Comments on: Jake Fox — gasp! — broke an unwritten rule

By: paul621

paul621 — Thu, 31 Mar 2011 00:20:40 +0000

From Showalter’s perspective, I bet it’s more about disobeying the manager than some unwritten rule. Does anyone really think Fox has a perpetual green light? Swinging away when the manager says not to is going to get anyone yelled at…

By: Alex K

Alex K — Wed, 30 Mar 2011 20:31:35 +0000

To be fair Fox is from the 317….

By: lmno7

lmno7 — Wed, 30 Mar 2011 19:32:13 +0000

Right or wrong… Showalter is still a douche.

By: lbehrendt

lbehrendt — Wed, 30 Mar 2011 19:05:31 +0000

I hate unwritten rules. Why do you think they get violated? Duh. Because they’re unwritten. Notice that the rules we care about — don’t steal, don’t murder, don’t drive 80 MPH in a school zone — are written rules. If you don’t write the rule down, don’t expect people to follow it.

By: andrewf16

andrewf16 — Wed, 30 Mar 2011 18:47:44 +0000

He swung and missed, and eventually walked.

By: lanflfan

lanflfan — Wed, 30 Mar 2011 18:18:13 +0000

Ordinarily I’m supportive of “unwritten rules”, but since when is hitting, in a spring game, NOT allowed. I don’t care what the count is, swing the dam bat. He could have just as easily lined into a triple play. Would the opposing manager bitch then? Grow up Leyland.

By: markfrednubble

markfrednubble — Wed, 30 Mar 2011 18:17:48 +0000

Nowhere in this string have I seen what happened on that 3-0 swing. C’mon Craig, good reporting! Did he swing and miss?

It is absurd. Shame on Leyland and Showalter, but so typical for both of them.

By: marshmallowsnake

marshmallowsnake — Wed, 30 Mar 2011 17:50:47 +0000

This is lame…and just shows how spoiled sports people are…if this is their biggest worry of the day, good for them.

By: Utley's Hair

Utley's Hair — Wed, 30 Mar 2011 17:47:03 +0000

Ah…the first unwritten rules post of the new year…

By: hasbeen5

hasbeen5 — Wed, 30 Mar 2011 17:37:58 +0000

There are some unwritten rules that make some sense, but I don’t get this one. You’re losing a blowout and you go 3-0 on a guy. If you throw ball 4 there’s a 100% chance that the guy gets on base. If he swings, there’s at best about a 35% chance he gets on base, which means there’s a 65% chance you get him out. I’ll take those odds.

By: Alex K

Alex K — Wed, 30 Mar 2011 16:44:51 +0000

Two references to The Wire in the comments of back to back posts? I’m in Heaven!

By: sanzarq

sanzarq — Wed, 30 Mar 2011 16:39:16 +0000

Both Leyland & Showalter blew it here! Jake was feeling sorry for the pitcher and took a swing at ball 4 to keep the game moving. He was embarrassed by the score. Too bad he didn’t hit ST dinger #11, since the Tigers rallied back.

Somebody needs to lighten up!

By: sayheykidwschamp

sayheykidwschamp — Wed, 30 Mar 2011 16:37:44 +0000

Get off my mound….ARod.

Sincerely
Dallas Braden

By: Charles Gates

Charles Gates — Wed, 30 Mar 2011 16:28:15 +0000

It’s all in the game, yo.

By: yankeesfanlen

yankeesfanlen — Wed, 30 Mar 2011 16:27:19 +0000

That must be how they roll in the 410.

By: bcopus

bcopus — Wed, 30 Mar 2011 16:27:16 +0000

The whole situation would have turned out much better comically if the Tigers came back and won 16-14.

By: Mr. Jason "El Bravo" Heyward

Mr. Jason "El Bravo" Heyward — Wed, 30 Mar 2011 16:24:21 +0000

I have a problem giving Fox the green light in any situation. Is he really green light worthy? Showalter probably doesn’t think so.

By: jwbiii

jwbiii — Wed, 30 Mar 2011 16:24:07 +0000

I think if you tried to explain this rule to Billy Martin, you would leave the conversation with fewer teeth.

By: Charles Gates

Charles Gates — Wed, 30 Mar 2011 16:19:05 +0000

You want to chew out Vlad or Brian Roberts or Nick Markakis for trying to show up a young pitcher for a self aggrendizing moon shot? I can almost see it. I don’t, but almost. A prospect has to earn his/her stripes to get to the big show. That means putting away established veterans, even after getting behind 3-0.
But to get on ~career minor leaguer for busting his back side for doing everything he can to try to make the team? C’mon.

By: joeflaccosunibrow

joeflaccosunibrow — Wed, 30 Mar 2011 16:13:40 +0000

Clearly a double standard. I have no problem with this. Fox was not a lock to make the club anyway. He played his way onto the team. It helps by hitting 10 homers to lead MLB in spring training.
What if the tigers came back? This would be a different story.

By: Jonny 5

Jonny 5 — Wed, 30 Mar 2011 16:10:29 +0000

“competitive integrity”

Ironic when you think about it.

By: BC

BC — Wed, 30 Mar 2011 16:07:58 +0000

That’s an unwritten rule? How many o’s are there in stoooooooooooooopid? It’s spring training for crying out loud. Shut up.

By: APBA Guy

APBA Guy — Wed, 30 Mar 2011 16:06:00 +0000

I think maybe the barking comes from it being so close to regular season: the managers now expect guys who’ve made the cut to conform to regular season protocols. This is a big year for Fox. Oakland cut him last year for non-performance, and he’s found a home in Baltimore. But 10 pre-season homeruns mean nothing starting tomorrow.