# Is Alex Rodriguez a bad sportsman? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [May 31, 2007, 2:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-alex-rodriguez-a-bad-sportsman/406187 "2007-05-31T14:05:15Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 19\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2007, 2:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-alex-rodriguez-a-bad-sportsman/406187/61 "2007-06-01T14:59:34Z")
[QUOTE=Quercus] Just saw a good analogy: a defensive lineman yelling ‘hut’ in order to get the offence to false-start. It was claimed this is illegal. Anyone know for sure? [/QUOTE] Yes, that’s against the rules. ---
**Author:** ![DudleyGarrett](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d9b06d/32.png) [@DudleyGarrett](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DudleyGarrett)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2007, 3:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-alex-rodriguez-a-bad-sportsman/406187/62 "2007-06-01T15:15:50Z")
[QUOTE=Cheesesteak] I wouldn’t actually mind the balk rule if it didn’t seem to be universally applied when pitchers inadvertantly violate the rule under pressure situations. Let the players play, and let that decide the outcome. [/QUOTE] Conversely, if pitchers know the rules and flake out (due to a pressure situation), then they should suffer the consequences if they break them. I’d agree with you if a pitcher addressing the rubber in preparation to pitch wasn’t so rigidly monitored, but it is. I can’t remember the last time a pitcher committed a balk and wasn’t called on it. Consequences for Benitez? Lost the game and was traded. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2007, 3:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-alex-rodriguez-a-bad-sportsman/406187/63 "2007-06-01T15:22:04Z")
[QUOTE=DudleyGarrett] I’d agree with you if a pitcher addressing the rubber in preparation to pitch wasn’t so rigidly monitored, but it is. I can’t remember the last time a pitcher committed a balk and wasn’t called on it. [/QUOTE] It’s widely claimed that most lefties balk every time they turn and throw to first base. ---
**Author:** ![DudleyGarrett](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d9b06d/32.png) [@DudleyGarrett](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DudleyGarrett)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2007, 3:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-alex-rodriguez-a-bad-sportsman/406187/64 "2007-06-01T15:27:18Z")
[QUOTE=Marley23] It’s widely claimed that most lefties balk every time they turn and throw to first base. [/QUOTE] Do you have a cite for that? Oftentimes lefties who are throwing to first step just shy of the rubber without crossing it. ---
**Author:** ![gonzomax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e8c25b/32.png) [@gonzomax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzomax)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2007, 4:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-alex-rodriguez-a-bad-sportsman/406187/65 "2007-06-01T16:32:27Z")
Pine Tar Spit Balls Vaseline Balls Corking Bats (the way they are breaking now they may be made of cork now) Slowing the opponents running by leaving a hose on and wetting diamond stealing signals sliding into 2nd baseman to bust up double play when he is far off bag You got a problem with yelling. Get real. That is baseball ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2007, 4:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-alex-rodriguez-a-bad-sportsman/406187/66 "2007-06-01T16:46:34Z")
[QUOTE=DudleyGarrett] Do you have a cite for that? [/QUOTE] I’ve heard the accusation made by a few different announcers over the years. I’m not saying it’s true, just that the view is out there. ---
**Author:** ![wonky](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wonky/32/393_2.png) [@wonky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonky)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2007, 7:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-alex-rodriguez-a-bad-sportsman/406187/67 "2007-06-01T19:11:03Z")
I disagree that this would fall under the definition of interference. I disagree that it is currently against the rules. I agree that it was pretty childish. I disagree that it is a big issue. And if he gets hit in the head by a pitch by a Blue Jay, the pitcher should be suspended. ---
**Author:** ![storyteller0910](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecae2f/32.png) [@storyteller0910](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/storyteller0910)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2007, 7:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-alex-rodriguez-a-bad-sportsman/406187/68 "2007-06-01T19:27:15Z")
[QUOTE=gonzomax] Pine Tar [/QUOTE] If used to garner an unfair advantage, cheating. Player should be ejected. > [@](#): > > Spit Balls Cheating. > [@](#): > > Vaseline Balls Cheating. > [@](#): > > Corking Bats (the way they are breaking now they may be made of cork now) Cheating, and pitiful at that. > [@](#): > > Slowing the opponents running by leaving a hose on and wetting diamond I’d never heard this before. > [@](#): > > stealing signals Generally accepted if done without the aid of technology, and not particularly egregious because it’s not dangerous. It also doesn’t seem quite so panicky and weak. > [@](#): > > sliding into 2nd baseman to bust up double play when he is far off bag When he’s far off the bag? Dirty, and dangerous. > [@](#): > > You got a problem with yelling. Get real. That is baseball. See, it doesn’t work like this. I think what Rodriguez did the other day looked pitiful and weak, the act of a player who for all his talent, lacks confidence in it sufficient to skip the third grade goofiness and win with the bat and the glove. If A-Rod wants to yell at Howie Clark and try to make him drop a pop fly, he can. It’s not against the rules. And no one is advocating that A-Rod be suspended or fined or tried in a Court of Wussyness and summarily hanged. But if enough people think, as I do, that it makes him look weak and pathetic, _then it does._ And it does. It may be “baseball;” that doesn’t make the person who did it worthy of respect. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2007, 8:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-alex-rodriguez-a-bad-sportsman/406187/69 "2007-06-01T20:54:22Z")
[QUOTE=WordMan] - The third baseman should’ve caught the ball - stepping aside was bush league. And he was shamed and over-reacted, also bush league. [/QUOTE] If you don’t know what happened, don’t comment on it. The third baseman, Howie Clark, actually didn’t react much at all; he properly allowed his manager and the veterans to do the reacting for him. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2007, 9:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-alex-rodriguez-a-bad-sportsman/406187/70 "2007-06-01T21:56:17Z")
[QUOTE=VarlosZ] Show me the part of the rule that says verbally confusing the fielder is illegal [/QUOTE] It’s up to the discretion of the umpire, and I’ve heard one retired MLB umpire say the umps working that game dropped the ball. ---
**Author:** ![Morbo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/morbo/32/389_2.png) [@Morbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morbo)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2007, 1:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-alex-rodriguez-a-bad-sportsman/406187/71 "2007-06-02T01:18:53Z")
And now Joe Torre is saying it was [out of line](http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=2890628). ---
**Author:** ![gonzomax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e8c25b/32.png) [@gonzomax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzomax)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2007, 1:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-alex-rodriguez-a-bad-sportsman/406187/72 "2007-06-02T01:53:15Z")
The incident has no impact on my opinion of him. He is an athlete. I do not admire or give him any thought other than his baseball abilities. I like baseball. I am watching the Tigers beat Cleveland right now. I do not much care about their personal lives nor do I expect them to be models for children. They are baseball players. ---
**Author:** ![wonky](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wonky/32/393_2.png) [@wonky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonky)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2007, 2:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-alex-rodriguez-a-bad-sportsman/406187/73 "2007-06-02T02:40:14Z")
[QUOTE=gonzomax] I am watching the Tigers beat Cleveland right now. [/QUOTE] No, you ain’t. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![mhendo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mhendo/32/3159_2.png) [@mhendo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mhendo)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2007, 2:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-alex-rodriguez-a-bad-sportsman/406187/74 "2007-06-02T02:42:54Z")
[QUOTE=jsgoddess] No, you ain’t. 😃 [/QUOTE] Holy shit! Five runs in the bottom of the ninth. That’s about as bad as Baltimore’s loss to the Red Sox a couple of weeks ago. ---
**Author:** ![Wee\_Bairn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/90db22/32.png) [@Wee\_Bairn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wee_Bairn)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2007, 2:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-alex-rodriguez-a-bad-sportsman/406187/75 "2007-06-02T02:50:28Z")
Regardless of right or wrong, watching the video, he just looks like a total pussy doing it. ---
**Author:** ![Omniscient](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omniscient/32/3290_2.png) [@Omniscient](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omniscient)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2007, 7:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-alex-rodriguez-a-bad-sportsman/406187/76 "2007-06-04T19:26:54Z")
[QUOTE=Morbo] Are you talking about a Major League game? Because I have _never_ seen it in over 30+ years of watching and attending MLB games. I’ve seen it plenty in little league or beer leagues, but in MLB? Not once I can recall. I also don’t recall seeing it watching highlights of another game - since you say you’ve seen it work a few times, I’d probably remember because they would probably show it. Much like the many times they showed Mike Lowell successfully using the [hidden ball trick](javascript:void(playMedia2({w\_id:‘442477’,w:‘2005/open/topplays/archive08/081005\_ariflo\_lowell\_hiddenball\_350.wmv’,pid:%20’mlb\_tp’,gid:%20’2005/08/10/arimlb-flomlb-1’,cid:%20’mlb’,fid:%20’mlb\_tp350’,v:‘2’}))) for the D-Backs back in 2005. Maybe we should take a poll in IMHO - “how many major league baserunners in a major league game have you seen yell ‘MINE!’ or ‘HAH!’ or whatever to get an outfielder to drop a pop fly?” [/QUOTE] Doug Stewart of Altanta’s _2 Live Stews_ sports radio show is on ESPN’s _1st and 10_ today and he said that he interviewed Dave Parker this week and he stated that this type of thing isn’t uncommon and that he himself “did it all the time”. Can’t find a link to a print version as a cite, but the comment is credible and verifiable. Unless there’s reason to believe that Dave Parker is a liar-liar-pants-on-fire, I think it’s fair to say that this type of thing isn’t universally shunned or unheard of at the MLB level. ---
**Author:** ![gonzomax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e8c25b/32.png) [@gonzomax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzomax)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2007, 7:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-alex-rodriguez-a-bad-sportsman/406187/77 "2007-06-04T19:58:33Z")
Tiger reliever Todd Jones writes a weekly article for the Det. free Press. he said the ARod incident was inexcusable and players are angry at it. I may be wrong. I thought baseball was all about getting away with as much as possible. Historically they have done so. But apparently there are boundaries that you do not cross. That oddly may have been one. ---
**Author:** ![Gangster\_Octopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a8b319/32.png) [@Gangster\_Octopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gangster_Octopus)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2007, 8:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-alex-rodriguez-a-bad-sportsman/406187/78 "2007-06-04T20:20:03Z")
[QUOTE=gonzomax] Tiger reliever Todd Jones writes a weekly article for the Det. free Press. he said the ARod incident was inexcusable and players are angry at it. I may be wrong. I thought baseball was all about getting away with as much as possible. Historically they have done so. But apparently there are boundaries that you do not cross. That oddly may have been one. [/QUOTE] Maybe that’s because baseball players are crybabies. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2007, 8:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-alex-rodriguez-a-bad-sportsman/406187/79 "2007-06-04T20:28:44Z")
[QUOTE=gonzomax] I thought baseball was all about getting away with as much as possible. Historically they have done so. But apparently there are boundaries that you do not cross. That oddly may have been one. [/QUOTE] Or they could be hypocrites. Looks like there’s a lot of that going on around baseball these days. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-alex-rodriguez-a-bad-sportsman/406187.md?page=3)