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Monday, August 06, 2007

The good and the bad

Based on all published reports, there is no getting around the fact that Carlos Rodriguez's disgusting act of throwing a ball at Alex Pena set off yesterday's ugly brawl at Fraser Field. I will re-iterate what I said yesterday: he should be released today, before the league even gets the chance to suspend him. That is totally intolerable, especially from an owner who prides himself on doing things 'the right way' -- I don't like seeing stories like the one I read from today's Worcester Telegram & Gazzette, in which Worcester's GM rips the Spirit. Sadly, it seems pretty true.

Link:

"All of that is conduct that doesn’t sit right with R.C. Reuteman, the Tornadoes president and general manager.

“I think for the most part we do it right,” Reuteman said, “but there are teams in this league that don’t. “We’re professional baseball players,” he continued. “And if we can’t conduct ourselves professionally, we have no (bleeping) business being part of it. There is absolutely no room for it.”

Reuteman said he is very frustrated with the Can-Am League in general and planned to have a phone conversation with league commissioner Miles Wolff last night. “If this is how our league is going to sit back and let these things happen,” Reuteman explained, “that’s not what I’m all about.”

Pitching coach Bobby Ojeda echoed some of Reuteman’s sentiments: “There’s no place in the game for this type of thing, and the saddest part is when you allow individuals like this (on your team), and you look the other way. And you have to look to the owner because he signed them."”
*

Interestingly enough, the official recap on the Spirit website just says that 'a brawl took place' with no explanation as to how it happened; the CanAm recap ignores the incident entirely.

It's not good when you are getting slammed in the media without any sort of response.

The Item's recap is particularly bad. Not only does it not write why the brawl started, it also states that Worcester starter Alex Pena was tossed --- which is not the case. All the Item had to do in this case was look up ANY OTHER REPORT on the game --- or just ask someone who would know.

It's pretty embarassing how the Spirit media coverage of the game tried to ignore the ugly incident.

I do have one issue with the Worcester T & G coverage, however. Here are a few lines:

"The brawl was clearly initiated by the Spirit. "
"Rodriguez, who is 6-foot-2, 220 pounds, then charged and tackled Pena from behind."
"The brawl appears to be part of a trend for North Shore, which also was involved in a brawl with Quebec in June. Its manager, Vic Davilla, has been thrown out of seven games this season. Rodriguez, the instigator this time around, was released from the team earlier this season. He was reportedly arrested during his time away, and then re-signed prior to the series with Worcester. "

If you go over and ask Davilla or any of the Spirit players, they would tell you that there had been trouble brewing between the two teams all weekend - a fact that was totally ignored by the media in general, although briefly alluded to in a quote in the Item's piece.

Also, I don't think it's fair to call two fights for a baseball team a "trend." It's pretty common for teams to have a couple of bench clearing incidents over the course of a long season. I don't know where the Worcester T&G reporter went to school --- Holy Cross, maybe? --- but where I come from, they teach me that two occurences of something does not equal a "trend."

In addition to that, I don't think the number of ejections to Vic Davilla is relevant in any way to any trend of 'violent behavior' by the team. Bobby Cox has the most ejections of any manager in baseball history. Are his teams assumed to be wild and unruly?

John Kennedy consistently led the league in ejections and he was tossed (count 'em) 12 times last year, but all you read about was how he kept a tight ship and ran a professional clubhouse. When he got ejected, it was OK.

Could it be because Kennedy is a graying old white guy who used to play in the Majors? It's not a popular question to ask, but I think it's fair in this situation. That was a blatantly irrelevant fact to use in the article.

Finally, in regards to C-Rod's off the field 'issues,' I heard that he had a run-in with police while he was on the team the first time, which prompted his release; I find it highly doubtful that the team would
1) release him for no reason
2) see that he gets arrested
3) sign him back after that

It would be nice if someone from the Item, or other media affiliated with the Spirit would put out some information from the Spirit perspective here, because the only media reports out there that actually cover the fight and don't gloss over it give the entire organization a huge black eye.

For the most part, the black eye is well deserved - Rodriguez is a numbskull, a jerk, and a bully for what he did on the field yesterday.

I think there's one quote to remember in regards to C-Rod: "Once a Capitale, always a Capitale."

It'll be interesting to see how the Spirit front office -- and Uncle Miles -- responds to this one.

31 comments:

Anonymous said...

Gedman could, and WOULD have "nipped it in the bud" when it came to his player or players getting mouthy all w/e and brewing tension. That being said, I think Vic should be held to the same standard. I do not believe, for a MINUTE, that J.K. would have allowed any of this shit to go on under him. (ask Garrett Weir)
D-Rob needs to get some composure on and off the field. He's out there throwing haymakers with his pitching hand for Crissakes!; this ain't legion ball.
Although some of the comments attributed to the Tornadoes coaching staff seem self-serving, I do agree that this is Professional baseball and players should behave as such. There is no room for players who wish to act like 12 yr. olds.
Carlos Marley should go, period.
Sorry Rastaman, but we can't wait for you to detox and come around; what a shame to think you were a five tool player at one point in your career. You want payback on A. Pena?, stand in, stop swinging at pitches in the dirt and hit it hard somewhere....preferably back through the box. Too bad, pack your bags.
As usual, Mum's the word around here; don't wait for any news or insight to come from the brass...... again.

Sparky

Wooden U. Lykteneau said...

Joe - If it happened the way the reporter described it, then not only should he be released, but the league should suspend him for the remainder of the season.

I agree with you that the implication that the Spirit team is dirty and by extension Vic Davilla is an instigator is unfair.

DaveCo said...

I am not really shocked at all that no media outlet spoke of the bad tensions between the teams going into yesterday's game.

And I don't think the Worcester preseident/GM should be saying they do things right and,basically, saying they conduct themselves professionally.
If they did then this fight wouldn't have happned. the reason the bad blood started was because of THEIR center fielder being completly immature....mouthing off to various pitchers about a pre-game ritual for them that doesn't affect anyone.

Then the fact that they CLEARLY threw at C-Rod didn't help. When they hit him he got pissed,as would anyone. When C-Rod threw the ball at Pena then that's he only time we initiaited really anything.

If any team is at fault here,and I'm not being bias,I think it's mainly Worcester's fault this fight happened.

ALSO:
** These fights are not a trend
** The item should be a little more accurate,especially after i told the reporter details.
** I hate to say it,but Joe's right. When JK got ejected before it was alright,but now that Vic's manager he's suddenly a bad manager for it?



Dear Worcester T&G,
You guys suck & shouldn't be writting.

Signed,
ME

Anonymous said...

you dont know everything kid despite what you may think... get some knowledge about the game and the way an organization is run before passing off judgements. Major League teams have all of the resources in the world to get accurate information out- it is not the managements staff responsibility to keep the fans in tune to whats happening- many of your complaints shoul be headed towards the daily items lack of interest in reporting such details that you, the fan, really want to know. Why would a team, its coaches, and management staff release private information as soon as it happens- no professional sports teams do that. How it works is reporters and beat writer's talk to whoever they can find that may have some knowledge of the private matters (such as a looming rodriguez release or suspension) and that is how breaking stories are discovered. The team itself is responsible for letting the legue know when they sign and release a player and the spirit does do that. It is the Item's responsibiliy to get that informarion and relay to you guys. A lot of your complaints center around this isue which is one you really need to take up with the newspaper.

Anonymous said...

Isn't that what was said?.
Noone is pleased with the way the Item reports these things (or not) and I think we are all in agreement on that point.
However, The Worcester Staff seemed willing to talk on the record WHEN THEY WERE ASKED. Perhaps someone should ASK the Spirit Staff huh?.

DaveCo said...

Sparky's right.....I wouldn't wanna be Worcester when Gedman takes action for the other day.

Sorry,while i was writting that last paragraph someone hit me on the shoulder (I'm at work) and the mouse clicked the publish comment button......and i forget what I was gonna type. :-p

Anonymous said...

I went to a boxing match at Fraser and a fight.....er, a baseball game broke out.

Joe Grav said...

I'm gonna echo what Sparky said --- we don't see any comments from them in the media about anything - ever.

My main complaint is with the Item, but the Spirit could help the issue.

This idea that the team is running amok with Vic in charge is bullcrap - during the Kennedy years we had some loose cannons (Weir, Robinson... Davilla) and a good number of brawls (against Quebec, Brockton AND New Jersey - and I remember having one against Bangor, too.) That was irresponsible journalism by the T&G.

In spite of all of that, however, we need to remember that CRod is mainly at fault. That was a dangerous and stupid act that he did and whatever bullcrap Worcester started before that does NOT justify what he did.

It's not the responsibility of the Spirit to tell us anything, BUT it would be helpful to the team's now-tarnished reputation if they put out a statement stating that they have cut ties with Carlos Rodriguez and that they do not tolerate such actions on their team.

Meanwhile, Worcester's president & GM needs to STFU - he should get rid of Keith Bureguard before he whines to anyone about lack of professionalism and class.

Wooden U. Lykteneau said...

Gentlemen (and Anon) - You'll be happy to know that I sent a scathing e-mail to the T&G sports folks and took them to task (read: lazy, unprofessional) for such a one-sided article. I'll gladly post their response, especially if it's like Hoffman Wolff!

Joe Grav said...

I will be anxiously awaiting that response

Anonymous said...

Me Too ! *yawn* ( not holding my breath)
Sparky

Wooden U. Lykteneau said...

True, Sparky, True - The T&G ain't much better than the Item (if at all)

Anonymous said...

You can comment on the T&G article on their website... I did.

Sparky

Wooden U. Lykteneau said...

Done ;-)

Joe Grav said...

Isn't it great when we all get along? ;)

Anonymous said...

I also sent RC an E-Mail @ rc@worcestertornadoes.com., though I don't expect a response.

Sparky

Anonymous said...

you guys are all tools

Anonymous said...

you guys are all tools

Anonymous said...

you guys are all tools

Anonymous said...

Hey!! WE Rhyme...
We're tools and YOU are a FOOL!

COOL Huh?

DaveCo said...

Can i be a screwdriver?
^_^

Anonymous said...

i rest my case

Anonymous said...

...although i have no balls and am most likely a Spirit employee...

Anonymous said...

....Bobby?....

Joe Grav said...

Yo anon, tell me something I don't know. I'm proud to be a tool, I broadcast it to the world in blog form every day.

Dave, you can be a screwdriver... I'll be the hammah'. HAMMERTIME!!!

Anonymous said...

I covered the game on Sunday (and by extension, the brawl). I honestly didn't see how it started (Rodriguez apparently throwing the ball), so I wasn't comfortable in writing that it happened if I didn't see it happen (if I had seen it and looked at the melee right from the beginning, yes, I would've mentioned Rodriguez whipping the ball in my article).

Secondly, when I saw that Worcester had a new pitcher starting the bottom of the fourth inning (in relief of Pena), I thought he had been ejected as well. I did speak to Vic after the game, and he mentioned that Pena had gotten hurt in the melee, and had to be taken out as a result. That's my fault, especially when I had quotes from Vic written down stating that.

I think I do a pretty good job covering the Spirit, given what's happened this season (both good and bad). I can't speak for any of my colleagues at the paper, or how you may feel about them and how what they write, but I think I'm doing a reasonable job covering the North Shore nine. You can say the coverage at the paper sucks, but don't include me in that because what I write doesn't suck. Capiche?

You Know Who

Joe Grav said...

I assume a pair of corrections will be in tomorrow's Item?

Anonymous said...

THE DALEY ITEMS: WE RITE PAPER GOOD!

DaveCo said...

Ok,I can get where you're comign from.
For the most part I did fill you in on what happened.....but to write it down from a third-hand source (I even stated I heard it from Ernie) would probably not be the best to do now that i think about it. And to your defense nobody really saw it save a couple fans and players.

While the Item doesn;t do the best job of a lot of stuff (SEE: Advertising Spirit promos) I must admit when I have read your articles they were very well done.

Anonymous said...

You are indeed a good newsman. But my Entercom stock is really in the crapper now. I still need you to write faster.

Anonymous said...

Quite possibly the worst journalist ive ever read- why detract just because he wrote a comment? He does a crappy job for a crappy paper.