MLB chastising Judge for 'recruiting' Machado

[chaderic20]

So, Aaron Judge apparently told Manny Machado that he'd "look good in Pinstripes".  And this apparently is a no-no according to MLB, claiming it's "tampering".  Is it just me, or is that about one of the stupidest things MLB has said/done recently.  Do they not think that players are constantly telling each other, "Hey, you should come play for us!"  I mean, how often do you hear during the offseason that so-and-so is recruiting so-and-so to their team?  Why is it suddenly a big no-no for Judge to say he'd like to play with Machado?  And MLB wonders why they're losing their audience...

[RedBull34]

I think this was just a move to protect themselves.  I don't think the MLB really cares that much about this, but it was public and they were covering their a**.

[nicksaviking]

 

I think this was just a move to protect themselves.  I don't think the MLB really cares that much about this, but it was public and they were covering their a**.

 

Could be. Peter Angelos has been pretty dead set on keeping Machado away from the Yankees. He doesn't always seem to be a very reasonable man, he probably threw a stink and the commissioner is trying to appease him.

[nytwinsfan]

As much as I hate the Yankees, yes, this seems pretty dumb.

[Lee-The-Twins-Fan]

It's one thing when you do it to entice a Free Agent. But Machado is not a Free Agent. That's where the tampering comes in.

[nicksaviking]

 

It's one thing when you do it to entice a Free Agent. But Machado is not a Free Agent. That's where the tampering comes in.

 

I don't think anyone would disagree that it may be, just that this stuff is pretty silly and next to impossible to police.

 

I can see where front offices and managers shouldn't be recruiting, but the players probably aren't taking a ton of HR classes to know what they can and can't say. I can't imagine the numerous legal and league violations that have been committed between a 1st baseman and the base-runner standing on first throughout the years.

[Squirrel]

Do you there know the Yankees would/ could go after both Machado AND Harper? Ugh

[Oldgoat_MN]

 

I don't think anyone would disagree that it may be, just that this stuff is pretty silly and next to impossible to police.

 

I can see where front offices and managers shouldn't be recruiting, but the players probably aren't taking a ton of HR classes to know what they can and can't say. I can't imagine the numerous legal and league violations that have been committed between a 1st baseman and the base-runner standing on first throughout the years.

Great line. So true.

[Oldgoat_MN]

 

Do you there know the Yankees would/ could go after both Machado AND Harper? Ugh

I just don't see Harper going to the Yankees. That clean shaven, keep your mouth shut look and attitude that is expected from the Yankee players gives the feel that they were all stamped out at the same boring factory.

Even Torii Hunter would have annoyed the Yankee FO. I can't see Harper doing that. 

Of course, the biggest stage along with the highest pay could change all that...

[Squirrel]

 

I just don't see Harper going to the Yankees. That clean shaven, keep your mouth shut look and attitude that is expected from the Yankee players gives the feel that they were all stamped out at the same boring factory.

Even Torii Hunter would have annoyed the Yankee FO. I can't see Harper doing that. 

Of course, the biggest stage along with the highest pay could change all that...

Through the years there have been many players you couldn't imagine that with, and there they go. What's a few hair cuts and clean shaven face over a few years vs the millions he'd make? Yeah, dunno. And, actually, I don't really care about Harper; he can go wherever he wants. But I'd hate, hate, HATE to see Machado as a Yankee. (He's my favorite non-Twin player ) But the talk over the last year has pretty much been 'Harper to the Yankees' and the Yankees will 'buy' one of them, because that's what they do. Could they buy two?

[nicksaviking]

Harper's a West Coast guy. I'll go with the Dodgers with Arizona being the dark horse if they can shed some of Zack Greinke's salary.

[Squirrel]

 

Harper's a West Coast guy. I'll go with the Dodgers with Arizona being the dark horse if they can shed some of Zack Greinke's salary.

He'll go where there's the most money. End of story. At least for Harper.

 

My impossible dream is Machado to the Twins. (Yes, I know ... I did say impossible dream.) I just flat out like everything about the guy and seeing him in pinstripes would just be the ultimate ... oxymoron ... for lack of a better phrase for it.

 

That all said, back to the subject of tampering ... I don't know. It seems far fetched from what was reported, but could it be it was more than a casual comment than what is being reported? Or maybe your explanation is where it's at.

[Riverbrian]

 

So, Aaron Judge apparently told Manny Machado that he'd "look good in Pinstripes".  And this apparently is a no-no according to MLB, claiming it's "tampering".  Is it just me, or is that about one of the stupidest things MLB has said/done recently.  Do they not think that players are constantly telling each other, "Hey, you should come play for us!"  I mean, how often do you hear during the offseason that so-and-so is recruiting so-and-so to their team?  Why is it suddenly a big no-no for Judge to say he'd like to play with Machado?  And MLB wonders why they're losing their audience...

 

In sentiment I agree with you because a comment like that is pretty benign. I'm sure players talk to other players. An off the cuff comment is not buying Machado a car. 

 

However... once he mentions the conversation to reporters who go public with information. The MLB office has no choice because you can bet the contracts have verbiage that expressly state that tampering is not allowed by anyone in the organization... including players. The size of the document needed to cover all shades of tampering would be quite large so they probably have to draw a hard line. I'm pretty sure that Judge will just get a reminder of MLB Rules.  

 

Using Machado as an example... without tampering rules in place. There would be nothing stopping all 29 teams from laying the ground work right now (actually yesterday). Teams could start negotiation with a player under contract right now. It would become a free for all. 

 

 

[Squirrel]

After reading a couple articles, even the Yankees FO (Cashman) took this seriously and had a brief conversation with Judge about it ... basically saying, "Yeah, don't do that." Judge's comment was that he didn't know and now he does.

 

What was probably said was ... 'Yeah, don't do or admit to that publicly. But go for it otherwise. <wink, wink>'

 

[Guest]

MLB has to do this. If Machado slides easy instead of taking out the Yankees SS on a double play this year, Orioles fans will be upset. The league has to protect the appearance of competition and players know what isn’t right. If not this communication, when should the league do something?

[Mike Sixel]

Stupid rule. IMO

[HitInAPinch]

Two words:  Competitive Balance. 

 

Example:  Altuve, Judge, Machado, Scherzer, Syndergaard and Trout were sitting in a bar one day, when Kershaw shows up and says " Hey, you guys should come and play for the Dodgers!  Management really throws around the money and the weather is always great!" 

 

Hey, at least give me credit for getting the players names in alphabetical order        

 

 

[chaderic20]

I can understand if someone in an opposing front office starts talking to players on another team, but players talking to each other?  That seems silly and impossible to police.  I'm sure, as others have said, it's all in the legal details, but still, it just seems overboard to go after a player for a comment like that.

[Squirrel]

 

I can understand if someone in an opposing front office starts talking to players on another team, but players talking to each other?  That seems silly and impossible to police.  I'm sure, as others have said, it's all in the legal details, but still, it just seems overboard to go after a player for a comment like that.

I don't think they'd go after him had he just said it and went his way, except that he made it known to the media that he thought Machado would be a great addition and told him so. If he had just made his comment to Machado and went on his merry way, it would be what it is, benign. But then don't say so in the media.

 

While yes, I get why it seems foolish, and it is in a way, but it's also not, in a way. Just don't advertise to the press ... that was the stupid part about it.

[Guest]

I can understand if someone in an opposing front office starts talking to players on another team, but players talking to each other?  That seems silly and impossible to police.  I'm sure, as others have said, it's all in the legal details, but still, it just seems overboard to go after a player for a comment like that.

It’s in the league’s interest to prevent a Lebron James, Dwyane Wade, Chris Bosh situation.

[Mike Sixel]

It’s in the league’s interest to prevent a Lebron James, Dwyane Wade, Chris Bosh situation.

How does this do that?

 

Because...

 

A. They still talk

B. Even if they don't directly, this doesn't stop anything about trying to get the best players together.

 

Imo

[ashbury]

I just flat out like everything about the guy and seeing him in pinstripes would just be the ultimate ... oxymoron ... for lack of a better phrase for it.

Cognitive dissonance?

[Otto von Ballpark]

I just don't see Harper going to the Yankees. That clean shaven, keep your mouth shut look and attitude that is expected from the Yankee players gives the feel that they were all stamped out at the same boring factory.

Even Torii Hunter would have annoyed the Yankee FO. I can't see Harper doing that.

Of course, the biggest stage along with the highest pay could change all that...

Johnny Damon, Jason Giambi, Randy Johnson, Kevin Youkilis, Andrew Miller... Harper could absolutely be next in the Yankee haircut chain.

 

Even Torii Hunter would have been fine there, I think (I remember him speaking admiringly of the Yankees before his big free agency offseason).

[Kelly Vance]

 

I don't think anyone would disagree that it may be, just that this stuff is pretty silly and next to impossible to police.

 

I can see where front offices and managers shouldn't be recruiting, but the players probably aren't taking a ton of HR classes to know what they can and can't say. I can't imagine the numerous legal and league violations that have been committed between a 1st baseman and the base-runner standing on first throughout the years.

Its a little used part of baseball. I always coached my first baseman to get the runners talking. Easier to pick em off that way. 

[Guest]

How does this do that?

Because...

A. They still talk

B. Even if they don't directly, this doesn't stop anything about trying to get the best players together.

Imo

Mike, you can scoff at the effectiveness of every action taken to prevent behavior that is considered wrong and say, “Why bother.” No preventive measure works 100%. That doesn’t mean that police, regulators and league officials shouldn’t continue taking the best actions they know how to do to prevent wrongful conduct, especially when the conduct is public.

 

Lebron James seems like a good person and a great competitor, but The Decision was one of the most embarrassing things to happen in the NBA in several years, especially after the hints of the players talking. No league wants such an event to happen again.

[Mike Sixel]

Mike, you can scoff at the effectiveness of every action taken to prevent behavior that is considered wrong and say, “Why bother.” No preventive measure works 100%. That doesn’t mean that police, regulators and league officials shouldn’t continue taking the best actions they know how to do to prevent wrongful conduct, especially when the conduct is public.

 

Lebron James seems like a good person and a great competitor, but The Decision was one of the most embarrassing things to happen in the NBA in several years, especially after the hints of the players talking. No league wants such an event to happen again.

I don't think it is wrong for great players to want to play together. What is wrong with that? You seen to have concluded that is wrong, but why? Isn't that their right, to want to win?

 

So, i don't even agree with your starting premise.

[Guest]

I don't think it is wrong for great players to want to play together. What is wrong with that? You seen to have concluded that is wrong, but why? Isn't that their right, to want to win?

So, i don't even agree with your starting premise.

Your premise seems to be dual - first, you disagree with a rule that prohibits behavior you believe is normal and, second, you disagree with enforcing a rule you disagree with. I’m Ok with your first thought, but disagree with your second. If you disagree with a rule, you should seek to change it. However, if it exists, and even if it is ridiculous, you should be prepared for enforcement if you break the rule in a conspicuous manner, like Judge did.

 

BTw, it’s completely OK with me if you see it differently.

[Mike Sixel]

 

Your premise seems to be dual - first, you disagree with a rule that prohibits behavior you believe is normal and, second, you disagree with enforcing a rule you disagree with. I’m Ok with your first thought, but disagree with your second. If you disagree with a rule, you should seek to change it. However, if it exists, and even if it is ridiculous, you should be prepared for enforcement if you break the rule in a conspicuous manner, like Judge did.

BTw, it’s completely OK with me if you see it differently.

 

No, I said it was a stupid rule, and should go away. I also said it won't work. Go ahead, enforce your rules, but this is a stupid rule that changes no behavior at all. Nothing about this rule keeps players from trying to end up on the same team. 

 

I would be hard pressed to find a spot where I said don't enforce the rule.