TwitterBrawling
26 May 2012
First let me say I’m a big Joe Maddon fan. When the Red Sox conducted their managerial interviews prior to the 2004 season, Maddon was on the list and I recall rooting for him because of his interest in blending sabermetrics with olde-timey baseball hunches. When the Sox hired Terry Francona, I was disappointed, goes to show what I know.
All of this brings us up to last night’s game, of which I saw very little. Relying on ESPN’s recap, I learned the Red Sox lost and there was a bench clearing incident. The Red Sox losing isn’t news and while a bench clearing moment is exciting, this one lacked much action. What was interesting was Maddon’s take on what precipitated the scuffle.
Here is the link from espn:
http://espn.go.com/boston/mlb/story/_/id/7974166/boston-red-sox-get-joe-maddon-tampa-bay-rays-fired-brawl
I have no doubt Franklin Morales was trying to hit Luke Scott but to read Maddon’s complete overreaction is amusing. To call the Red Sox coaches “incompetent,” plus many other things, is off the wall. So far this year, many Red Sox and Rays players have been hit by a pitch with several other pitches thrown with recklessness. Maddon clearly is viewing things through Rays-blue colored glasses.
And Scott, to think he can lambaste a town, team, fans and a park and not expect to be hit is downright naive. Scott talks a lot and sometimes talking can get you into trouble, as it should. Words carry weight. My money is on Scott getting dusted again this weekend.
Back to Maddon, he can call the Red Sox coaches, read: Bobby Valentine, incompetent, but he equally shares the blame as sailing a pitch over Daniel Nava sounds like it had purpose and even of it didn’t, it is a reckless act, dare I say an incompetent act.
Ah baseball, for such a ploddingly slow sport, it sure can generate excitement. Josh Beckett goes to tonight. Let’s see if he pitches incompetently.
May 26, 2012 @ 09:25:54
the problem will be that warnings will be issued to both benches either before the game or in the top of the 1st when Beckett plunks Scott as the #3 batter.
I think it will be before the game.
I too am surprised by Madden’s quotes. I too like(d) him to some degree.
btw Andy – you forgot to mention that Pedroia was hit yesterday and last week Gonzo was hit the day after saying he would hit a HR the next day.
The Rays are playing big-boy baseball these last few years (finally) and sound like cry-baby little brothers still.
May 26, 2012 @ 16:25:22
I think Maddon was right about who called for the hit on Scott (Bobby V). And yep, Maddon needs to stop crying big tears when he conveniently ignores just how many Sox players got plunked. The players really need to “rumble privately” before the game in some locker room, get all the BS done with and then play a baseball game.
Unfortunately, Maddon violated the unwritten baseball rules about what to say to media muffins.
According to Managing Media Muffins 101, as taught at BU, you’re supposed to shrug and say something totally stupid like, “boys will be boys”. You’re not supposed to say anything remotely approaching what you really think, that’s just going to get you a headline in some august journal like the Boston Herald or open you up to polite discourse, in hushed and educated tones, around the hallowed halls of such modern wonders like Fenway Pack.
Same thing goes for Luke Scott – that man needs to learn to appreciate just how charming and quaint a lovely ballpark Fewnway really is … along with just how focused, sober and polite its attendees always are. I wonder how Scott would compare Fenway to Citizens Bank Park. Man is still probably so clueless that he would probably give you an honest answer. LOL
May 26, 2012 @ 18:54:54
three shots at Fenway in a post about brawling and beanings. You’ve outdone yourself Mitchell. Thanks for the update, I had no idea how you felt about Fenway.
I think Fenway must fall into the same category as Ranger (hockey) Sean Avery. Love it/him if it is yours/on your team, hate him/it otherwise.
Again, thanks.
May 26, 2012 @ 19:18:29
I for one don’t hate Fenway. I appreciate the history that occurred there, but I also suspect Red Sox fans would go crazy if a new Fenway emerged. I base this on my reaction to the new Yankee Stadium. Sometimes I miss the old place. Then I sit in my seat that isn’t too small and get a beverage on a wide-open concourse with a small line and I don’t miss it so much anymore. And if I miss the old place, I can look across the street and see the kids swinging from the old home plate, trying to hit one in the same place where the Babe launched them from.
Parks I do love:
Wrigley (the rooftops packed with fans add an element that Fenway doesn’t have)
Dodger Stadium (So cool that you enter at the top and then have to go down to get to your seat)
Pac Bell (McCovey Cove is awesome as is the rest of it)
And my current favorite- PNC Park (It’s a shame the Pirates don’t draw any fans, but Andy and I sat about 15 rows behind home for $25 each and had an absolute blast.
Some I don’t:
Skydome (the turf stinks and it is enormous. Reminds me of the Astrodome which would make this list if baseball was still played there.)
Oakland (they have to wrap the upper deck because they don’t draw enough fans and the whole place is just bad.)
Citizens Bank (Yup, a new one, but it just didn’t do it for me. Terrible area and really tough to navigate around the park.)
That’s about it right now. Plenty of the old ones I hated are gone like the Metrodome, Montreal, Candlestick and the Astrodome.
May 26, 2012 @ 19:18:44
btw – they moved Scott down to 5th tonight, probably won’t see a HBP in the top of the 1st then…
May 26, 2012 @ 19:30:23
And BL
Avery isn’t a Ranger and please don’t bring up the Rangers for awhile.
May 26, 2012 @ 23:38:45
Actually, BL? About Fenway? Every time I attend a game there, it reminds me, in a really romantic way, of what it was like writing long term papers – on a typewriter. Actually, I think I’ll go with the quill and ink bottle image. Yeah, that’s the ticket. Yep, just like it – with quill and ink bottle, by candle light.
That’s four … bazinga.
Think I’ll go watch some replays of SB46. Good game, wasn’t it? Reminded me, a lot, of SB42 …
LOL.
May 27, 2012 @ 08:13:47
mitchell – right in the heart my friend, but you failed to twist the blade, roman numerals would have done that…anyway, if I visited Fenway more than once every few years I’d probably worry about the seats, the age, the nastiness, but alas, I get nostalgic instead.
Sorry Peter, I did a quick check online to find him and didn’t notice (until now) that it was the last three seasons he was with the team we won’t mention for a while, but only 15 games this year.
May 27, 2012 @ 10:02:06
Honestly, BL, with that green wall – it plays more like a jai-alai fronton. The seats are painful to use, the blahblahblah – you get the point. The team and the club REALLY deserve a good, comfortable stadium. Parallel – it’s a pleasure going to Gillette Stadium. The Pats and Pats fans lost nothing in that move, nothing.
Need something Roman? OK, de gustibus non est disputandum.
May 27, 2012 @ 10:26:56
I would be fine with an exact replica of the playing field, wall, triangle, closeness to the field, etc but with modern conveniences. Ownership spent a good bit of coin on propping up the stadium as is though.
I like Jai-alai.
close to 30 years since I worried about Latin. Ain’t going to start back now.
btw – there was negative (less than zero) history in Foxboro prior to Gillette Stadium being built.
May 27, 2012 @ 12:50:38
“In matters of taste there can be no disputes”
Rident stolidi verba Latina
The only problem with Gillette Stadium is that getting there and back is a nightmare unless you took the train. And the old place really was a garbage dump.
Probably the best parallel is the Shawmust/Bay Bank/Bank Boston/Fleet/TD North Center/Garden. The old historical place went away and the new place came in. I went to the Boston Garden once, sat around halfcourt about halfway up the first level. Couldn’t believe I had to practically put my head in the seat next to me to see under the overhang. To me the new place was a vast improvement.
May 27, 2012 @ 14:04:36
No matter how well you perfume the pig, it’s still treif.
May 30, 2012 @ 19:12:36
I like pork.
Anyway – here is an article that makes me appreciate the seats at Fenway, seriously.
Watching a game for 3 hours in an uncomfortable seat is a lot better than these seats and the entertainment you get in them : http://www.cnn.com/2012/05/30/travel/airline-seats/index.html?hpt=hp_t2