Rose Confession
Posted by Steve L. on January 5th, 2013 · Comments (11)
Pete Rose was/is an ignorant and extremely flawed human being. That said, it was fun to watch him play. He was an attack dog on the diamond – especially at the plate.
Nothing worth confessing about, there are no doubts about his abilities on the field. He was a heck of a player.
As a kid, and an adult, his approach to the game influenced me to no end. Sprinting flat out to first base after a walk or HBP… He wasn’t very fast, had a poor arm, and little power, but you were going to have to want it if you are going to beat him.
I always liked the way he, and Jeter, watch a pitch all the way into the catcher’s mitt. That’s keep your head on the ball.
Great player. Bet on baseball. Shouldn’t be in the Hall. {ducks}
Steve L. wrote:
Wade Boggs did that too. I’ll never forget the walk he worked against Steve Avery in the 96 Series.
@ Evan3457:
Sadly, I agree.
@ Evan3457:
@ #15:
Ditto. The rules are the rules, etc. Yet, I often wonder, if he had never managed, would he still have bet on baseball and still then gotten into the HOF? Seems like he screwed himself, in terms of the HOF, by not staying out of the game when he retired or not taking a job where he could have bet on the game and not been caught…like a scout or front office type. (Then again, he probably would never be a front office type.)
(d) BETTING ON BALL GAMES. Any player, umpire, or club official or employee, who shall bet any sum whatsoever upon any baseball game in connection with which the bettor has no duty to perform shall be declared ineligible for one year.
Any player, umpire, or club or league official or employee, who shall bet any sum whatsoever upon any baseball game in connection with which the bettor has a duty to perform shall be declared permanently ineligible.
It’s posted in every clubhouse. If he were out of the game when he bet on baseball there would be no issue. Scouts and front office types are not exempt. Even someone with Rose’s intellectual limits knew it was wrong and knew he could get bounced from the game forever if he bet while he was still in the game. He did it. He deserves the consequences.
And, FWIW, reportedly, Rose was called into the commish’s office as a player and warned about his gambling habits. So, it’s not like he wasn’t aware that people were watching him.
Steve L. wrote:
How A-Rodian of him.
Well, A-Rod and Pete are buds…