Reading the comments from Goose and Nettles make me realize that Game 3 was nothing compared to the animosity that the Yanks and Sox had toward each other in the 70s. Luckily, both teams are managed by low-key guys. Can you imagine what Games 3 would have ended up becoming if it had been Billy Martin managing the Yankees and Zimmer in the Boston dugout? They’d proabably still be out there brawling.
The question isn’t whether he was incapable of hurting Martinez, it’s how likely he could have. A person charging at another person is at a disadvantage, because the chargee can either move aside or counterattack, whereas the charger has only one option (i.e., keep moving forward).
I may have missed it, but I don’t recall anyone saying Martinez should have ignored Zimmer.
And to follow on your example, if your 69-year-old, out-of-shape father came charging at me in a fit of unbridled rage, I would definitely not counterattack - when people are enraged, they’re less capable of controlling themselves. If I stopped him and counterattacked, he’d be twice as mad. The smart thing would be to step aside. Smart and mature. Step aside, let the enraged beast pass, and let him cool off. If Martinez had had the wherewithal to do that, you can bet everyone from both teams would have rushed in between them, with no further harm done.
bmoak, darn tootin’!
It is interesting, especially for 2 contradicting comments by Gossage:
Oh my. It’s totally gutless to throw at someones head like those cowardly Sox. But if that Sox player mouthed off, I’d put a pitch in his ear.
What what WHAT???
Well, as I said - it’s a slightly colored viewpoint. To Goose,
Yankees = GOOD
Red Sox = BAD
Case closed, for him!
What’s good for the Goose is good for the gander.
[sub]I slay me!!![/sub]