Subject: Ben Davis: Bush League or Smart Baseball?
Posted by: VIDevilRays
- Leader [29439176] Sun, May 27, 07:26
Some interesting opinions going around. Frankly, I'm very surprised anyone thinks the bunt was bush league under the circumstances-2-0 game in the eighth inning and the potential tying run coming to the plate.
Right now five teams in the NL West are within two games of first place. The Padres are playing to win. If the Diamondbacks had a large lead or the Padres were out of contention I agree it would have been a bad move. No way it was under the circumstances.
FWIW, Dave Campbell on Baseball Tonight said he had never heard of this 'unwritten rule' (that the play was bush league) under these circumstances. And for those who 'know' the game remember-on the road you play to win-at home you play to tie. That's exactly what Ben Davis was doing under the circumstances.
Let's hear it-Happy Memorial Day weekend!
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102
miguel p
ID: 254512517 Sun, May 27, 17:08
Just got back on the internet after a few weeks away and all kinds of crazy stuff going on here on the boards. The pitchers I chose to hold for my time off didn't suck that much, Pujols didn't lose $1 million on me, everyone (including KKB now) has given up on trying to figure out what's going on with Pedro's price changes, and this fairly one-sided debate (in terms of where gurupie support stands).
Question for those who disagree with what Davis did (I'm not trying to attack anyone, I just want to understand where the source of the disagreement lies):
Would it have been okay for Davis to have swung away to try to get a single? Was it bush for the other Padres to have done so?
If you don't disagree with swinging away in an attempt to get a hit, then what's wrong with bunting to try to get a hit?
The only way bunting can be called cheap (as far as I can see) is if you think you're more likely to get a hit that way. So does that mean that the "bush" part of his action was to use the best available means of getting a hit, rather than intentionally using a sub-optimal approach, so as to give the pitcher a somewhat better chance of maintaining the perfect game? (I'm not saying I think he's more likely to get on with a bunt, I'm just trying to understand why bunting would be wrong while swinging is still okay.)
At what point does letting the pitcher get in the record books trump trying to win? Are you supposed to stop trying to get on base after the 7th? The 5th? When you're down by more than 1? More than 3? 2 games back of the division lead? 4 games back? Playing a team ahead of you in the standings? Behind you?
I just don't understand what you think Davis (or any other Padre) was supposed to do at that point. Were they supposed to intentionally try to stay off base? Were they supposed to stop trying to get on once he had the perfect game going into the 8th? The 6th? Or were they still supposed to try to win, but only by swinging, and not by bunting? And if so, what exactly is the problem with bunting?
PS - I just stopped crying aboot the Raptors' game 7 loss 8 minutes ago. I think this site cheered me up. I missed you guys. : )
103
bookie
ID: 48452623 Sun, May 27, 17:19
Deepsnapper, you asked for a baseball man to say he'd bunt in that situation. In my 20 seasons of playing ball, I was involved in two near no-hit (or perfect) games. On the losing side, it was 10-0 so I don't think it is relavant here. But a guy on my team had a 1-0 no-no broken up in the ninth with no one out. Although the guy didn't bunt, we were prepared for the possibility. I was playing third and was playing in for the potential of the bunt. I personally have no problem in a close game with the bunt regardless of no-hit/perfect game situation.
On a side note, in the 10-0 near no-no, I hit a pinch hit homer in the ninth to break it up ;->....
104
bookie
ID: 48452623 Sun, May 27, 17:22
BMD. To take your point one step further. It's a 3-2 game, ninth inning 2nd and 3rd one out. Joe baseball in a 50 game hit streak coming up. he's 0-3 on the day.. Guess what... Yep I walk him to load the bases... He doesn't get to 51..
105
azdbacker
ID: 011111821 Sun, May 27, 17:51
Jim Traber, ex-ballplayer and current DBack color-man, said in today's broadcast, "I can see the side of those that say it was not bush league. I disagree, but let's say they're right. Basically, what Ben Davis did last night was publicly announce to 50,000 fans, to the opponent, and to his teammates that in his opinion he had no chance to get a hit by swinging away, the way Curt was pitching last night. I don't know if I'd want a guy like that on my team. If you don't think you can get a hit by swinging away, and that the only way you have a chance of getting on is to do something you've never successfully done in your career in an effort to trick the other team, then you're not a big league player. You're a bush-leaguer."
Don't know if I agree or not, just thought it was interesting.
106
Busa Bus
ID: 19447134 Sun, May 27, 18:10
And BMD that's what you're suppose to do, Bush my ass.
107
edub
ID: 497101020 Sun, May 27, 18:12
Glad it was mentioned in post #96 -- the Pads had already been no-hit once in May, and that was embarrassing enough. These games don't exist in a vacuum. I'm sure everybody on that team was thinking, "No way. Not again."
108
edub
ID: 497101020 Sun, May 27, 18:14
And Ben Davis is pinch hitting this second! With the bases loaded, no less.
109
Questor
ID: 194382717 Sun, May 27, 18:20
Re Jim Traber, he is a former 2nd-tier pitching has-been; I am not surprised he takes the point of view of a pitcher, saying in essence "you should be required to EARN a hit" to get on base. FWIW, most pitchers don't think a bunt-trying-for-a-hit is ethical ANY TIME in any game. (I listen to Traber on talk radio on occasion, he is mostly full of hot air!)
110
JKaye Sustainer
ID: 4711592917 Sun, May 27, 18:23
So what if Davis admitted that bunting for a hit would be easier than hitting one to the outfield? That makes him SMART, not bush-league. How many players today can put their ego aside and do that? Not enough. Mr. Traber, I will take a guy like that on my team.
111
Questor
ID: 194382717 Sun, May 27, 18:26
Davis PH with runners on the corners, not loaded, and walked.
112
edub
ID: 497101020 Sun, May 27, 18:28
Yeah, ESPN had the bases loaded on the little graphic thing. Sorry, I jumped the gun a little. AT this rate, he might get another AB before the inning's over.
113
BZ
ID: 5511153119 Sun, May 27, 18:29
Mark Grace in Roo's post 46 put it best.
"No problem with it," Grace said. "But I wouldn't do it."
114
Joe Sixers
ID: 32250322 Sun, May 27, 18:34
I think after a good nights sleep Bob Brenly will calm down and see what a crybaby he was. If however he truly feels the same way today, I'd be happy to offer my services as a pinch hitter/runner/fielder for those situations where "winning isn't everything".
I guess Bob Brenly is a big Nykesha Sales fan too.
What’s the point of recording achievement if these so called achievements are a result of collusion (written or unwritten) between the two "opponents"?
115
popgun
ID: 54371318 Sun, May 27, 18:38
re #109: while I agree with the assessment of Traber's "homer" viewpoint - he was a .250-hitting 1b/OF for the Orioles in the 80s...not a pitcher, 2nd tier or otherwise.
116
KrazyKoalaBears
ID: 51521713 Sun, May 27, 18:41
re: 105 (in respons to Traber, not azdbacker ;). It doesn't make Davis a "Bush-leaguer", it means he did something different rather than doing the same 'ole thing over and over again even though it wasn't working. I once heard the saying, "Practice doesn't make perfect, it makes consistent" Well, if you're consistenly bad, then practice isn't going to help you. Doing something different helps you. Davis, and the rest of the Padres, weren't getting hits, so rather than doing the same thing that hadn't worked for 22 ABs before, he did something different. I applaud him for having the guts to do it and that makes him a Big-Leaguer in my book because he had the smarts to realize that the normal "swinging away" wasn't working for him, nor anyone else, so he adjusted. I think Traber's remarks are ridiculous, at best. When has a batter ever been called a "Bush Leaguer" for adjusting and getting a hit? I guess when that hit breaks up the perfect game of your pitchers. Bunch of whiners!
117
kev
ID: 36925310 Sun, May 27, 19:10
I cant believe this arguement is still going on... This is Major League Baseball. Ben Davis is a .300 hitter- to me, that is pretty good. He got K'ed once, and didnt make good contact the second time up- to me, you do anything to make contact with that ball, mostly with a really hot hitter behind you. Do Whatever It Takes To Win the game. That is the only UNWRITTEN rule in baseball that matters.
118
curly
ID: 19414251 Sun, May 27, 19:23
KKb,I agree--good baseball. Get on base,bring the tying run up to the plate. Basic stuff!
119
absolut_cdi
ID: 2342242 Sun, May 27, 19:51
i'm with ya on the raps, miguel p
=(
go davis (altho a few days ago i went davis>loduca and drew>berkman... both are making me happy today
now if only smallworld can fix my pedro $ and swp situation from last week which still hasn't been resolved
_cdi
120
azdbacker
ID: 011111821 Sun, May 27, 20:39
Questor, popgun is right. I don't necessarily disagree with your sentiments, but Traber was a 2nd-tier 1B, who rarely sides with the pitcher over the hitter.
121
popgun
ID: 54371318 Sun, May 27, 20:42
Joe Morgan just "commended" (his word) the Davis bunt-for-a-hit.
122
CanEHdian Pride
ID: 426351415 Sun, May 27, 21:37
I think that Frank Wychek is a bush leaguer too.
He should have dropped the pass on the "Music City Miracle" just think of all the hearts he broke on the other team using that kind of chicanery! I mean the idea is to win...but to stoop to trickery....man I wonder how that guy sleeps at night!
123
Lutefisker
ID: 59421106 Sun, May 27, 21:40
OK..
so we have now established that both Traber and Brenly are bush league whiners...
124
jumpball Sustainer
ID: 11645520 Sun, May 27, 21:58
In a "Bush League", where individual stats are everything, Davis' play might be considered bush.
In MLB, where winning is everything, Davis' play is good baseball, doing whatever it takes to bring the tie run to the plate.
125
Ref
ID: 4828318 Mon, May 28, 10:59
I talked about this in another thread. As a GM of a minor league baseball team, let me tell you what I saw time after time that pissed off players more than anything: A steal late in the game when our team was up big or even an attempted bunt to break up a no-hitter. You would never see a veteran do that. I never made it as a player, but I saw first hand from the front office. IT IS BUSH. You can rationalize it how ever you want and guys don't want to come off as cry babies to the public as they don't understand. Look for retaliation next time they play.
126
rockafellerskank Donor
ID: 48113316 Mon, May 28, 11:19
Schilling plans no bunt retaliation Mark Gonzales The Arizona Republic May 28, 2001
10TH INNING
Fallout from Schilling's bid for perfect game
The controversy over Ben Davis' bunt single that ended Curt Schilling's perfect-game bid Saturday carried outside the foul lines.
Following Davis' bunt, Diamondbacks announcer and former major league player Jim Traber exchanged heated words with San Diego television director Tom Ceterski, who was sitting in an adjacent booth, witnesses confirmed.
And Schilling's diplomatic assessment after Saturday's game apparently wasn't good enough for one San Diego fan.
Schilling was signing autographs before Sunday's game when a pony-tailed zealot accused the Diamondbacks' eight-game winner of blasting Davis.
Several fans immediately jumped to the defense of Schilling, who calmly asked the fan to repeat what he said.
The fan eventually retreated as an usher stood near Schilling.
"This is San Diego," Schilling said as he kept signing for fans. "If this was New York, I'd be scared."
SAN DIEGO - Curt Schilling's next start will be Friday against San Diego at Bank One Ballpark, but he doesn't see any reason for retaliation against Ben Davis after Davis snapped his perfect game bid with a bunt single in the eighth inning.
"I thought it was a bad move, only because I was pitching," said Schilling, who set a franchise record by retiring 22 consecutive batters. "Because I don't think it's right doesn't mean I'm right."
Some Diamondbacks remained infuriated that Davis didn't swing and was merely trying to break up Schilling's no-hit bid.
Schilling recognizes the price of retaliation, especially since umpires have been implored to crack down on beanball and brushback pitches.
"I always felt when you send a message for whatever reason, it has to be clear and needs to be something that everyone knows about," he said. "Otherwise, it's not a good message. And I don't think something like that is worth getting worked up over.
"There's too much gray area to put yourself in front of the team because you end up costing yourself games and starts. And ultimately it's an incredibly selfish thing to do."
Manager Bob Brenly, however, didn't back down from his contention that Davis' bunt was "chicken (bleep)."
"I know there's two schools of thought on it," Brenly said. "One, they're trying to get the tying run to the plate to win a ballgame. I can certainly understand that, but the way I was raised in this game, the guys who taught me how to play the game when I was coming up taught me there's a certain respect for the game, respect for the opponents, especially when they're doing something exceptional. And there's no question that's what Curt was doing."
Brenly said he could cope with Davis' intent if bunting played an important part of his game.
"They're sure they're right, and we're sure we're right. I don't know if there is a right or wrong. We're an old-school team. We got a lot of guys who were raised in the game by players from my era and the era before, and that's the way we played the game."
San Diego manager Bruce Bochy was vocal in his defense of Davis.
"I don't think anyone should tell us to drop our weapons and raise our hands," Bochy said. "Ben did the right thing."
Short hops
Third baseman Matt Williams, out with a left hamstring tear, jogged at 40-yard distances before Sunday's game. Williams won't need a rehab assignment but must pass a series of agility and running tests before he's activated on Saturday at the earliest, Brenly said.
• The three consecutive walks allowed by Byung-Hyun Kim in the eighth inning marked the first time in his professional career that he's done that. Nevertheless, Kim has walked 20 in 282/3 innings this season.
127
j o s h
ID: 18454211 Mon, May 28, 11:42
two schools of thought
Brenly is an idiot Joe Morgan isn't
128
James K Polk
ID: 19351290 Thu, May 31, 01:20
Fun quote from Rob Dibble in the Baseball Tonight chat transcript:
Matt (Phoenix): Rob: Would you plunk Ben Davis if he broke up your perfect game with a cheap bunt?
Rob Dibble: Ther's nothing cheap about trying to win the ballgame...Any knucklehead who tells you different is hitting the Pipe.....
I didn't take the time to read all the previous messages, but I still wanted to throwm my own opinion out, so I apologize for more than likely repeating someone else. I can see from Schilling's point of view, personally I think that Davis' bunt was a good strategic move, but in Perfect Game scenario, only 5 outs remaining, and only 14 others in history, I think it's the batter's responsibiliy to realize that this pitcher must be on the top of their game, and they should take it as a challenge. The stellar play of one athlete has the ability to raise the play of other's, whether it be their own team or the opposition. I believe that the Padres should have gone out there and beat Schilling because they were more on top of their game than he was, not because of a fluke bunt single.
130
ChicagoTRS Sustainer
ID: 4324316 Thu, May 31, 08:43
It was a good move in a tight ball game. Noone should be given a perfect game. If the score was like 10-0 or something there would be more argument for it being a bush league move. By Davis bunting they were able to bring the tying run to the plate...it is legit. The only person looking bush league in this is Brenley.
131
Peregrine
ID: 25430149 Thu, May 31, 10:13
Here's what I thought after I saw the play and everybody was complaining: Serves Arizona right. They didn't expect a bunt, simply because there were 5 batters left in a perfect game. They set up their positinoning based on this assumption. By playing it the easy way, not respecting the short ball, they were making it significantly more difficult to get a single through an infield gap. Ben Davis did what he was supposed to..he played the game straight up, as it's suposed to be played. He bunted when the infield was sitting back. The loss of the perfect game is the fault of the Arizona infield for taking for granted an unwritten rule that would have cheapened one of the most rare events in baseball.
132
rfs- work
ID: 18428319 Thu, May 31, 10:52
Karma: D-Backs are 5-0 since (and including that game) SD is 1-3
Honor: Both sides are wrong!!
AZ: A perfect game is only EARNED if you are perfect and that includes defeating EVERYTHING the opponent brings to the plate. IE - bunts, batters 'working the count', batters diving inside to get HBP, pinch hitters, superstitions, batters stepping out.. etc...etc....
SD: Davis was trying to "win". I don't believe a win without honor is a real win. Better to go down swinging and lose that to win by "surprise"
Unwritten code: It's existence in undisputed, but what you have to take into account is that it is CHANGING! Fort example old school players accepted pitching inside as a part of the game. New school players charge the mound w/ a simple brush-back pitch.
Just my $0.02. I'm sure that i will not cahnge anyone's opinion.
rfs
133
pogophiles Leader
ID: 3245839 Thu, May 31, 12:09
CP - Wychek threw the lateral, Dyson caught it!
134
Ref
ID: 1442849 Thu, May 31, 12:10
There may not be retaliation form Schill because of the quick to toss this year (that's a great thing). But, sometime, somwehere, Davis will get plunked or something will happen in retaliation perhaps by someone else on the squad.
Old School Unwritten Rule #1: You fight and scratch and claw your way to get on 1B, even if you have to swing at a 3rd strike 20 ft. high.
Old School Unwritten Rule #2: It is better to win by the rules than look good and lose. There are no style points, only runs.
Unfortunately we live in an era when pitchers would rather serve up fastballs to a guy so he can hit 70 hr, and records are more important that winning games...
WWMD? (What would do?)
John A.
139
azdbacker
ID: 51392423 Thu, May 31, 17:34
Anyone hear the Curt Schilling interview on the Jim Rome Show? He talked with Rome for about 15 minutes. He later called into XTRA 910 in Phoenix and talked for about a half hour yesterday and another 20 minutes today. Here's a summary of his thoughts from the 3 interviews I heard:
- He handled it with a good amount of class. He prefaced all 3 by saying that these were just his opinions which doesn't mean that they are right. "I've said a lot of stupid things in my time."
- "My dad taught me when I was young, that if you have to ask someone else whether or not something you did was ok, it most likely isn't."
- "The fact that the situation was a 2-run game makes it more acceptable. If a teammate of mine did that in the same situation, I'd be like 'allright, tying run at the plate', but I'd also be like 'that just doesn't feel like the right way to go about it.'
- Schilling pointed out that he lived near Ben Davis in Philly for the last 5 years and knows him very well. "The problem I have with it is knowing Ben, I think he would have done it if it was 8-0. I believe that he was not bunting to bring the tying run to the plate, but to break up the perfect game. But, that's just my opinion. I can't prove it."
- On Bob Brenly's reaction. "What Brenly did was awesome. I know he's taking some heat, but it was genious. He said what everyone in the dugout was thinking, so we didn't have to. He took the heat for the rest of the guys. That's a manager that's willing to go to war for you."
- On retalliation: "If I were to throw at Ben Davis, that would be stupidly-selfish. That would be putting my desire [so clearly he does desire to knock him down] above the good of the team. That would be Bonds-ish. LMAO
- On Bonds: "I hope to God that he doesn't get a sniff at the record. What a miserable summer that would be for you guys (the media). It's a shame that a guy who is possibly the best outfielder ever has to be such a complete void of a person. Somebody needs to tell him that the NL Playoffs are starting, and cool him off". LMAO.
Whether you agree with him or not (I do), it is a complete joy having someone in town as candid with the media as Curt Schilling. Congrats on the NL Pitcher of the Week.
140
azdbacker
ID: 51392423 Fri, Jun 01, 23:14
BUTT - for KKB.
141
Brock Donor
ID: 371582223 Sat, Jun 02, 01:24
He's a douche bag Padre though. That's the point that everyone seems to be missing. The Padres are a bunch of no good worthlesses. People think MLB should get rid of TB or Montreal. I say we get rid of the Pads.
142
Ref
ID: 4828318 Sat, Jun 02, 03:57
I read where that was the first time Ben Davis had ever bunt in his career.
143
KrazyKoalaBears
ID: 51521713 Sat, Jun 02, 10:23
azd, again the comments about Bonds are driven by the media. Suddenly, because Bonds plays Major League Baseball he has to be and act a certain way? How is it that so many people love guys like Ray Lewis (who the media latched onto only after a non-guilty verdict and an MVP season) and Allen Iverson (who the media only recently latched onto in hopes of him being the next Jordan since the NBA needs something) and yet they're just thugs, but it's all ok, yet Bonds is nothing but a guy playing awesome baseball and he gets a bad rap because of who he is and how the media portrays him? So he's not the most personable player in baseball. Last time I checked, it's not a requirement. The guy does his job and he does it very well. What else do you really need to ask for? Baseball, like the real world, is made up of all kinds of people. Bonds is just one of the many types of people, but since he doesn't fit the mold of what the media likes to see and interview, he get's a bad rap and suddenly the fans think he's a bad guy without ever really considering who he is and that he might, just might, be human and not like everyone else.
What I find particularly funny is Schilling's statement, "If I were to throw at Ben Davis, that would be stupidly-selfish. That would be putting my desire [so clearly he does desire to knock him down] above the good of the team. That would be Bonds-ish." Couldn't he just have easily said, "If I were to expect Ben Davis to swing away at my pitches just so I could get my perfect game, that would be stupidly-selfish. That would be asking him to put my desire above the good of his team. That would be Bonds-ish."
Funny how some people never consider the reverse statement. I still think the D'Backs are whiners on this Davis issue. Coulda, Shoulda, Woulda. Next time they'll be prepared for any kind of hit. You can bet on that.
144
azdbacker
ID: 51392423 Sat, Jun 02, 14:18
KKB - Schilling clearly stated, in every interview he did, that there was nothing inherently wrong in bunting down 2 runs. So, the last point you made in #143 is baseless. Bonds DOES put his desire above the good of his team - Curt Schilling didn't, did he?
145
Razor
ID: 13213180 Sat, Jun 02, 14:49
Bonds is such a selfish egomaniac, I can't believe he has fans outside of San Francisco. 11 singles and 29 HR's. Hasn't hurt them yet, but wait until it does. Sheffield is the same type of hitter Bonds is but when the defense puts a shift on him, he makes an effort to go the opposite way and is mildly successful at it even though it is totally not his game. Bonds still swings for the fences when they put the shift on.
As for Ray Lewis, I became a fan of his because he is such a badass player and because I got sick of watching America's latent racism codemn him for something he didn't do. Sick, really. And you can't argue with the man's ability to dance.
Iverson may be a thug, but he is maturing as a player and as a person. He's become a team player. It just so happens that the best thing for him to do for his team is to take every other shot. Bonds cares only about himself and anything he does for the team is just a byproduct of him trying to get his numbers. His playoff numbers are a joke. I love that Schilling comment about the playoffs but he better watch his mouth or Big Unit get pissed, eh azdbacker?
146
F Gump
ID: 25213 Sat, Jun 02, 15:12
Razor You think it is "latent racism" to dislike Ray Lewis for what he did? I don't comdemn him for what he "didn't do". I just don't like him for what he did do. And that makes me racist? No way.
I know that he did AT LEAST as much as he admitted to - and his admission was he and his "boys" were in a fight and killed a guy. He further admitted to lying to police and covering up what happened (the conviction was for "obstruction of justice"). I don't like "thugs", and that is what I see him as being, as a result of the things he admitted to. It is not a black-white issue in any way.
In the context of the way everything went down, it is reasonable to assume that he likely got away with even more than what he pled guilty to. Accordingly, even though he is good at tackling a ball-carrier, he is not a hero of mine. I consider him to be a punk who is a good football player - and I dislike punks. That does not make me racist! (I could not care less if he is black, white, green, or striped - a punk is a punk.)
It is racist to condemn someone because of their color. It is also racist to excuse someone's bad behavior and make it acceptable because of their color. There is nothing racist in disliking Ray Lewis and what he stands for!
147
Razor
ID: 13213180 Sat, Jun 02, 15:59
Did I call you a latent racist? No.
Did I say Ray Lewis wasn't guilty of anything? No.
Did I say America is full of latent racists? Sure did. (By full, more than you think, not literally every person.)
Did I hear people try to convince me that he was guilty of murder "just like OJ"? I sure as hell did.
Do I know the full story? No. But my contention is that DA's in one of the biggest cities in the country dealing with a double homocide with a celebrity in the highest profile case of the year don't tend to make deals like the one Ray Lewis got unless they were absolutely 100% sure he didn't kill anybody. It's ludicrious to think they'd let him off with a slap on the wrist if they thought he killed two people. It was national news for godsakes.
He's no hero of mine either, but he can play some dominating football and I'm not gonna sit around and think "why is the murderer walking the streets and how is he still a celebrity?" like I feel some people do. Sure, he obstructed justice and tried to protect his boys. That was crummy of him but that's about it. Besides, he rolled on them eventually.
And the man can dance. Case closed on that issue.
148
F Gump
ID: 25213 Sat, Jun 02, 16:16
Razor You said "I became a fan of his because he is such a badass player and because I got sick of watching America's latent racism condemn him for something he didn't do."
Obviously from what I said I took that as a "you must be a racist" swipe at anyone who does not like Ray Lewis and his actions. I misunderstood your meaning, my apologies.
149
KrazyKoalaBears
ID: 51521713 Sat, Jun 02, 16:23
Ray Lewis may not be guilty of murder, but don't tell me he was just in the neighborhood and didn't see anything go down. That is what makes him a thug in my book. Everyone knows that Lewis knows something and that he's not talking. The mistake the DA made was to charge him with murder to try and get him to talk. That may work with your regular guy on the street who doesn't have the money to get a lawyer that's worth a damn, but it won't with a guy like Lewis who has the money to hire a lawyer who knows when to tell his client not to talk if he doesn't want to.
Anyhow, with regards to Schilling, if he didn't think there was anything wrong with what Davis did, then he wouldn't say anything except, "Davis broke up the perfect game with a bunt that we weren't expecting." End of story. He's just whining without coming right out and whining about it. It's like when a pitcher is obviously not throwing his best stuff, yet he tells the manager he's ok. Sometimes you have to read between the lines and know that not everything that comes from someones mouth is 100% the truth.
As far as Bonds goes, if you think it's selfish of Bonds to only have 11 singles and 29 HR's, then wasn't it selfish of Big Mac to have only 61 singles when he hit 70 HRs? Sheesh, it's only June and people are knocking him for how many singles the guy has! I guess batting .309 (.019 higher than his career average and ..013 higher than his 3 year average) is bad, too? Or maybe it's his 48 BB's? Or could it be his taking 4 pitches for an un-intentional walk when he could have just swung for the fences in his first AB today? Of course not. It couldn't be any of that could it? It must be that he's second in the NL in RBI with 54 which must mean Todd Helton is the most selfish person of all with his 59 RBIs! That's it! I've figured it out! Selfish means you're leading the league in HRs and are near the top in RBIs and are taking BBs! Now I know why Bonds is selfish: because he's such a great hitter! I guess I just never realized it because I always thought guys like Big Mac and Sosa and the like weren't selfish, but it's obvious now that they are. What was I thinking?!
BTW, I don't ever recall anyone telling Big Mac not to swing for the fences, so why should it be any different for Bonds. Read my lips: They're home run hitters. But again, the media portrays Bonds as a bad guy and Big Mac as a good guy and you see the result...
150
Smoove Criminals
ID: 5815241 Sat, Jun 02, 17:32
This thread has really deteriorated. When will it go away? It's pretty useless now.
151
KrazyKoalaBears
ID: 51521713 Sat, Jun 02, 17:49
It will go away when people stop posting to it. See, this post brought it back up.
Ugh! ;)
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