Red Sox/Rays
by Jim Weeks on Jun 6, 2008 11:08 AM EDT
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PrintWatching last night's game I was not the least bit surprised to see the Red Sox and the Rays mix it up. They've been doing this for years, long before Tampa Bay was any good. Off the top of my head I remember Pedro's ridiculous game after Gerald Williams charged him and a game five years later where Bronson Arroyo, both managers and several other players were suspended. And for a while there it seemed like the Sox and Rays went after each other every series they met. Lost in all of this is the fact that Red Sox fans have to hold their breath about the status of Ortiz and now Ellsbury as well. Anyways keep up the good work. I was glad to get caught up on the draft. And thanks for the Beat L.A. shout outs.
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On the brawl
Coco was completely out of line. I’ll admit watching him charge the mound was entertaining, but it also set us up for Carter Drew Youkilis in the OF when Ells came out. Coco’s primary job is not to start fights or ignite rivalries, it is to play stellar defense. He should have just walked to first base and stolen second (without another bush league take down slide).
I disagree
While I do not know what would have been the proper reaction to Barrett’s move when Coco was trying to steal 2nd base, I have heard many MLB players and former players say its totally up to Coco to rush the mound if he is hit. If the players think its a personal choice, then who am I to criticize.
The Rays actions during the brawl was ridiculous and there will be far more Rays suspended than Sox. Gomes, Iwamura and a couple others were trying to cheap shot Coco and that is just dirty.
If I was the Sox I would throw at the first guy they face in the next Rays series.
Agreed
I am sure Coco knew he was going to get beaned and decided before the game even started that when it happens he was going to rush the mound. I think Coco did the right thing.
His take down slide was perfect retaliation for what happened on the previous steal attempt. The Rays are a young team that are one of the best in the Majors. Coco’s hard slide let them know if they are going to be a premier team they need to act like it and play proper defense.
In my opinion, which is most likely highly biased. After Weds game things were even. Then the beaned pitch came on Thurs. with Coco’s retaliation and the Ray’s suspensions (which are soon to come) things are even again. I don’t think anything needs to happen from the Sox next time around in retaliation.
Coco
did say he thought things were even after the brawl, so lets see how the Rays handle this and take it from there.
My only question to people who are on Coco about his decision is ask yourself this: what happens if Coco ignores the bean and goes to 1st?
Obviously, Lester would have to retaliate, for the reasons drabidea just mentioned, Sox cannot give anything to the Rays anymore. Then the fight would of been between Lester and most likely Iwamura or Upton and not Coco.
Coco wanted the retaliation to be against him bc he was involved and I agree he was going to mound regardless to keep Lester from having to feel obligated to throw at the Rays. Plus Coco is an ex-gold gloves boxer, ill take my chances with him v. Shields.
Excellent point
By rushing the mound, he saved Lester from having to retaliate, and getting rushed himself.
Manny ain't the only bad man.
Coco dodged that punch
like he was in the matrix. His aim wasn’t much better, but that’s Coco: all defense.
"You know you're having a bad day when the fifth inning rolls around and they drag the warning track." - Mike Flanagan, Baltimore Orioles pitcher, 1992.
In some ways Coco rushing the mound helped win the game..
Getting Shields ejected after an inning of pitching, just help use the Tampa Bullpen, which means wearing it out a bit more on its roadtrip.
Personally Coco should had gone to first base. I would give him slack if he was hit again or had a pitch aimed at his head. I sort of shake my head at the Rays for throwing at him in the early innings. The game needs to be won, not some silly payback or escalation from the night before.Look what the Sox did, they had Lester throw at Crawford and behind Aybar, he also cleaned the Rays clock, maybe he had the same intent and instruction as Shields, but he was more subtle.
If the Rays wanted to nail Crisp, have a middle reliever plunk him in the 7th inning onward, who is expendable, not a starting pitcher who can get suspended…
Lester did not throw at Crawford
When you throw at a guy, you don’t throw a curveball.
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