Rollins streak ends on a classy note
Ben Godar
Jimmy Rollins 38-game hit streak ended this afternoon in Philly. He added two games to that streak this season thanks to a sound baseball decision by Tony LaRussa. Unfortunately, some writers and talking sports buffoons have suggested LaRussa asked his fighter to take a dive.
Check your facts, gentlemen.
LaRussa ordered a strike to be thrown to Rollins on a 3-0 count in the eighth inning on opening day. Then he told reporters he didn’t think Rollins streak should end with an intentional pass, implying some karmic connection to the way teams treated Mark McGwire in his prime. I call that a classy move, but it’s a moot point anyway.
What every story about the 3-0 strike seemed to omit was the fact that, at the time, the score was 13-5 Cardinals. With an eight run lead, you’d be a fool to walk anybody. There’s also a difference between throwing a strike and serving one up. This wasn’t taking a dive, it was sending your best stuff at their best and seeing what happens.
Isn’t that why we watch?
We’re being drowned by this Monday Morning Quarterback mentality. It’s good sport to second-guess the manager, or general manager, but let’s not lose sight of the fact that we’re there to watch the game. There’s something wrong when sportswriters and fans are calling for more intentional walks.
And let’s not forget who we’re talking about here. This is Tony LaRussa, and whether you like him or not, it’s hard to argue he’s a true baseball man who follows a strict code for how the game should be played. When everyone in the league was walking Barry Bonds, LaRussa pitched to him, saying "I don’t want to send a message to our guys that they can’t get somebody out."
That’s old school. That’s how the game should be played. Don’t let anybody tell you different.
Jimmy Rollins 38-game hit streak ended this afternoon in Philly. He added two games to that streak this season thanks to a sound baseball decision by Tony LaRussa. Unfortunately, some writers and talking sports buffoons have suggested LaRussa asked his fighter to take a dive.
Check your facts, gentlemen.
LaRussa ordered a strike to be thrown to Rollins on a 3-0 count in the eighth inning on opening day. Then he told reporters he didn’t think Rollins streak should end with an intentional pass, implying some karmic connection to the way teams treated Mark McGwire in his prime. I call that a classy move, but it’s a moot point anyway.
What every story about the 3-0 strike seemed to omit was the fact that, at the time, the score was 13-5 Cardinals. With an eight run lead, you’d be a fool to walk anybody. There’s also a difference between throwing a strike and serving one up. This wasn’t taking a dive, it was sending your best stuff at their best and seeing what happens.
Isn’t that why we watch?
We’re being drowned by this Monday Morning Quarterback mentality. It’s good sport to second-guess the manager, or general manager, but let’s not lose sight of the fact that we’re there to watch the game. There’s something wrong when sportswriters and fans are calling for more intentional walks.
And let’s not forget who we’re talking about here. This is Tony LaRussa, and whether you like him or not, it’s hard to argue he’s a true baseball man who follows a strict code for how the game should be played. When everyone in the league was walking Barry Bonds, LaRussa pitched to him, saying "I don’t want to send a message to our guys that they can’t get somebody out."
That’s old school. That’s how the game should be played. Don’t let anybody tell you different.
posted by Ben Godar at 3:23 PM
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