Am I wrong or is my friend wrong? We are arguing on Facebook about the A-Rod/Varitek brawl. I hate when a batter glares after getting hit by a pitch. I would curse Red Sox players for doing it.
He says Veritek started it. I say A-Rod should have not slow walked and stare at the pitcher. It was a curve ball and was not intentional.
If it was a fastball to the ribs I could see A-Rod being mad. What do you say?
https://youtu.be/mQUl2JOSVYo
Before I comment, I will tell you that I'm a Dodger fan and, therefore, biased against the Yankees. I'm also married to a passionate fan of all Boston sports teams and therefore consider the Red Sox my #2 team (and #1 AL team).
I'm also going to point out that it's curious that you invited folks to tell you that you are wrong but don't seem willing to accept being told exactly that.
First of all, while the pitch was a curveball, it clearly was intentional.
Second, I don't recall what led up to this, and that certainly played into it.
Third, it's hard to evaluate without knowing what was said (and, in particular, what Varitek said before Rodriguez started dropping f-bombs).
All that being said, and regardless of Rodriguez "slow walking," this was on Varitek. Rodriguez gave no indication that he was going to charge the mound, so Varitek had no reason to leave his position other than to start something.
Varitek was the antagonist to the whole thing.
No. A-Rod jawing and staring started it. Varitek added the gas. In the end both were ejected and rightfully so.
Rodriguez yapping at Arroyo didn't "start" anything. Batters and pitchers yap at each other all the time without it escalating into a brawl. Had Varitek stayed in his position, nothing would have happened.
How about take a curve ball like a man and walk to 1st base without jawing?
Likewise, how about letting the guy jaw and take his base and move on?
Baseball fights are stupid wastes of time. They need to handle it like hockey: If you leave the bullpen to participate in a fight, you get fined and suspended. If you leave the dugout to participate in a fight, you get fined and suspended. if you leave your position to participate in a fight, you get fined and/or suspended.
Or, we could take the entertainment value up a notch: Have a sniper with rubber bullets positioned near the dugout. If a batter charges the mound, take him down.