Comments on: To the players, the rivalries aren’t that big of a deal for their own sake http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2011/05/10/to-the-players-the-rivalries-arent-that-big-of-a-deal-for-their-own-sake/ Baseball. Baseball. And then a bit more baseball. Wed, 22 May 2013 11:11:23 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.com/ By: mogogo1 http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2011/05/10/to-the-players-the-rivalries-arent-that-big-of-a-deal-for-their-own-sake/comment-page-1/#comment-136673 Wed, 11 May 2011 14:13:12 +0000 http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/?p=56358#comment-136673 The very nature of baseball makes player rivalries different than what you see in other sports. It’s basically a pitcher-hitter rivalry with the occasional collision along the base paths. Guys get along because there’s no negative interaction to sour things. I bet 80% of feuds in the NFL trace directly back to action on the field. In baseball I bet it’s 80% personality conflicts off the field.

]]> By: mogogo1 http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2011/05/10/to-the-players-the-rivalries-arent-that-big-of-a-deal-for-their-own-sake/comment-page-1/#comment-136668 Wed, 11 May 2011 14:03:32 +0000 http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/?p=56358#comment-136668 There are ESPN execs who are unaware there are other rivalries outside of Yanks-Sox.

]]> By: cogitobaseballergosum http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2011/05/10/to-the-players-the-rivalries-arent-that-big-of-a-deal-for-their-own-sake/comment-page-1/#comment-136535 Tue, 10 May 2011 20:48:34 +0000 http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/?p=56358#comment-136535 In his excellent book, “The Umpire Strikes Back”, Ron Luciano talks about that rule and tells the story of when the enforcement lightened up. He tells about having to monitor the field before the game and write up any players caught talking to opponents. He says it was Reggie Jackson’s refusal to abide by it, and the league’s apparant reluctance to fine him for it, that led to the relaxing of the enforcement. Great read, I highly recommend it.

]]> By: kopy http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2011/05/10/to-the-players-the-rivalries-arent-that-big-of-a-deal-for-their-own-sake/comment-page-1/#comment-136532 Tue, 10 May 2011 20:45:20 +0000 http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/?p=56358#comment-136532 I was saying Boo-urns!

]]> By: churchoftheperpetuallyoutraged http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2011/05/10/to-the-players-the-rivalries-arent-that-big-of-a-deal-for-their-own-sake/comment-page-1/#comment-136520 Tue, 10 May 2011 20:24:45 +0000 http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/?p=56358#comment-136520 Boo for all the thumbs down on a great Simpsons reference

]]> By: spudchukar http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2011/05/10/to-the-players-the-rivalries-arent-that-big-of-a-deal-for-their-own-sake/comment-page-1/#comment-136436 Tue, 10 May 2011 18:28:21 +0000 http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/?p=56358#comment-136436 Hard-nosed highly competitive game playing is not mutually exclusive from exchanging pleasantries prior to the “Play Ball” bellow.

]]> By: airedale1950 http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2011/05/10/to-the-players-the-rivalries-arent-that-big-of-a-deal-for-their-own-sake/comment-page-1/#comment-136433 Tue, 10 May 2011 18:25:41 +0000 http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/?p=56358#comment-136433 ESPN BB broadcasts don’t anything for anybody! At least before they fired Joe ‘I love my own ass’ Morgan, I had something entertaining to laugh at….

]]> By: BC http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2011/05/10/to-the-players-the-rivalries-arent-that-big-of-a-deal-for-their-own-sake/comment-page-1/#comment-136424 Tue, 10 May 2011 18:18:17 +0000 http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/?p=56358#comment-136424 Throw Lou Piniella in there too. He had a great brawl with Fisk one time.

]]> By: professor59 http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2011/05/10/to-the-players-the-rivalries-arent-that-big-of-a-deal-for-their-own-sake/comment-page-1/#comment-136421 Tue, 10 May 2011 18:15:12 +0000 http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/?p=56358#comment-136421 Especially if they share the same agent. You’d be safer taking out the rival shortstop’s sister.

]]> By: dandygallows http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2011/05/10/to-the-players-the-rivalries-arent-that-big-of-a-deal-for-their-own-sake/comment-page-1/#comment-136418 Tue, 10 May 2011 18:13:29 +0000 http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/?p=56358#comment-136418 To me, the lack of true rivals makes temporary rivalries that much sweeter. Last season’s Reds-Cardinals beef comes to mind.

But ESPN’s constant hyping of the “old rivalry renewed” between the Yanks-Sox, that doesn’t do anything for me.

]]> By: airedale1950 http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2011/05/10/to-the-players-the-rivalries-arent-that-big-of-a-deal-for-their-own-sake/comment-page-1/#comment-136412 Tue, 10 May 2011 18:02:59 +0000 http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/?p=56358#comment-136412 Personally I really enjoyed the Gregg Nettles Carlton Fisk Thurman Munson hate fests in the ’70s. That was back when real men played the game, played it hard and had the backs of their team mates.
Now, everybody stands around the batting cage and sings ‘Kumbaya’ together.

God forbid you should take out the rival shortstop on a close play….

]]> By: kopy http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2011/05/10/to-the-players-the-rivalries-arent-that-big-of-a-deal-for-their-own-sake/comment-page-1/#comment-136407 Tue, 10 May 2011 17:56:03 +0000 http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/?p=56358#comment-136407 Rules is rules. Baseball is perfect the way it is and should never be changed. Now get off my lawn!

]]> By: ThatGuy http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2011/05/10/to-the-players-the-rivalries-arent-that-big-of-a-deal-for-their-own-sake/comment-page-1/#comment-136401 Tue, 10 May 2011 17:44:12 +0000 http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/?p=56358#comment-136401 hm, so people were fixing games 20 years before baseball was a game. Good thing we got out word back from the Kaiser, things could get confusing.

]]> By: thefalcon123 http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2011/05/10/to-the-players-the-rivalries-arent-that-big-of-a-deal-for-their-own-sake/comment-page-1/#comment-136399 Tue, 10 May 2011 17:37:20 +0000 http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/?p=56358#comment-136399 Here’s my take on the Cards/Cubs rivalry. What rivalry? The one where the Cubs finish 15 games behind the Cardinals every year? (yeah yeah, 2007 and 2008. Considering out center fielder was an ex pitcher, I don’t count those)?

]]> By: marshmallowsnake http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2011/05/10/to-the-players-the-rivalries-arent-that-big-of-a-deal-for-their-own-sake/comment-page-1/#comment-136396 Tue, 10 May 2011 17:26:55 +0000 http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/?p=56358#comment-136396 So, it is illegal to get an autograph before and after a game? Wow…who made this rule?

]]> By: spudchukar http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2011/05/10/to-the-players-the-rivalries-arent-that-big-of-a-deal-for-their-own-sake/comment-page-1/#comment-136394 Tue, 10 May 2011 17:21:03 +0000 http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/?p=56358#comment-136394 This is spot on Craig. Even the fans, at least in St. Louis refer to the Cubs as a friendly rival. Maybe it is due in part to their ineptitude, but hate really isn’t part of the equation. Berkman is the perfect example, a tough competitor but good guy, who whose cajoling nature is great for the game. Incidents occur that fire up teams but the infernal hatred motif is tiresome. BC, you are correct, another Hatfield vs. McCoy Sunday night offering by MLB, makes baseball the cartoon not Family Guy.

]]> By: BC http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2011/05/10/to-the-players-the-rivalries-arent-that-big-of-a-deal-for-their-own-sake/comment-page-1/#comment-136387 Tue, 10 May 2011 17:10:19 +0000 http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/?p=56358#comment-136387 When the teams played so many fewer times, it was good stuff. Now, about every third week, you get Yankees-Red Sox on the Sunday night game.
Thank you Lord for inventing “Family Guy”….

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