Even a Red Sox homer like Peter Gammons couldn't deny that Dempster intentionally hit Rodriguez. However, Ryan Dempster insists he was just trying to pitch inside:
When fan hatred gets out of equilibrium, I tend to root for the guy being hated. This is why I actively root for LeBron James, defend Tony Romo and could be classified as an A-Rod apologist as well. After last night all the above remains true except I am rooting more for Alex than ever before.
Whether Ryan Dempster threw at A-Rod because he's playing through his appeal and affecting a playoff race or for some personal beef, I don't know. I do know that it's slightly disingenuous to call Dempster a hero while he plays on the same team as David Ortiz, who failed a drug test. I do know that it's more dangerous to throw consecutive 90+ mph fastballs at someone than it is to use a substance to hit baseballs longer. I do know that allowing Dempster to stay in the game gives other teams incentive to play the hero card and throw at A-Rod again.
I'm a little biased as a fan of the Yankees but of a fan of comedy as well, I am hoping that A-Rod continues to play well (he has a a 150 wRC+ so far this year). I understand the frustration that Alex Rodriguez is playing through his appeal but this is the rule that the players agreed to. There is no place for intentionally throwing at a batter like Dempster did last night, especially if he doesn't have to pay a price and there is no place for calling him a hero if he can't even own up to it.
I don't like Stuart Scott but I'll quote him here: "Don't hate the playa, hate thegame collective bargaining agreement that the MLBPA signed."
Dempster said after Sunday’s loss to the Yankees that he didn’t hit Alex Rodriguez intentionally, even though it appeared to most that the right-hander plunked A-Rod on purpose in the second inning. Dempster said that he was simply trying to pitch inside, and that there are no issues between him and Rodriguez.Dempster's 4.77 ERA, 4.71 FIP and 3.96 BB/9 would lead us too believe that he could just a bad pitcher who has no ability to control his pitches inside but it's a fairly safe assumption that he did in on purpose. And people seemed to like that purpose. Jeff Pearlman loves Dempster this morning, and a quick Ryan Dempster search on Twitter should lead you to several people, both high profile and low brow fans who agree with Dempster taking a shot (or four) on Alex Rodriguez.
When fan hatred gets out of equilibrium, I tend to root for the guy being hated. This is why I actively root for LeBron James, defend Tony Romo and could be classified as an A-Rod apologist as well. After last night all the above remains true except I am rooting more for Alex than ever before.
Whether Ryan Dempster threw at A-Rod because he's playing through his appeal and affecting a playoff race or for some personal beef, I don't know. I do know that it's slightly disingenuous to call Dempster a hero while he plays on the same team as David Ortiz, who failed a drug test. I do know that it's more dangerous to throw consecutive 90+ mph fastballs at someone than it is to use a substance to hit baseballs longer. I do know that allowing Dempster to stay in the game gives other teams incentive to play the hero card and throw at A-Rod again.
I'm a little biased as a fan of the Yankees but of a fan of comedy as well, I am hoping that A-Rod continues to play well (he has a a 150 wRC+ so far this year). I understand the frustration that Alex Rodriguez is playing through his appeal but this is the rule that the players agreed to. There is no place for intentionally throwing at a batter like Dempster did last night, especially if he doesn't have to pay a price and there is no place for calling him a hero if he can't even own up to it.
I don't like Stuart Scott but I'll quote him here: "Don't hate the playa, hate the
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