October 20, 2004
Classless 'Fans' Ruin Great Game
When did it become acceptable to act like a jackass and risk the safety of the players and umpires on playing field by throwing baseballs onto the field. It's one thing to express your displeasure with a call by booing or even cursing, but there was no excuse for the Yankee "fans" that threw balls onto the field in the 8th inning of last night's game. Those that threw the balls last night are no different than Giant fans who threw packed snowballs onto the field in 1995. They deserve to lose season ticket rights and be brought up on charges. The fans at Yankee stadium may not have had the benefit of instant replay, but that is no excuse. What would happen if someone in the upper deck threw a ball that landed in a field level seat? The actions of a few, ruined what was a well played baseball game, and how the real fans are perceived. To the "fan" that Fox 5 reported threw his cell phone onto the field, you're the not only a jackass, but stupid too.
Onto the game. Quite a performance by Curt Schilling and the Red Sox, forcing game 7, something that no team down 0-3 has ever done before. The question that remains is whether they can win the 7th game, or if there will be a redux of last year's Yankees/Red Sox game 7. Who would have thunk that the Red Sox could even force game seven after the Yankees spanked them Friday night to go up 3-0.
Schilling pitched a strong 7 innings, giving up only a solo home run to Bernie Williams in the 7th. His run support all came in the 4th inning as the Red Sox scored 4 runs. Three of them came on a home run by Mark Bellhorn that was initially ruled a ground rule double. That would not be the end of the controversial calls. In the 8th inning, with the Yankees trailing by two, Alex Rodriguez hit a ball towards first that was fielded by Bronson Arroyo, who tried to tag Rodriguez out. A-Rod, however was slap happy and knocked the ball out of Arroyo's hand. The play was initially ruled a two base error that resulted in a run scored, but the call was reversed and Rodriguez was called out.
It was after the Rodriguez play that the madness ensued. Police officers outfitted in helmets took to the field and remained there for half an inning. The series comes to an end tonight as the Yankees and Red Sox meet in game 7 on Fox at 8. Do the Red Sox get a chance to reverse "The Curse" or do the Yankees and the Babe strike again? Slated to start are Derek Lowe for the Red Sox and Kevin Brown for the Yankees.
Photo by Amy Sancetta/AP
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Well, I thunk it!
Go Sox/Kerry!
you can't say you're surprised at the behavior of the fans (rodriguez, now, that was cheap and unacceptable)...
i went to game one of last year's world series - now, i *was* sitting in the bleachers, but there were some cubs fans there, holding a sign that said something like "we drove (X number of) miles to root for the cubs" but they had crossed out cubs, as they didn't make it to the series, and wrote "yankees" - and the jerk yankee fans were booing them and telling them to go home, even though they were there to support the yankees!
no class, indeed.
What ARod did was perfectly legit. The pitcher's arm was blocking his path. What else could ARod do?!?! Just stop there and let himself be tagged when he could do something about. Boo to the umps for reversing the call.
well, he could have run him over. that would have been perfectly okay and within the rules.
read the times article, it sheds some light on the situation.
I used to like the Yankees back in the late 90s when I first moved here, but their fans act like such a-holes. They're the same type of people that give patriotism a bad name (All that thick-necked "Yeaah! Number One!" bullshit). Plus the team, due to its success, has become a bland machine. I get more enjoyment watching a team that might play brilliantly one night, and totally fuck up the next. That tension of not knowing is what draws my sporadic attention to sports.
I also admire how all of the Sox look like they belong on a Wild West wanted poster circa 1870.
Anyone else smell it? The vague scent of... desperation?
Believe!
I was at the game and the whole incident was pretty funny (I am a Red Sox fan). By the time the slap happened the Yankee fans were growing very irratble and were close to blowing their top. The stadium didn't replay the play (which they could have because every time the Yankees did something decent they replayed it) so many people in the stands didn't know what happened. I couldn't see the slap from my angle so I had to call my sister who was watching the game at home to find out what was going on. Probably the best thing the Yankees could have done to calm down the fans would have been to replay it so they could see that it was clearly interference.
i think the rule or practice is not to play close/controversial plays in any mlb park.
I don't see what the big deal is. It *is* weird that A-Rod got punished for trying to high-five the guy. It's hard to be a gentleman these days.
alright, those baseballs that were thrown on the field were NOT real baseballs, we're not that crazy - they were STRESS BALLS that were given out outside the stadium.
that being said, if AL rules could have permitted a replay and/or the NFL-style umpire PA system this could have been averted.
Sigh, As a native new yorker, I still can't tell who are worse, yankee fans or boston fans. I rather not see the yankees win since they represent everything wrong about baseball and their fans are completely obnoxious. However Boston fans will riot no matter what happens in this series.
So basically, no matter what, the yankees will have 5 new overpriced stars and Boston will burn.
From the MLB Umpire Manual, a casebook that guides their decisions: Section 6.1 (Offensive Interference):
While contact may occur between a fielder and runner during a tag attempt, a runner is not allowed to use his hands or arms to commit an obviously malicious or unsportsmanlike act such as grabbing, tackling, intentionally slapping at the baseball, punching, kicking, flagrantly using his arms or forearms, etc. to commit an intentional act of interference unrelated to running the bases.
A new nick name for A-Rod, A-Hole.....
Indeed, A-Rod was an A-hole last night. I guess his ego got the best of him, thinking he could fool the umpires and the fans that it wasnt interference, and moreover a mere mistake.
Oy, my head hurts thinking about this series.
I got hard watching A-Rod saunter to the base.
Those fans who threw stuff on the field are a total embarrassment. What a bunch of babies. What does this say about NYC when cops in riot gear have to take the field? I hope the cops bring more tonight because at this rate, Yankees fans will riot if the Sox win game seven (and let's not talk about what Steinbrenner will do...)
Asshole fans aside, this has been some great baseball. And if the Sox win tonight, well, they deserve it. They've been playing better ball than the Yanks. Anyone can see that.
Ho snap!