Dempster vs. A-Rod!
The Boston Beaning!!
The Fenway Fisticuffs!!!
Yes, these weak titles accurately describe what we all saw in Boston Sunday night. Ryan Dempster showed that not only was he a poor signing but that he’s not the guy you want backing up your team if you get into a plunking battle. Alex Rodriguez on the other hand, found out just how much support he has from his own team.
Sunday night, Ryan Dempster squared off with A-Rod for the first time of the game in the second inning. Dempster throws his first pitch behind A-Rod and let the Baseball world know that he’s going to play the role of “Player Police”. After two more pitches thrown inside the count reaches 3-0 and the Canadian (of all people!) finally hits his mark. A 92mph fastball deflects off the elbow and into the back of Rodriguez.
There was an eerie feeling to the entire at bat. This Gladiator-like atmosphere, Boston fans holding signs all over the stadium with boo’s that could be heard back in the Bronx. When the first pitch was thrown (behind A-Rod) stadium wide cheers were heard, then again when Dempster got his target. “Yankees suck” chants all throughout Fenway while Joe Girardi was arguing with the umpire.
Oddly enough the only person thrown out of the game during this whole fiasco was Joe Girardi after he went absolutely ballistic (rightly so). Both sides were issued warnings from home-plate Umpire, Brian O’Nara, but Dempster was not ejected?!
What was learned through this entire escapade?
Alex Rodriguez has no support from his teammates. After he was hit, the Boston bench cleared and the Yankees bench did not move. There was no retaliation from CC Sabathia at any point in the game (partially because of the warning to the Yankees I’m sure). New York’s arch-rival purposely targeted one of their players and no one from the bench moves to come to his defense? A-Rod was on an island all by himself.
I will give Joe Girardi credit though. That had to be a tough fight, standing up for the most hated villain in sports history. The Yankees manager had all of the reason in the world to just sit back in that dug out and not move an inch. Rodriguez did squeal on one of his Yankee teammates (supposedly) leaving a depleted line-up even thinner. All the questions and press conferences that Girardi has had to deal with because of this debacle. I don’t think a single person in baseball would’ve blinked an eye if the Manager just sat on his hands and let A-Rod take his base. He didn’t though, he fought for his player.
Ryan Dempster tried to play hero but in the end just made himself look like a total fool. If you’re going to stand up for the league and take a shot at public enemy No. 1, let’s try to not make it a 4 pitch scene. Then he had the audacity in the post-game press conference to say that the ball just got away? What a coward! Dempster is in line to be fined, possibly suspended, but surely will be the butt of jokes for years to come.
“How many pitches does it take Ryan Dempster to hit the giant elephant in the room?”
In the top of the 6th inning he comes up to bat and jacks a ball to dead center field. The truth is, as much as it pains me to say, A-Rod has already won. When you’ve lost your shot at the Hall of Fame, your numbers mean nothing, and you have lost the respect of your teammates.
The only thing left is money and by getting back on the field he ensured that he will have plenty of that for life.
