Dallas Braden vs. ARod (2 Viewers)

[Dr. Awesome]

So was that Dallas Braden(notes) or Clint Eastwood's character from Gran Torino that beat the Yankees to move his season record to 3-0 on Thursday?

After listening to Braden go on a rant against Alex Rodriguez(notes) for breaking what he considers an unwritten baseball rule, it was pretty hard to tell.

Braden's big beef: In the sixth inning of the A's 4-2 victory, Rodriguez went from first to third on a foul ball by Robinson Cano(notes). His trip back to first took him right over the pitcher's mound, an unspoken no-no that ticked Braden off right away.

After a double play ended the inning, the 26-year-old pitcher immediately started yelling at A-Rod — watch it here — who claimed he didn't know he had done anything wrong

He also claimed he didn't know Braden was talking to him at first.

Said Rodriguez:

"He just told me to get off his mound. I was a little surprised. I'd never quite heard that. Especially from a guy that has a handful of wins in his career ... I thought it was pretty funny actually."

Said Braden:

"He should probably take a note from his captain over there and realize you don't cross the pitcher's mound in between an inning or during the game. I was just dumbfounded that he would let that slip his mind — being someone of such status."

"I don't care if I'm Cy Young or the 25th man on the roster, if I've got the ball in my hand and I'm on that mound, that's my mound ... He ran across the pitcher's mound foot on my rubber. No, not happening. We're not the door mat anymore."

Those weren't the only things that Braden said in his stand against an eventual Hall of Famer. You can read more of them at MLB.com or listen to his interview at the LoHud Yankees Blog.

I'd really recommend that you do both because it's fascinating to see just how worked up Braden got after thinking A-Rod had "disrespected" him with that move.

On one hand, it's nice for A's fans to see that one of their young guns won't cede any ground or be intimidated by one of the best players on the defending world champs. I'm also always up for any time a baseball player breaks cliche-mode and goes off the script.

But on the other, there's something to be said for knowing your spot in the game and earning enough capital to call out an eventual Hall of Famer over something so petty.

Braden may get there one day ... but he's not quite there yet.

http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/blog/big_leagu...?urn=mlb,236110

Thoughts?

 

[Eephus]

Rodriguez has been in the majors for 17 years. He ought to know not to cross the pitchers mound. It's pretty standard baseball etiquette.

and to Braden for calling him out on it, and for being 3-0

 

[Dr. Awesome]

Mesa, Ariz. — Dallas Braden has joked often that the only thing that would keep him from pitching is if his left foot actually were cut off.

Braden has battled nerve problems in that foot since treatment for a rash went wrong last season and a nerve was accidentally severed during a biopsy. He was told by a neurologist this week that he will not regain the feeling in two toes and the left side of his foot.

Then, Friday, Braden woke up with redness and swelling on his left shin and was sent to the doctor with a possible staph infection. The doctor advised Braden not to pitch, without success.

"They told me I won't pitch, and I said, 'Yeah, you think so? See you in Mesa,' " Braden said after allowing five hits and two runs in six innings against the Cubs. He walked two and struck out one.

Asked if he'd been given antibiotics, Braden shrugged and said no. "It will be gone tomorrow," he said, "the power of positive thinking."

The A's had another starter lined up, but pitching coach Curt Young wasn't surprised that Braden refused to be scratched.

"Dallas stayed out there and pitched when he took a line drive off his wrist last year," Young said. "When it's his day, he's going to pitch. His shin is a little swollen, but it will subside and he'll make his next start."

Braden's numb foot caused him to lose his balance once, and he uncorked a 45-foot pitch. He also gave up a homer to Marlon Byrd on a cutter that was down and in.

"That was a pitch to block," Braden said. "I don't even know how he hit it. He's a great hitter. ... Can we get him?"

This guy is one of my favorites in the league.

 

[awesomeness]

Nothing new, A-Rod has already shown complete disregard for any type of standard baseball etiquette. Him yelling at a shortstop to try and distract him from catching a popup was the most child-like act i've ever seen in the MLB.

 

[Dr. Awesome]

I'm thinking about trading him away in my fantasy league...I hate him that much. Total #####.

 

[Encyclopedia Brown]

He seems like an angry version of Kige Ramsey.

 

[Smack Tripper]

I think arod knew what he was doing and it worked. He disseed this kid and got in his kitchen while gettng the last laugh with the win, however. I would almost like it bit it runs contrary to the tone jeter sets. A little gamesmanship never hurt anyone though.

I do think this kid is a bit of a clown getting strong on arod though. He's an easy target as the lightening rod and I agree with the notion that if you got a problem, you're the guy with the ball in your hand, do something about it Nancy, don't give an, well, frankly, an arod style press conference about how this is your mound. We know it is ultimate warrior, now prove it don't talk about it.

Hell as a first baseman in my youth, I had a psycho pitcher friend who would drill a guy and then drill him a few more times when I would "miss" the throw to first

 

[Limp Ditka]

I think arod knew what he was doing and it worked. He disseed this kid and got in his kitchen while gettng the last laugh with the win, however. I would almost like it bit it runs contrary to the tone jeter sets. A little gamesmanship never hurt anyone though.

I do think this kid is a bit of a clown getting strong on arod though. He's an easy target as the lightening rod and I agree with the notion that if you got a problem, you're the guy with the ball in your hand, do something about it Nancy, don't give an, well, frankly, an arod style press conference about how this is your mound. We know it is ultimate warrior, now prove it don't talk about it.

Hell as a first baseman in my youth, I had a psycho pitcher friend who would drill a guy and then drill him a few more times when I would "miss" the throw to first

A's won, but don't let that get in the way of the point you're trying to make.

 

[whoknew]

ARod's a jackass but two things:

1) I've never heard of this unwritten rule. I can see the logic in it - why you wouldn't want someone running over the mound. But I'd never heard of it before.

2) Braden overreacted.

 

[Smack Tripper]

I think arod knew what he was doing and it worked. He disseed this kid and got in his kitchen while gettng the last laugh with the win, however. I would almost like it bit it runs contrary to the tone jeter sets. A little gamesmanship never hurt anyone though.

I do think this kid is a bit of a clown getting strong on arod though. He's an easy target as the lightening rod and I agree with the notion that if you got a problem, you're the guy with the ball in your hand, do something about it Nancy, don't give an, well, frankly, an arod style press conference about how this is your mound. We know it is ultimate warrior, now prove it don't talk about it.

Hell as a first baseman in my youth, I had a psycho pitcher friend who would drill a guy and then drill him a few more times when I would "miss" the throw to first

A's won, but don't let that get in the way of the point you're trying to make.

Does that help?

 

[Limp Ditka]

I think arod knew what he was doing and it worked. He disseed this kid and got in his kitchen while gettng the last laugh with the win, however. I would almost like it bit it runs contrary to the tone jeter sets. A little gamesmanship never hurt anyone though.

I do think this kid is a bit of a clown getting strong on arod though. He's an easy target as the lightening rod and I agree with the notion that if you got a problem, you're the guy with the ball in your hand, do something about it Nancy, don't give an, well, frankly, an arod style press conference about how this is your mound. We know it is ultimate warrior, now prove it don't talk about it.

Hell as a first baseman in my youth, I had a psycho pitcher friend who would drill a guy and then drill him a few more times when I would "miss" the throw to first

A's won, but don't let that get in the way of the point you're trying to make.

Does that help?

No, it really doesn't.

 

[Wrigley]

ARod's a jackass but two things:1) I've never heard of this unwritten rule. I can see the logic in it - why you wouldn't want someone running over the mound. But I'd never heard of it before.2) Braden overreacted.

1: How many years MLB experience do you have?2: No he didn't

 

[guru_007]

definite overreaction. proper reaction would have been hitting him the next time he was up. yelling at someone like that is kind of childish imho.

 

[pollardsvision]

Braden obviously over-reacted, but it was certainly the right thing to do. I loved it. It's over-reacting for a manager to get himself tossed over a bad call, but sometimes it's the proper thing to do.

Not unlike the Rays throwing down in Spring Training with the Yanks a few years back, if you think you are ready to compete, you can't take #### from the Yankees. This was about baseball etiquette, but not really. As Braden said, "we're not the door mats anymore".

If I'm a manager, I like that my young SP is a little feisty and pissed off when he takes the hill against Empire. If he tells A-Rod to go eff-himself, so be it.

Some might say beaning ARod would've been the proper retaliation, but that's silly. First of all, throwing a baseball at another man is kind a #### move, imo. In the AL, it makes you a total pansy. It should only be done when taking up for a teammate.

This was a personal issue. Dallas (what a name) handled it the way men should. He told ARod exactly how he felt in a manner that suggested that he'd be open to a round of fisticuffs. Then he went out and won the game. Handled perfectly.

 

[boom king]

Braden obviously over-reacted, but it was certainly the right thing to do. I loved it. It's over-reacting for a manager to get himself tossed over a bad call, but sometimes it's the proper thing to do.Not unlike the Rays throwing down in Spring Training with the Yanks a few years back, if you think you are ready to compete, you can't take #### from the Yankees. This was about baseball etiquette, but not really. As Braden said, "we're not the door mats anymore". If I'm a manager, I like that my young SP is a little feisty and pissed off when he takes the hill against Empire. If he tells A-Rod to go eff-himself, so be it. Some might say beaning ARod would've been the proper retaliation, but that's silly. First of all, throwing a baseball at another man is kind a #### move, imo. In the AL, it makes you a total pansy. It should only be done when taking up for a teammate.This was a personal issue. Dallas (what a name) handled it the way men should. He told ARod exactly how he felt in a manner that suggested that he'd be open to a round of fisticuffs. Then he went out and won the game. Handled perfectly.

i like the cut of your jib.

 

[whoknew]

ARod's a jackass but two things:1) I've never heard of this unwritten rule. I can see the logic in it - why you wouldn't want someone running over the mound. But I'd never heard of it before.2) Braden overreacted.

1: How many years MLB experience do you have?2: No he didn't

1. 0 playing experience. 30+ years of reading, watching, observing experience.2. Yes he did.

 

[harryhood]

I'll admit I never heard of that rule either but my baseball tenure stopped at age 19. But the one thing I do know is that this clown cant peg him now unless he wants to cost himself at least 5 games, probably more since he verbally made the threat.

 

[pantagrapher]

I like Braden, so if he's fired up about it, fine. But I don't know why he didn't just wait and bean him later.

 

[Wrigley]

ARod's a jackass but two things:1) I've never heard of this unwritten rule. I can see the logic in it - why you wouldn't want someone running over the mound. But I'd never heard of it before.2) Braden overreacted.

1: How many years MLB experience do you have?2: No he didn't

1. 0 playing experience. 30+ years of reading, watching, observing experience.2. Yes he did.

1: point I was trying to make is that A-Doosh has been playing BB for the better part of 25 years, I call BS on him not knowing2: Didn't

 

[Limp Ditka]

I like Braden, so if he's fired up about it, fine. But I don't know why he didn't just wait and bean him later.

6th inning when it happened. I'm pretty sure Braden knew he wasn't going to get a chance in that game. Next time though.........

 

[whoknew]

ARod's a jackass but two things:1) I've never heard of this unwritten rule. I can see the logic in it - why you wouldn't want someone running over the mound. But I'd never heard of it before.2) Braden overreacted.

1: How many years MLB experience do you have?2: No he didn't

1. 0 playing experience. 30+ years of reading, watching, observing experience.2. Yes he did.

1: point I was trying to make is that A-Doosh has been playing BB for the better part of 25 years, I call BS on him not knowing2: Didn't

Maybe. But Rob Neyer didn't know about it either. Of course, he isn't a player.But I get it - I pitched in high school. You don't want someone walking all over the mound when you are pitching. And ARod is a doosh, no question.I am sick of all these "unwritten" rules. Either they are rules or they aren't.

 

[pantagrapher]

I like Braden, so if he's fired up about it, fine. But I don't know why he didn't just wait and bean him later.

6th inning when it happened. I'm pretty sure Braden knew he wasn't going to get a chance in that game. Next time though.........

That's what I'm talking about. Be patient and get him later. Now the next time they face each other he'll probably be warned in advance and ejected when it happens.

 

[Darth Cheney]

The pitchers a #####. Put one in his back or his leg the next time you play him...don't cry like a sissy on the mound about it.

 

[pollardsvision]

The pitchers a #####. Put one in his back or his leg the next time you play him...don't cry like a sissy on the mound about it.

I didn't see any tears.

 

[Sweet Love]

The pitchers a #####. Put one in his back or his leg the next time you play him...don't cry like a sissy on the mound about it.

Why would he want to bean A-Rod in a two run game and put the man up in a place to tie the game?? Would that really "get" A-Rod? Handled very well. In fact, between innings he should have gone to the Yankees dugout, grabbed a tin on the bench, thrown in a lipper and when asked "what the hell he thinks he is doing?", casually reply, "If A-Rod wants to hang around my mound, I am going to hang around your dugout...thanks for the hospitality"...and walk away.BTW, is this Staph infection something to worry about. Doesn't seem as though he is taking care of himself and I am wondering whether it is wise to move him now?

 

[harryhood]

I like Braden, so if he's fired up about it, fine. But I don't know why he didn't just wait and bean him later.

6th inning when it happened. I'm pretty sure Braden knew he wasn't going to get a chance in that game. Next time though.........

That's a great way to treat your bullpen and teammates. "Here take over and throw 8 innings against the best offense in the American League, and while you are at it, you better find someone to start my next two turns out."

 

[Dr. Awesome]

His tattoo:

http://www.murkworks.net/~james/Sports/Athletics/pepe.jpg

Btw, ARod has been a ##### for some time. I don't know this rule but ARod doesn't deserve benefit of the oubt.

 

[Darth Cheney]

The pitchers a #####. Put one in his back or his leg the next time you play him...don't cry like a sissy on the mound about it.

I didn't see any tears.

You must not have HD.

 

[Dr. Awesome]

I loved him on Baseball Tonight. They asked him if he snapped because there was a previous history between Braden and ARod. His response: If my grandma ran across the mound she would have heard about it.



I have a man crush on Dallas Braden.

 

[eoMMan]

ARod is a ####.

 

[Darth Cheney]

This clown apoligize. Come on...he plays for the A's! You don't talk to a member of The World Champions like that.

 

[Dr. Awesome]

This clown apoligize. Come on...he plays for the A's! You don't talk to a member of The World Champions like that.

It doesn't matter if they play for the Royals or Pirates. If you're in the MLB, show your fellow players some respect. ARod has a history of things like this. He shouldn't get any breaks. As much as I hate the Yankees, Jeter is a class act and I can't help but like the guy. The league needs many more players like him. ARod? He's a future HoF member but is a classless tool. Yankees fans should be embarrassed by him and his continued actions over the years.

 

[[icon]]

Arod's always been classy.. not sure what you guys are talking about.

 

[Billy Bats]

Arod is a big ##### and a punk, he should be drilled by someone. He has no respect for the game he's made billions from and thinks his #### don't stink. I hope he never gets into the hall.

 

[JJP]

As long as I've followed baseball, I've NEVER heard of this so-called "unwritten law". Absolute idiocy. Not a real fan of A-Rod but I hope he takes that bum deep next time he faces him. What a punk. Who the hell is he to go mouthing off?

 

[Limp Ditka]

As long as I've followed baseball, I've NEVER heard of this so-called "unwritten law". Absolute idiocy. Not a real fan of A-Rod but I hope he takes that bum deep next time he faces him. What a punk. Who the hell is he to go mouthing off?

You've never heard of it because no one's ever been enough of a tool to break it.No shock here that A Rod's the one that brought it to light.

 

[the moops]

Is there any video of this apparently egregious breaking of the unwritten rule?

 

[Wrigley]

Is there any video of this apparently egregious breaking of the unwritten rule?

Gamesmenship

 

[the moops]

Baseball players sure are a ####### weird bunch of superstitious #######s.

 

[Dr. Awesome]

Michael Duca, co-author of "The Baseball Codes: Beanballs, Sign Stealing and Bench-Clearing Brawls: The Unwritten Rules of America's Pastime," said the running-over-the-mound rule was known better years ago.

"It was very common (to observe the rule) in the '40s, '50s and '60s," Duca told FanHouse. "Bob Gibson was very well versed in protecting what he called his office. He told people to say the ... out of my office. Had that been Gibson on the mound, A-Rod would have picked himself off the grass to get back to first. He would have decked him. No question about it."

That's about the only way that Braden is going to be compared to a Hall of Famer, but perhaps Thursday's performance will generate a little attention for a guy who has been quietly successful for a couple seasons.

Also, Braden was so sick he needed to get an IV after the game. My love for this man grows by the day.

 

[shadyridr]

I never heard of that unwritten rule either (not saying it doesnt exist). But Arod barely went on the mound and he went behind it. Total overreaction IMO

 

[Homer @ RJ]

Of course it's an overreaction, but it's the A's trying to come together and stand up to the "big boys". Rays did the same thing in 2008 Spring Training when one of their minor-leaguers ran over a Yankees catcher and a huge fight broke out. All you heard after that was the "we're not going to stand for this ####" talk and they developed a chip on their shoulder over it. Worked out pretty well.

Same thing here, imo.

 

[Dr. Awesome]

In the wake of the Dallas Braden-Alex Rodriguez tiff, I asked FOX’s Tim McCarver if the A’s left-hander was justified in telling A-Rod, “This is my mound, my rubber.”

“Absolutely — I love that,” McCarver said. “That’s his space. You don’t see any starting pitchers in the batter’s box, do you? You don’t see pitchers go in the batter’s box, dig in, anything like that. So why should hitters be allowed on the mound?”

Braden grew upset during the sixth inning Thursday when Rodriguez cut across the mound while returning to first base on a foul ball.

McCarver, who spent 21 years in the majors as a catcher, said Braden is not the first pitcher to consider such an act a violation of baseball etiquette.

“The first person that I ever heard refer to the mound as his office was Gibson,” McCarver said, referring to his former teammate, Hall of Famer Bob Gibson. “And (Steve) Carlton picked that up.

“In fact, when Pete Rose would make an out — particularly on a flyball unless it was the third out of an an inning — he would intentionally run over the back of the mound on his way back to the dugout if the dugout was on the third-base side. He would intimidate rookie pitchers in that regard.

“He tried that once with Gibson in the mid-60s and Gibson threw at him the next time up. Pete spat at him. And the next one was a lot closer. Pete didn’t spit the second time.”

Gibson’s philosophy?

“You never come into my office unless you’re invited — and you’ll never be invited,” McCarver said. -Ken Rosenthal

 

[awesomeness]

You suck at polls.

 

[Adebisi]

Stupid. All of these "unwritten rules" are incredibly silly and petty.

If Braden had a problem with it, he should have thrown at the next batter. Then they could have had one of those make-believe baseball slap-fights where everyone pretends to be a tough guy but ultimately just embarrasses themselves.

Grown men being unbelievably sensitive here.

 

[the moops]

“That’s his space. You don’t see any starting pitchers in the batter’s box, do you? You don’t see pitchers go in the batter’s box, dig in, anything like that. So why should hitters be allowed on the mound?”

So if a pitcher ran to cover home plater after a pass ball, he should avoid the batters box?

 

[Eephus]

it was better as an unwritten poll

 

[Man In The Box]

This whole thing was pretty ridiculous. Is A-Rod a tool? No doubt. Slapping at Arroyo's glove? Bush. He's a tool. Yelling at the Toronto 3rd baseman as he's about to catch a pop-up? Bush. He's a tool. But this was pretty harmless. It's not like he ran across the front of the mound and danced in Braden's landing spot. If this were ANY PLAYER other than A-Rod, this would have been a non-issue. Braden acted like a clown. Don't piss and moan about it and make a scene.

I've been watching/playing baseball for over 25 years and have never heard of this unwritten rule. Looks like it is something from earlier generations of baseball since Rick Sutcliffe and a few other pitchers have come out and said they've never heard of it. Again, if he ran across the front of the mound, purposely stepping in Braden's landing spot or if he said something to him as he ran across the back of it, I'd have an issue with it and would agree that this would be another episode of A-Rod being well, A-Rod.

I actually had a much bigger issue with what Teixiera did the other night in Anaheim than what A-Rod did. I think he was pissed about being hit by a pitch and the fact that he's hitting .120 probably didn't help either. He could have scored without barreling over the catcher there IMO.

 

[Eephus]

Morgan Ensberg weighs in on the subject

 

[pollardsvision]

Morgan Ensberg weighs in on the subject

I was wondering why he isn't in the league anymore. Now I feel like I have a better understanding of why that is.