Akinori Iwamura has a funny-looking bat: instead of having a round end, it's sheared flat, not unlike the end of a 2x4. Why does he like it this way? I have no idea ... and neither does Joe Torre:With two outs in the second and Iwamura at-bat facing a 2-2 count, Yankees manager Joe Torre stepped from the dugout to talk to home-plate umpire Kerwin Danley, who called in the rest of the crew for a conference.I never really paid attention to Iwamura's bat before today ... but it's not like this is the first time Torre has seen him at the plate. Before Saturday's match, Iwamura played 10 games with at least 48 plate appearances against the Yankees. Why wait until today to speak up? And better yet, why wait until a 2-2 count before making him use a different bat? Talk about breaking a hitter's concentration ...Sorry, No Photos
Rays manager Joe Maddon was then summoned from the dugout. When the meeting was finished, Iwamura had to hand over his bat to the umpiring crew. He then struck out swinging to end the inning.
"I was surprised," Iwamura said. "... Even before I left Japan, I sent my bat to see if it's OK with Major League Baseball." [...]
"Torre contends that no manufacturer makes a bat sawed off at the end like that, and he wanted to determine whether it was a legal bat or an illegal bat," crew chief Dana DeMuth said. "We respected his request."
Of course, the Rays were none-too-pleased with Torre's hijinks -- during Alex Rodriguez's at-bat in the third inning, Maddon trotted out to home plate to talk about his bat. And after the game, Maddon didn't even bother hiding his motivation:
"It was just retaliation," said Maddon of his decision to challenge Rodriguez's bat. "There's nothing wrong with Alex Rodriguez. He's a great player. It was tit for tat entirely."Unfortunately for the Rays, the distraction couldn't neutralize A-Rod's talent -- he laced a single between third base and shortstop to drive in a run.
Maddon smiled when asked what he told the umpires while making his challenge.
"I said it's an illegal bat," Maddon said. "There must be something inside it, but there might be something inside that bat. I don't have X-ray vision. He's got 45 home runs on Sept. 1. That was my argument."
Comments (Page 2 of 6)
Dont hate the Yankees because theyre the best. I know its tough...Everyone hates the team thats regarded as the best. No matter what the sport. Wah wah wah...excuses excuses...store bought...yadda yadda. Too bad if you dont like it. Whatcha gonna do to change it? Nothing. And your crying doesnt solve anything. So put up or SHUT UP! The Yankees are the best; always have been and always will be. Theres nothing to argue because its a simple fact. No other team ever accomplished the championships that the Yankees acquired. So go ahead and hate. Your jealous we're the best!
So much venom being spewed for "America's Team". Gotta luv' those Yanks.
signed,
Just wonderin' Buckeye State liver and lover. The Michigan blue and gold went down yesterday...tee hee...
Breaking a hitters concentration??? Give me a break? It's like when you can't say anything when a golfer tees off. If you're a real athlete, you can hit a golf ball when people are screaming or hit a ball when somebody questions your bat. Talk about being pampered.
okay...cre8ive133(comment #21), fyi, most will agree the yankees were the best, many years ago, that's history, and you can live in the past all you want, it's your pathetic life, but the yanks are hardly the best. When was the last time they won the series???? Oh, and let's not forget the one item they will always be the best at, never to be topped, and that is being the first team to choke a 3-0 lead in an ALCS! Right now, they have a great line up, 1-9 but what they dont have is great pitching, not even good pitching and over the long haul and more importantly in the playoffs, that's what gets it done, pitching and defense. So as long as georgie keeps paying big bucks for ancient androids, they will continue to lose when it counts. As for Dave(comment#2), your devilrays will always be a doormat in the AL East. Try moving to the National league, most of the AL triple A teams would beat them on a regular basis.
There are only two types of baseball fans, 1) Those who like the Yankees and 2) Those who know nothing about baseball. Stop being so jealous!!!
The only time I enjoy listening to John Sterling and his partner is when the Yankees lose. They have trouble swallowing and holding back the biased tears.
okay pmarz1 you are just a retard. Tell me Mr. I know everything what other team has more World Series rings in the 90's and 00's than the Yankees? That seems pretty recent to me unless maybe you were born yesterday!
From what I have heard and read Torre was just questioning the legality of the bar he was not accusing the Devil Ray team of cheating...how could he check with the league during the game that the bat was already deemed legal by the league...one person wrote that someone finally woke Torre up and another said he is arrogant whick is quite a difference...I did have to laugh at a Tigers fan accusing Torre and the Yankees of being obnoxious when they have Sheffied on their team who is the most obnoxious player in all of baseball and wore out his welcome on every team he has been on.
catchatorre has the right to challange.
WHY IN THE WORLD WOULD ANYONE CUT OFF THE TOP OF HIS BAT?
YES, I AGREE THE YANKEES ARE THE DIRTIEST TEAM
IN BASEBALL. WHAT HAPPENED TO THE DAYS OF
WHITEY, MICKEY, BABE AND GEHRIG?
THE YANKS ARE DESPERATE...A SINKING DYNASTY..A BUNCH
OF HAS BEENS, WHO'S DAY IN THE SUN HAS LONG SINCE
PASSED THEM BY..ALAS POOR NEW YORK..TO SINK TO SUCH
LOW LEVELS TO TRY AND BEAT THE LOWLIEST TEAM IN THE
LEAGUE..IT'S OVER... THE RED SOX ARE THE KINGS NOW
With all the money the Yankee's have why do they have the worst broadcast team in MLB?
Sorry DAM Yankeys you will Not be at the Big GAME
the Boston Redsox will be there GO REDSOX
In response to howard afder;
The Yankees are in a pennant race, which by the way is something the Devil Rays are UNaccustomed with.
My insight tells me you are either a Boston Red Sox fan or someone who just HATES the Yankees. Either way down through the years the Yankees haven't been affraid to open up the purse strings to get the talent they get. It all boils down to ownership.To make a team a contender it takes money bottom line the Yankees spend the money. How long did it take the Detroit Tigers owner to figure out he had a baseball team? After several years of being dumped in the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs he decided maybe it would be cheaper to buy an American League Pennant.
THE YAANNNNKKEEEEEE WIIIINNNNNNNNNN
Hey Deke and Mark, the Yankees just kicked the SH$T out of your BOSOX....Three game sweep
EVERYONE PICKS ON THE DYNASTY!!!!!!!
J E A L O U S F A N S C A S E C L S O S E D
To Foresses...........Whho lost their first game....Not the Buckeyes.....LMAO
CLOSED!
talk about desperation
To posters #21, 22 and especially 26, LOL,
I love you..xoxo