Baseball Musings
Baseball Musings
March 08, 2008
Rough Rays

The Tampa Bay Rays ran over a Yankees minor league catcher today, breaking his wrist:

"I think it's uncalled for in spring training. You get people hurt and that's what we got, we got Cervelli hurt," said Joe Girardi. I can't agree more - there's no place for a play like that at this time of year, and I'm fairly certain there will be some retribution at some point. The to teams meet again on Wednesday, and the Rays visit the Bronx for a weekend series starting April 4th. Watch out.

Yes, from the Yankees point of view, this is uncalled for. For the Rays fans, however, it's good to see the team being aggressive.


Posted by David Pinto at 10:43 PM | Injuries | TrackBack (0)
Comments

When Brian Bruney retaliates by putting Baldelli on the DL for the season, how good will that be, from the Rays' fans' point of view?

I love it when players are aggressive, but breaking a guy's bone *in March* really is uncalled for.

Posted by: James at March 9, 2008 11:30 AM

I don't believe there was any intent to hurt the player. You should play spring games the same as a regular game. Obviously, that statement isn't always true. A pitcher may be working on a particular pitch and may not mix things up the same way. However, base running shouldn't change. If it is wrong to run into a catcher now it is wrong in June. If it is right in August then it is right now. Shame the guy got hurt but that happens.

Posted by: largebill at March 9, 2008 12:31 PM

It's called hardball.....maybe more of these guys should play it.

Posted by: Frank at March 9, 2008 01:54 PM

The guy who ran over Cervelli was an undrafted FA out of HS who tried out and got signed. He had a bad year last year and guys like this don't get much of shot. Elliot Johnson is literally playing for his career. He's got a shot to one day be a utility man and if he doesn't go all out, he's never going to make it.

Posted by: Tyler at March 9, 2008 02:02 PM

Bill Werber 3B in bigs 1932-42 complained so much over rookie Dom DiMaggio bunting on him in 1940 Sox-Reds exhibition game that Dom took off his glasses and came close to trading blows with Werber. Imagine a DiMaggio ever getting that combative on the diamond!

Posted by: Bob S at March 9, 2008 03:27 PM

Oh, I didn't mean Johnson did it on purpose. And given his lack of experience, you can't get too mad at him, I agree.

But, the Yankees will retaliate, and if a valuable Ray or prospect gets hurt, Johnson's play isn't going to look so good anymore.

The rules should be changed to avoid that kind of play in any case. It isn't legal to barrel into a fielder to try to make him drop the ball, but since the runner really has no choice nobody ever gets called for it. It's a glitch in the rule book and it causes injuries.

Posted by: James at March 9, 2008 03:27 PM

If you change the rules to prevent catchers from getting run over, then you cannot allow them to block the plate with anything other than their foot. If they do, then the run would have to be allowed. Basically, it's not going to happen.

Posted by: Tyler at March 9, 2008 04:49 PM

I was unaware that Girardi was a big crybaby

Posted by: Bandit at March 10, 2008 08:19 AM
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