Showalter gives Fox an earful

[CrimsonTribe]

What does playing the game right mean anyway? So stupid and arbitrary.

[GoldGlove21]

I can't recall an at-bat I've heard where a comment wasn't made by the announcer on the 3-0 pitch saying something like "let's see if he has the green light here". Players will take the 3-0 pitch in probably 90% of at-bats (or more).

I know we hear that quoted a lot by announcers, but I think that is because taking a pitch trying to get on by a walk makes more sense than swinging at 3-0 and possibly making an out. I have never heard an announcer say "Let's see if he has the green light on 3-0, this game is really out of hand so I don't expect the manager to give him the hit away sign".

[DrungoHazewood]

What does playing the game right mean anyway? So stupid and arbitrary.

I get this image of a 19th century Englishman on the cricket pitch. "Huzzah! Yes, sir, I was three inches out of the popping crease, and it would impugne my honor to pretend otherwise. I shall retire to Gloustershire, forthwith."

[brendanmdeegan]

This is silly.

Both Leyland being salty and Showalter undressing him publicly. Only story of note at all is if Fox directly ignored a take sign. If one was not given, then he is free to hack at will, "unwritten" rules/traditions/whatever be damned.

The onus is on the pitcher down by 10 to throw strikes, lets not forget that.

[Can_of_corn]

This is silly.

Both Leyland being salty and Showalter undressing him publicly. Only story of note at all is if Fox directly ignored a take sign. If one was not given, then he is free to hack at will, "unwritten" rules/traditions/whatever be damned.

The onus is on the pitcher down by 10 to throw strikes, lets not forget that.

You are forgetting the part where Fox hits a homer on the 3-0 pitch, the other side gets offended and drills the next batter.

Silly or not there tends to be consequences for not following etiquette. Particularly as a catcher, Fox should be aware of those situations and act accordingly.

[Adial_Oriole]

Seems to me that this wasn't the first time that Buck as addressed this ... we will never know. The Right way to play for the O's right now is Buck's way.

Whether or not Jake was right or wrong ... take care of this situation ourselves. BUT

IMHO ... when Leyland yelled out at Jake someone from the O's should have stepped up to be with him. We take care of ours and you take care of yours.

[raveoned]

Although I like Showalter, and really think he's exactly what the Orioles need, I think this situation was handled badly.

Whether or not he's been having trouble with following signals for all of ST, something like this should have been dealt with in the clubhouse.

This so-called "etiquette" should also include not showing your player up in front of your teammates and an occupied ballpark.

And when Leyland is seen as Manager for a team in every World Series from now on, I simply refuse to think of him as being a great Manager. If I were Buck, I would have yelled across to him to shut up, light another cancer stick and worry about his own team.

ST is a time to be fighting for your spot on the roster, not a time to worry about what side the fork goes on.

[John Budge]

There is no take sign on 3-0. You always take unless signaled to swing away.

[BaltimoreTerp]

Unwritten rules go into effect on Friday.

Until then, this is all practice. As long as games can end in a tie and (at least the minor-league games) can be manipulated to create particular situations or additional at-bats, the players should be doing whatever they can to get their work in.

If he disobeyed a direct order, that's one thing. If not, both managers look really bad.

And Can_of_corn, if Leyland had thrown at the next batter, I would end the game on the spot and have the Tigers escorted from the premises by security right away. Someone who throws at a player in a spring training game has NO CLUE about "playing the game the right way".

[Miller192]

There is no take sign on 3-0. You always take unless signaled to swing away.

"Deep Thoughts" By Terry Crowley.

[John Budge]

Unwritten rules go into effect on Friday.

Until then, this is all practice. As long as games can end in a tie and (at least the minor-league games) can be manipulated to create particular situations or additional at-bats, the players should be doing whatever they can to get their work in.

If he disobeyed a direct order, that's one thing. If not, both managers look really bad.

And Can_of_corn, if Leyland had thrown at the next batter, I would end the game on the spot and have the Tigers escorted from the premises by security right away. Someone who throws at a player in a spring training game has NO CLUE about "playing the game the right way".

Jake Fox leads the O's in ST at-bats. He's already gotten his work in.

[BaltimoreTerp]

Jake Fox leads the O's in ST at-bats. He's already gotten his work in.

He's also still borderline to make the team.

[SammyBirdland]

And Can_of_corn, if Leyland had thrown at the next batter, I would end the game on the spot and have the Tigers escorted from the premises by security right away. Someone who throws at a player in a spring training game has NO CLUE about "playing the game the right way".

You might enjoy this one:

3/21/2011 -- Benches clear during testy Nationals-Cardinals spring training game

[John Budge]

He's also still borderline to make the team.

So, disobeying your skipper is a good way to make the squad?

[BaltimoreTerp]

You might enjoy this one:

3/21/2011 -- Benches clear during testy Nationals-Cardinals spring training game

We covered Riggleman in the MLB forum, and LaRussa is a known "old-school"-bag.

So, yeah, not exactly news