A Quick Rant - Why?

I'm just going to get into it.

I think what Ryan Dempster did Sunday was atrocious. If you didn't see or hear about it I will give the quick version.

Red Sox pitcher Ryan Dempster
August 18, 2013

Alex Rodriguez came up to bat in his first plate appearance. Rodriguez is going through some legal issues with PEDs with the league and his team, and there is controversy, but that is off the field stuff. What happens on the field has nothing to do with any of that.

Ryan Dempster apparently feels like he is the law of the land. His first pitch to Rodriguez was thrown behind him! Behind him! He is a Major League Baseball Pitcher! He has the control to never be able to do that. Rodriguez shrugs it off and gets back in the box. The next two pitches are high and tight. You can see Rodriguez getting a little mad. That makes three pitches trying to connect with Rodriguez. The fourth pitch from Dempster (surprise surprise) drills Rodriguez in the back.

Dempster's third pitch of the at bat
hits Yankees Alex Rodriguez in the back.

Why? Why Dempster? Why did you feel you had to do that? What Rodriguez is going through off the field has nothing to do with you. Who made you judge, jury, and executioner? And then you manager gives the weak excuse of 'He was having trouble locating his fastball'. Funny, because no other pitch in the game for Dempster was as "wild" as that one at bat. Just a classless move on his part and of the Red Sox manager.

What Rodriguez is doing to defend himself against the league is within the MLBPA regulations. Guess what Dempster you are a member of that and voted for the protection players get.

I may not agree with what Alex Rodriguez has done in the past, but nobody deserves a fastball to the head. He is still a son, brother, father, and MOST of all a human being. It makes me sick when athletes feel they need to take the law in their own hands.

Rodriguez celebrating with teammates
after his 6th inning home run
against Dempster

What Alex Rodriguez did to get his revenge on Dempster is what any true athlete would do. In one of his next at bats Rodriguez hit a long home run off of Dempster and then celebrated with his teammates in the dugout. How it should be.

The home run propelled the Yankees to a victory over the Red Sox, with Dempster getting the loss. Baseball karma at its finest.

Just to show what type of team and organization the Yankees are, no Red Sox player was hit during that game.

Steriods aside, how do you feel about Dempster's actions?

For the love and the game

The Major League Baseball season is coming down the home stretch. With mid-August approaching, baseball experts are talking magic numbers and wild cards. We are starting to get an idea of which teams are going to the playoffs and which teams are going home early. Certain teams are "running away" with their division. It looks like the Braves, Dodgers, and Tigers can just about go into cruise control to finish off the season. There are also the close division races. Can the Red Sox hold off the Rays and Orioles? Are the Rangers going to deliver pay back to the Athletics for last year? And, what is going on in the NL Central? The Pirates, Cardinals, and Reds are going to have a sprint to the finish. The odds are nearly all those teams I just named are going to make the playoffs. With an additional wild card team now added to the format, the Pennant Race just doesn't quite feel the same. And that's fine with me. I think more teams in the playoffs is a good thing in the end.
   

L.J. Hoes hits his first career home run
8/18/13 (Astros Facebook page)

But, lets look at the calendar... It's August still! We still have over a month left of regular season games. Now I get the lure of the World Series. It's an amazing event. But for me, baseball is so much more.   There's still a lot of hot days to be had and exciting nights left in the season. With so much attention going towards the teams that are going to make the playoffs, I think we should not forget about the rest of the league. Just because a team is 15 games out of first place or straight up in last place doesn't mean we should ignore them or their fans (except for the occasional web gem). Fans should see their team through. From the beginning of spring training to whatever end they are destined for in the fall.

Riding the highs and lows of the season with your team is what makes baseball such a love affair. Though your guys may go home when the leaves change color, doesn't mean they still can't make history. Though possibly not in a spot for playoffs, your guys could still pitch a perfect game or hit an inside the park home run. There is still so many moments to see. Baseball is a game full of emotions. In two consecutive days you can experience the highest of highs and then the next day the lowest of lows. But that's what makes it fun!

It's baseball. The GREATEST game there is.

Mets young star, Matt Harvey has first career
complete game shut out 8-8-13
(Mets Facebook page)

It's the smell of the grass, the crack of the bat, the seventh inning stretch! Baseball is definitely more about it's intangibles then it is just about winning. It's more than home runs and strike outs. The game is an art form, and like all art you have to know what you are looking at to really appreciate it. How many people do you think know what a cut fastball is? What about the 5-4-3 double play? These are the type of things you start to learn when you love the game. When the game grabs your heart.  It will make every pitch and play exciting.

Emotionally investing in a team, the players, the traditions will make any day with baseball being played the best day ever. Following your team throughout the season will not only show you who the best pitchers and hitters are but also who are the pranksters or leaders of the team. Being able to see the personality of your team brings you closer to them. The whole family atmosphere a team tries to share with its fans is a magical thing, and again it doesn't matter if your team is going to the playoffs or not.

The last reason not to give up on your team if October seems out of reach...
The pride of watching your team knock out another team out of the playoffs. Think about it, your team is out. They're eliminated from playoff contention, but they are still battling. There is no quit in them.  Just think back to the 2011 season when the Orioles, who had nothing to play for, miraculously defeated the Red Sox and ended their season. That little victory is enough to savor through the off season.

Getting to the end of the season and seeing it all brings everything together. The little details, witnessing the milestones of your favorite players, being at the park and sharing the game with family, friends, and other fans is why the entire season matters. You are part of the team. Never give up on the season. There is always something new to see. Most importantly, the players never give up on the field and that's why you should never give up the on the support they need. Isn't that what being a fan is all about?

Angel Pagan's inside the park home run giving the Giants
an extra innings victory 5-25-13
(Giants Facebook page)

Oh yeah, I'm a Giants fan. As of this moment WE are 16.5 games out of first place.  I will never give up on my team. Hey, anything can happen.