Two weeks ago while broadcasting a New York Yankees game, former pitcher and current color commentator Rick Sutcliffe said that Alex Rodriguez was giving his teammate Mark Teixeira verbal indicators on where the catcher was setting up behind him while in the box. How exactly Sutcliffe could hear these verbal cues from Rodriguez while up in the television booth I'm not entirely sure.Not surprisingly, both Rodriguez and Teixeira were informed of Sutcliffe's on-air claims and neither were very happy about it. So, with Sutcliffe back in town with ESPN to broadcast Tuesday night's latest edition of the Yankees-Red Sox rivalry, both players took the opportunity to confront Sutcliffe on his accusation.
"Me, Alex and him talked about it," Teixeira told the Daily News, confirming that the conversation took place. "No doubt it's disappointing when someone makes an accusation like that. Whatever. I can't control what they say."If I were in Teixeira or Rodriguez's shoes I'd probably be pretty upset about this myself, because, as I said earlier, how can Sutcliffe have any idea what Rodriguez is saying or whistling from all the way up in the press box? Did he sneak a microphone on him before the game?
Teixeira said he has known Sutcliffe "for years," adding that he's always considered him to be "a great guy and a great pitcher." Teixeira wouldn't comment any further on the tone of the conversation, although he and Rodriguez were clearly upset with Sutcliffe's words and let the former All-Star know it. Sutcliffe will be part of ESPN's broadcast team for tonight's game.
"You can ask him about it," Teixeira said.
On the other hand, I'd get over it pretty quickly, because what exactly is the big deal here? I know that the recent allegations that A-Rod tipped pitches to opposing batters in Selena Roberts' book is problematic because he's helping the competition, but aren't teammates supposed to help each other out?
It's not cheating if a player in the on-deck circle is signaling where the catcher is. I mean, it's the baseball equivalent of a player yelling "screen!" to a teammate in the NBA to warn him that he's about to run into a screen from another player.
A hitter can just look to see how the outfield is playing him to figure out where the pitcher is going to try to get him out anyway. If he looks out and sees the outfield playing him to pull, then he better look inside. If they're playing him to go the other way, then he better cover the outside portion of the plate.
That's not cheating in any form, but rather just being a smart player.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 4)
6-10-2009 @ 2:56PM
trish said...
It's a big deal because opposing teams take offense to something like this and threaten to hurt players who are involved in pitch tipping.
Sutcliffe was careless and could get Teixeira and Rodriguez hurt.
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6-10-2009 @ 7:03PM
Rick said...
If these prima donnas are upset at this, These dopes don't know baseball, Your there to win!!! In high school baseball our coach was on our ass if we didn't have the other teams signs by the second inning!! Todays ballplayers should learn baseball and not the unwritten bullsh** rules they claim!!
6-11-2009 @ 7:07PM
pmarz1 said...
okay, I dont see anything wrong with helping your teamate out anyway you can. If it is an unwritten rule that you are not suppose to do it then why do you see the pitcher and catcher getting together and discussing pitch selection when there is a guy on 2nd? Teams are constantly disguising what they are doing. These two prima donnas are so concerned about their self image that they dont give a damn about their team. The Yankees were a much better team a decade ago with team players instead of these blow hards. The Texas steroid connection is all I need to know about these clowns. I feel sorry for Jeter.
6-11-2009 @ 7:43PM
Junior said...
Yeah right dude, it's baseball. C'mon. Get your panties out the crack of your ass and play some ball. Expect teammates to help each other out, as for A Rod being a whiny little punk...well, that's pretty much it. Keep whining and wiping them tears from your face as you say I HAD to take steroids you little beezy. Oh my, the pressure, the pressure. Lmao
6-10-2009 @ 2:57PM
Tom Fornelli said...
That's a great point, Trish, and one I didn't consider.
Thank you.
Still, you'd think that if Sutcliffe can figure it out from the box than the opponents are probably aware of it too.
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6-11-2009 @ 2:10PM
Joe said...
Mr. Fornelli: You seemed to be making two points that are contradictory. One point is that, even if ARod is guilty as charged, that it is not a big deal, since it just shows that he is a smart player. Yet, your story's main thrust is that the two players were so upset that they confronted Sutcliffe. My question to you is, that if it's no big deal, then why are the players so mad?
6-10-2009 @ 4:12PM
megaditto said...
A-Roid is a cheater on and off the field. Tex not sure about.
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6-10-2009 @ 4:44PM
britethere1234 said...
After A-Roid knocking the ball out of Arroyo's hand in the 2004 playoffgame, nothing surprises me about the lowlife clown. From his yelling "i've got it" while rounding third in Toronto to having juice IVs from HS on it's par for the course. Once a cheater always a cheater.
6-10-2009 @ 4:27PM
trish said...
You're welcome, Tom.
Heard Sutcliffe this morning on ESPN. He said he never accused them of tipping. He was just pointing out that the catcher was setting up too soon and used them as an example of how that could be tipped.
Very irresponsible on his part.
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6-11-2009 @ 3:18PM
gsan201 said...
WTF why is it irresponsible? Give some reason to your position! I see nothing wrong with that. Commentators say stuff like that regulary. Listen to them in football pointing out what another team should do because they can see that this guy or that looks hurt or is out of position. If we can hear it you don't think the opposing team can hear it? It is the same thing,he was just pointing out what was happening or looked to be happening .A-Rod and Tex made a mountain out of a molehill because Someone probably in the PRESS got them all irate and told them yeah yeah ou should contfront him yeah yeah you shoud kill him.The press are some evil mother fukkers.Especially AOL and TMZ,they are the worse and most bigoted of all. Ever Read anything by KEVIN BLACKSTONE?? HE is one big walking double standard, he spouts racism al the time and always accusing everyone of it. IF a ref calls a foul on a player in the NBA it is racism,why did he have to call a foul on the black guy KEVIN SAYS. Ummm kevin why don't yu scream for diversity in the NBA or NFL?? Douchebag!! I'm just saying!!
6-11-2009 @ 7:14PM
pmarz1 said...
so trish, are you tellling us that the commentators cant make observations of what is going on in a game? If you had an objective bone in your body, you wouldnt be whining about this. Maybe your pretty boys should concentrate on the game at hand instead of what a commentator may be saying. Last time I checked, they werent doing all that well against Boston.
6-10-2009 @ 5:10PM
axt7118 said...
I take no one hear EVER Player BASEBALL. The only way you could tip off a picth is if your on 2nd Base. LOOKING INTO THE CATCHER. It's CAN'T be done from the Ondeck spot... Which is Off to and BEHIND the CATCHER. And You can't say he saw in on the TV Screen in Center, Because then ALL The BATTER's Would know what's coming. So Rick my boy your outa the game. And Stay out .
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6-10-2009 @ 5:27PM
machadobrad said...
axt7718, if you want to be taken seriously, try using your spell-checker before posting. Of course you might be 8 years old, or a Yankee fan, so either way you would get a pass.
6-11-2009 @ 1:36PM
ski4fun120 said...
Learn to read axt7118. Nowhere in the article does it state that A-roid was tipping the pitches. It states that he was relaying where the catcher was setting up for the pitch.
6-11-2009 @ 7:25PM
pmarz1 said...
axt7118, get a clue. If the catcher is setting up too early, anyone on the on deck circle could give a verbal signal to the batter you dope. If you had any reading comprehension skills at all, you may have understood that from the comments that have been written.
6-10-2009 @ 5:24PM
nickstoli said...
"Me, Alex and him talked about it,"
Isn't Teixera an American born college graduate? He should be ashamed of his grammar!
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6-10-2009 @ 6:34PM
tom said...
First off axt, Sutcliffe not only played baseball, but played for years in the MLB at an All-Star level. Also he said they were tipping location which you don't need the signs to see. I don't think Sutcliffe is right but nothing you said made any sense.
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6-10-2009 @ 6:57PM
cswa913102 said...
I think Sutcliffe and the other broadcasters, as well as all the writers, need to spend every possible second they can hammering away at MLB about the chemical scandal. They need to put on unrelenting pressure until SOMEONE does SOMETHING meaningful about this garbage that is poisoning baseball.
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6-11-2009 @ 5:32PM
c21vin said...
Overall the fans don't care about the PED's. The media beats everyone down with it. People will stiill chear for Manny when he comes back, and when Arod hits a homer they will cheer him too. If the Yanks win the whole thing fans will completely forget about his use of PED's. It's so funny to read these post and immediately know who is a Yankee hater, and a Yankee lover.
6-10-2009 @ 6:59PM
into228 said...
THIS IS DUMB AND NOT A BIG DEAL IF I AM PLAYING B-BALL AND I TELL MY TEAMMATE HE DRIVES LEFT ALL THE TIME AND HE SHOULD WATCH FOR IT HOW I THAT CHEATING.? DUMB DUMB AND IM GLAD THE YANKEES ARE GOING TO WIN THE WORLD SERIES THIS YEAR.
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