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Rodriguez's call-out leaves Jays fuming

ROBERT MACLEOD

From Thursday's Globe and Mail

Latest comment posted at 7:02 PM EST 01/06/07

Yankees star breaks unwritten rule by confusing Toronto players tracking an infield fly, writes Robert MacLeod ...Read the full article

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  1. Tony! Tony! from Canada writes: A-Rod = Bush League. Judging from the replay, he definitely yelled something at Clark as he passed him. Unbelievable for a so-called "All-Star".

    It was encouraging, however, to see the Jays scrap their way back into this one until that pop-up. And, man, I loved how angry Ernie Whitt got. He looked like he was going to murder A-Rod!
  2. Shiyam Pillai from Waterloo, Canada writes: Remember A-rod's stunt against Boston in the playoffs? Slapping the ball out of the players glove on a close play at first base? I think that's how it happened.

    As for the Jays, lots of good things happening past couple of weeks. AJ showing some moxie, McCowan learning that chucking the ball ain't enought in the Majors (pitchers are supposed to pitch!) and maybe catching on, Marcum being a Lilly-like clone (6 innings/ <3 runs) and solid relief pitching.

    Don't think Jays have it in them to get back in the Wild Card hunt but have to like the way they're playing.
  3. Vasili Yeremenko from Canada writes: Quite a weekend for Arod in Toronto.
  4. Rex's Experiment from T-Dot, Canada writes: The fact that there is no rule for something like this just shows how out of touch baseball is now with certain rules (every sport has rules governing sportsmanship or bringing the game into disrepute). A game that may have been played by gentlemen or people of some honour are not playing anymore.
    Hopefully Canada Customs gives A-Rod their 'full' attention when he returns.
  5. Allan Wexler from Toronto, Canada writes: Rex, there is a rule and it falls under "interference". When a player takes any action which "confuses" another player, that is interference. The umps should have called A-Rod out and Gibbons should have protested the game. Clearly, Gibbons doesn't know the rules which is understandable since he is a high school manager, but the umps blew the call. Perhaps they didn't hear A-Rod yell "Mine". I'm more angry with the ridiculous manner in which this manager used the pitching staff last night and his insistence on maintaining Frank Thomas in the lineup when he is obviously unable to produce. When he does get on base, he clogs the track. The manager is the worst in baseball and with him, the Jays have no chance. Overbay and Wells are also not hitting, but at least they produce by fielding their position.
  6. Al Gransden from Toronto, Canada writes: A-Rod is a classless pig of a person.

    Joe Torre - message from Toronto - Get a grip on your club and players and knock some sense and class back into them before you lose your job - which is inevitable either way.
  7. greg smith from Toronto, Canada writes: Cmon all this crap to cover up a blown play. Are you tellin me that in a football game you can't yell look out as in the old look out block. Guy's in football know it. You always see these bums after they blow a play because of ineptitude find some big excuse why they blew the play. This has to be one of the worst excuses I have heard an athlete use yet. As a player it is your responsibility to concentrate on the ball and execute the play to the end. That's like when players stop or let up when they think the play should be dead when they have seen a foul and think the ref has also seen it and called it. The play is live until the person who is responsible ie. the ref whistles the play dead.
  8. Dare Devil from Toronto, writes: Yankees.....You call that a win???? I'll take my Blue-jays loss over that kind of "win" any day of the week! As for Rodriguez?....I sure wouldn't want him playing on my team.... He's an embarrassment!
  9. greg smith from Toronto, Canada writes: Interference rat''s a#@ . Are you tellin me that an athlete yelling during the game is interference. Were you reading the rules in chess? C'mon stop givin these bums excuses when they pull a bone head play!
  10. Big Silver from Canada writes: It's been a while since I played university ball, but I don't believe speaking is necessarily interference. Most umps would be very hesitant to say what A-Rod did was interference, unless they heard exactly what he said very explicitly, and probably not even then.

    That being said, if the next Blue Jays pitcher he faces smacks him upside the hip, the umpire won't likely say anything then either, as it should be.
  11. Jack Nider from Winnipeg, Canada writes: I would have punched him out.
  12. Knowledge is True Opinion from Canada writes: Greg have you ever played baseball? Clearly he was going to make the catch until he thought Johnny Mac called him off. He clearly stepped aside. He didn't "boot" the ball then make an excuse.

    People may yell things in other sport but baseball has had the distinction of having more tradition and overall more class.

    Players know what right and what wrong on the field. You can take out the catcher or the the second baseman to break up a double play but this is something you just don't do.

    Maybe class and proper ediquette is lost on you.
  13. Stew Davidson from Guelph, Canada writes: I was at the game. Clark was pretty much camped under the ball until ARod (who slowed down to get behind him) called 'Mine'. Its Clark's first game with the Jays this year, so I'm sure he couldn't tell whether it was Johnny Mac calling or not. The umps blew the call...they didn't have the guts to make the correct call, probably because it was the Yankees. The Jays did play a good game in coming back from the 5 run deficit, but just couldn't get over the hump. The Yanks look like garbage, even though they managed to win the game. If Litsch had any stuff last night, the Jays sweep!!! Go Jays Go!
  14. mike d from Canada writes: greg smith obviously didn't see the play in question (and thus what a valuable opinion!) or he would realize that it was not a "blown play". Clark was under the ball -- an infield fly -- and there was no question he would have had it, but for A-Rod yelling -- not just yelling at random, but right behind Clark, right before the catch. Thus Clark thought he was being called off by the shortstop, whose call has priority. That's A-Rod's fault, that's interference -- and that's also an embarrassing way to play the game. You just gotta hope it comes around on them too.
  15. K Miles from Guelph, Canada writes: Coached 14 seasons of baseball. Would have been furious if under any circumstances one of my players did somethings like this. Baseball still has a lot of folks who believe in sportsmanship. The Yankees are a class-less bunch - if any of them encouraged A-Rod. It's unclear whether it would be called as interference - but Ernie Witt's reaction and fury expressed mine as well. It is really about 'how you play the game' and not winning or losing. Otherwise - sport is pointless, ignoble. Can you picture Paul Molitor, Cal Ripken, or others acting in the same fashion? No. A-Rod better be stretching well prior to his next meeting with the Jays, 'cause a pitch just might get away to remind him that what goes around . . .
  16. J Dick from Toronto, Canada writes: Is this what the Yankess have become?
    Is this the only way that they can win games?

    I guess 250 Million doesn't buy you any class.

    Please don't think that A-Rod's behaviour reflects Yankee fans in general. Real Yankee fans consider A-Rod to be an embarassment to the game.
  17. boz dobbs from Canada writes: Maybe his stripper girlfriend told him to try that trick.I think arod would like the yankees to go on three month road trip before he meets up with his wife again.
  18. Art Mah from Calgary, writes: I hope the next time he comes up against the Jays, that they bury the first pitch either into his ribs or at his hands. There is no room for this kind of garbage, especially from this supposed poster boy. But then again, it ranks up there with his weakest moments as a ballplayer along with his two-handed slap a couple of years ago.

    For someone who is supposedly concerned about his image, he sure ain't acting like it.
  19. Scenic Sask! from Canada writes: To quote the classless arod -
    "I couldn't care less -- they have their opinions," Rodriguez said. "We're looking not to be swept. It really didn't make a difference. We won."
    Wake up arod. Baseball is not "do anything it takes to win." Baseball has more class than that. Get some.

    Once again arod gives the Yankees a black eye. Baseball's highest paid player is "bush league" at best.

    Baseball has no place for the likes of arod!
  20. a saigaonkara from ottawa, Canada writes: I believe that this was A-Rod's way of diverting the post-game discussion from other off-field issues.
  21. greg smith from Toronto, Canada writes: Well well for those of you who seem to be taking me playing the devil's advocate personally Rat's A@%! For those of you who have responded intelligently we understand it is a game and offer some form of retribution in the way of hitting him with a pitch etc.. But for the life of me Fans are a crazy breed. Coach Miles you should know what ARod pulled is the oldest trick in the BOOK! He made Howie look like a fool! All's fair in FUN, Love, and Games. Of course unless you get caught. As for the characters who feel the need to personally attack a persons level of class or ediquette as the one that contradicts his name get a life! If games were played to the level of unwritten laws and didn't try to get away with some form of advantage such as linemen in football holding. Oh to answer a couple of questions yes I played baseball yes I saw the play and yes I played football and if they called holding in football there would be a whistle every play. So die hard fans get over it! I would be more upset if they didn't do something to try to win.
  22. Scenic Sask! from Canada writes: Just to point out arod's guilt, he initially admitted to have said something only after rounding third base. Then must have realized the replay camera clearly shows him shout (something starting with an "M" - - not HA) as he passed behind Howie Clarke.

    Send him to the minors, or lower!
  23. Rover Rollover from Canada writes: Quit your whining Jays fans, you remind me of the Leaf nation! Yeah A-rod pulled a nasty and should have been called for interference, but if I'm Torre I thank him for helping to win a game.
    C'mon, its just another no-class incident in the wonderful world of sports in the 21st century, get over it.
  24. Al Gransden from Toronto, Canada writes: greg smith-

    learn to spell.
  25. Brent Van Osch from Kitchener, Canada writes: Because he can play the game well, the fact that he doesn't use good judgement and has questionable extra-marital activities will only sell more tickets so that people can admire his skills and heckle him. More value for the fan's money?
  26. greg smith from Toronto, Canada writes: Sorry Big Al didn't have spell check on.
  27. Evan Malarky from Calgary, Canada writes: I feel bad for Clark who was in his first game of the year after being called up, but what about poor Brian Wolfe. He was in first ever major league appearance on the mound after 9 straight years in the minors. His first major league opponent was the current batting .avg leader in the whole league! And first time Wolfe denied him of a hit....until one of the most unsportsmanlike incidents I have ever seen in baseball occurred.
  28. Knowledge is True Opinion from Canada writes: Nice argument their Greg. People brake the rules in other sports and people don't mind. That's precisely the argument most are presenting. Baseball is different because the players do have a higher level of class. That's why character like Bonds are booed.

    All is not fair in sports and I'm glad so many fans have a problem with this. I'm glad so many fans can see that this was a classless act.

    People "stretch" the rules all the time to gain an advantage. Sure, that's a reality but it doesn't make it right. It out of control in all professional sports but again that doesn't mean we should accept it.

    So if you cannot recognize that this act was in fact classless then I stick by my initial comment. do to the obvious fact you can't recognize the behaviour must mean that you don't infact posses the trait.
  29. Andrew D from Toronto, Canada writes: If A-Rod broke the code, you get back to him under the code. A nice Halladay heater high and tight. Bet on it.
  30. Joseph Daniel from Oakville, Canada writes: I think he said to clark "mine what a great pair of .....legs that stripper ha-ad" And then he told clark how his wife is right now getting schooled by Jason' kidd's ex on how to take him to the cleaners when he gets home next week.
  31. mike d from Canada writes: Andrew D, I'm gonna throw you a high tight heater, you fascist bum. Thought I might find you in here. I guess you were in your usual seats, three rows back?
  32. Greg C from Mississauga, Canada writes: Let me get this straight. In a sport where the fielders: fake tag, pull the hidden ball trick, routinely fake out runners as to whether or not the ball has been hit and where, steal signs, through pitches at batters heads, charge the mound and run over catchers, a runner trying to decieve someone catching the ball is the end of the world? This isn't you local little league or slo-pitch team where all of this is frowned upon or even outlawed. This is pro sports. The rules are different. Those of you who comment on what happens where you play, or where you coach have no sense of accurate comparison. Baseball "has more class"? Get real. Ty Cobb "spikes up", Whitey Ford beanballs, Nolan Ryan saying that if anyone charged the mound he wanted the catcher to give him the ball back ASAP, so he could throw it at the batter again; Pete Rose destroying the catcher in an All Star game, Roberto Alomar spitting on someone, the opposing team not helping opposing players when they could break their legs on dugout stairs, how many more examples do you want? The game has been filled with "unacceptable" actions for a long, long time. What A-Rod did, you may not like it, but similar things happen all the time. As for "interference". No way. Otherwise see, fake tag, etc. for other forms of your definition of "interference". The real mistake was, if the Jays felt that wronged, the next batter should have been beaned. That's how it works in the game. Sportmanship of not.
  33. greg smith from Toronto, Canada writes: Hmmm? I appreciate the fact you recognize my argument though it be in jest as the devil even though Big Al is a bit anal in worrying about my spelling again Al it's all in jest. Lighten up. Must be a Jays fan. I must admit I am not a baseball fan and yep I need spell check but at least I have enough class to use my own given name and not some alias. As far as having class if throwing a baseball at over 90 miles an hour at a player's head supposedly because he is at fault for crowding the plate and it is acceptable as you state baseball players have class then I would pride myself in saying if that's class no I don't. I consider class an opion like elbows everyone has a couple of them.
  34. boz dobbs from Canada writes: sure he was safe on 3rd base.but at home his wife was screaming Your ouuuut.
  35. Andrew D from Toronto, Canada writes: mike d...actually, no, I was in a private box with a blonde stripper. I hope my wife doesn't find out, or I might just take a high heater of my own.

    MINE!
  36. mr ballistic from toronto, Canada writes: take it easy, it was a great play, if its not against the rules, then its allowed!!!
  37. Jack Nider from Winnipeg, Canada writes: Still woulda punched him out. Think about it. First game call up and you knock the highest paid player in the nose for being a classless a-hole.
    Take the ten game suspension and watch you be loved in every ball park in America.
  38. K Miles from Guelph, Canada writes: Mr Smith. Most commenters agree the play was poor sportmanship - but also the reaction from the Big League players (Glaus) that they hadn't seen anything like it in many years, in their MAJOR LEAGUE playing careers. That said as coach, my team had a waiting list of players each year and our player's parents put on their child's form that they wanted their child to continue on our team. The other teams that played as you describe the game, lost players continually. I have grown men and women coming up to me years later saying that we were the best coaches they ever had. That's worth more than the few games we lost because we didn't take advantage and played with dignity - something a few won't understand but most will.
  39. Darren Cargill from Windsor, Canada writes: For everyone out there trying to justify A-Rod's "Ha!" (a.k.a. "Mine!"),
    one more thing to consider. One of the reasons that players call for a ball is to prevent collisions and accidents from occuring between fielders. Sure, in this case it was less likely to occur but nonetheless it is a consideration. So when you add it all up, while it wasn't against the written rules, it was an act in poor sportsmanship and potentially dangerous to another player. Given A-Rod's prior record (slapping a ball out, tackling second basemen, calling out teammates, etc.), I think the evidence is beginning to stack up that his guy cares more about himself than he does about the spirit of the game.

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