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July 18, 2005
Jorgie & Manny
From The Globe:
For a few fleeting minutes, it appeared as if the Yankees might have stayed one inning too long. Trailing, 5-1, entering the ninth -- which had seminal moment written all over it -- Manny Ramirez led off with a prodigious blast to left-center off Tom Gordon. He finished his swing with an emphatic flourish that seemed to tick off Posada.
Posada followed Ramirez a few steps up the line, then turned for the third base line, perhaps to say something to Ramirez on his way home. But plate umpire Jerry Meals made sure to occupy Posada as Ramirez completed his trot. The two players did not exchange any words, at least not at that moment.
''We try to play the game the right way," Posada said later. ''That's the only thing I have to say. You're down by three runs."
Not exactly Fisk and Deion, but, still interesting. Jorge should know that he's talking to a wall though, when it comes to Manny.
Posted by Steve Lombardi at July 18, 2005 11:26 AM
Comments
Someone tell Jorge to shut up and get back behind the plate...
Posted by: Raf at July 18, 2005 01:08 PM
I'm with Raf on this one. Posada's got enough problems of his own without worrying about how Manny plays the game.
Posted by: hopbitters at July 18, 2005 01:27 PM
I actually don't mind Jorge saying something. The catcher is the leader on the field. He's in the perfect position for this because he has contact with those guys at about 4 times a game. If a player on the other team does something that's not exactly kosher, I think it's the catcher's duty to let that guy know. Especially if it can be taken that he's showing up your pitcher. I believe Pudge did the same thing to a guy on Tampa who hit a walk-off home run. Of course if you have pitchers on your team that will throw inside and brush guys back, Jorge's words may have a bit more meaning behind them.
But Steve's right, Manny ain't exactly all there so I doubt anything you told him would stick.
Posted by: Jen at July 18, 2005 03:12 PM
Hey, only Varitek is allowed to enforce any "baseball codes" behind the catcher's mask.
Posted by: JeremyM at July 19, 2005 12:29 AM
I believe Pudge did the same thing to a guy on Tampa who hit a walk-off home run. Of course if you have pitchers on your team that will throw inside and brush guys back, Jorge's words may have a bit more meaning behind them.**
Yeah, I caught that. I'd offer the same advice to Pudge. There's nothing wrong with exhibiting emotion on the diamond, unless it's something stupid, like Rob Dibble used to do.
If a pitcher gets upset because he feels someone's "showing him up" after a home run, I suggest he make better pitches.
Posted by: Raf at July 19, 2005 10:06 AM
Call me old fashioned, but I have no tolerance for the bat flipping, chest pounding stuff that guys like Manny do, the stuff that has nothing to do with emotion and everything to do with "look at what I just did, ain't I great". I don't want to see the batters box turn into an NFL endzone.
Posted by: Jen at July 19, 2005 12:09 PM
Showmanship has been around for as long as I can remember. Remember the antics of Pascual Perez, The Bird and "The Mad Hungarian?" The Eck, The Animal, and Roger McDowell? Tug McGraw slapping his glove on his leg? Pedro pointing to the sky?
You remember how Reggie Jackson sometimes used to have the slower than slow home run trot? Or how he would admire some of his moonshots (the oft repeated shot off the light tower, in 1971, for instance)? How 'bout Mickey Rivers' bat twirl? Rickey Henderson's snatch catch?
What about the fans? The Bleacher Creatures? You remember Wild Bill Hagy, from Baltimore? Used to dance on the dugout roof. One of the coolest things I remember from O's games was the late Rex Barney, punctuating every anouncement with a long "Thank Yeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeewwwwwwwwwwwww." Or when O's fans chant "O" during the National Anthem.
It's all part of the game. Part of the MLB experience.
Speaking of the MLB Experience, allow me to go off topic with a "rant;" I miss organ music. I miss Tiger Stadium. I miss the way the Kingdome got crazy, towards the end. I miss the San Diego Chicken. I miss Comiskey Park and the exploding scoreboard. I miss the seagulls at Exhibition Stadium. I miss pullover jerseys, and drawstring pants. I miss road blues. I miss the ping pong turf @ Kansas City & Minnesota. I miss seeing 3,000 people at an Indians game. I miss Montreal (and I will never forgive Selig & Co for what they did to that franchise). I miss Earl Weaver. I miss Billy Martin. I miss Tommy LaSorda. I miss The Baseball Bunch. I miss the baseball I watched when I was growing up... Man, do I feel old (:
Posted by: Raf at July 19, 2005 02:21 PM