and the Boston Red Sox, in September. Players like Jeter and Posada are legendary, future Hall of Fame players (certainly for Jeter and probably for Posada). They are also fan favorites. Everyone on the team is entitled to respect and players of Jeter’s and Posada’s standing are deserving of a level of dignity and appreciation when personnel decisions, unflattering or unfavorable to them, are executed.
No team, expected to contend, needs the type of internal conflict that appears to be brewing in the Bronx. In addition, while Jeter is no longer dominant, he is still as productive as an average Major Leaguer on offense and won a Gold Glove last season, meaning he is far from washed up on defense, as important a contribution from the shortstop position as batting. Girardi must find a balance between the immediate needs of the team to win games now and the feelings of the legendary players responsible for the teams' past success and current affection of the fans.
At the same time, Jeter and Posada have responsibilities to which they should own up. Posada’s batting performance would cause most players to be benched, released, traded or sent down to the minors. Posada needs to own the fact that he is not pulling his weight on the team and Girardi needs to make the necessary changes to enable the Yankees to win. Jeter needs to recognize that the .260 hitting he is producing is less than what the Yankees have received from him at any time in the past. If the current course remains unchanged, it is only a mater of time before Jeter is removed from the Yankees' leadoff spot in the batting order.
Baseball is ultimately a team sport. Legendary veteran players have earned a degree of special favorable treatment. Most managers recognize this and the Yankees’ front office needs to grasp that reality, as cold and objective as it would like to be in personnel dealings. Still, Jeter and Posada need to come to grips with the fact that they are on the downsides of their careers and that, eventually, the team needs to move on in its own best interests.
Forget about the joker on the left. If Posada still made plays like this, I would not be writing this article today. 3
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1) Image from weblogs.wpix.com 2) Imagr from dero.net 3) Image from eboumsworld.com
