Well, now Torre agrees that it was a bad move by A-Rod:

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=2890628

Torre said he spoke with Rodriguez after the game.

“It’s probably something he shouldn’t have done,” Torre said. “I don’t sense he’s going to do it again.”

Torre didn’t explicitly tell Rodriguez not to do it, and Rodriguez didn’t say he wouldn’t, according to the manager, but it was clear to Torre there will be no repeat. A-Rod wasn’t available to reporters before the game.

“When you know somebody, you sort of have a conversation and it’s what you get out of it,” Torre said. “I think he was probably uncomfortable with” the reaction.

I didn’t see the game, so all the news of this play I’m getting is from here and from the articles on yankees.com. I don’t know that it’s such a bad thing. I’m agreeing with Jen, I think. I thought about if I’d be pissed at someone on a team playing against the Yankees–and I think I realized I’d be more pissed at whatever Yankee fell for it. Fans yell “I got it” all the time. Everyone yells all the time. Do what you get paid for and catch the ball.

“Whatever to the Jays. You can blame ARod for trying a little league play, or you can blame Clark for falling for a little league play.” Vockins, Bronx Banter

If it were a commom play in baseball, why was there such anger over it?
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There was anger because a player was made to look stupid. Just like when Joey Cora drag bunted in the 1995 playoffs. The Yanks argued to save face, but the fact of the matter was they were caught napping.

No Yankee player defended his action, neither called him out either.

It was a deke. The Jays tried to get an interference call, but were unsuccessful.

FWIW, it’s only bad sportsmanship when you lose; when you win, it’s gamesmanship.

Don, you said the hidden ball trick and what Alex did weren’t in the same category. I want to specifically know why. So if people generally accept something as part of baseball, it’s okay?

In both instances, the player is deceiving someone — in one case, that he gave the ball back to the pitcher, and in the other that a teammate called for the ball.

I have no problem that you think Alex was wrong. I just don’t understand why one play is allowed and the other is cheap.

As no Yankee players defended the stupidity of what Alex did, it seems to make it self-explanatory. The manager did not defend it. If it were a commom play in baseball, why was there such anger over it? Because it isn’t part of the game. It was a cheap play.

And as I posted, some of you ‘fans’ would say or do anything to defend Alex.

As for memories…

On July 10, 1977, Seattle’s Stan Thomas threw at Mike Cubbage without hitting him once. Upset that Cubbage had stolen his girlfriend five years earlier while they were in the minor leagues together, Stanton was fined on the spot by Manager Darrell Johnson.

Weird (:

Just out of curiosity: why is it different?
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It was executed by a player he likes

Anyway, I really don’t see what the big deal is. IIRC the umpire didn’t call Rodriguez out for interference.

As for it “never happening in organized ball” I’d suggest McDonald attend a few games in the city. Happens more often than you think.

It was a deke, plain and simple. Not much different than cutting in front of a fielder when he’s trying to field a ground ball.

Don,

Let me know what plays you think (other than this one since you’ve said so) are bush league and what plays aren’t.

The hidden ball trick, Gene ‘Stick’ Michael was expert at this (and used it successfully any number of times as a Yankee), is not in the same category. Not even close.
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Just out of curiosity: why is it different?