jimmer

This article isn't, in any way, saying that ALL the confrontations in baseball are due to cultural differences in the way the game is played. But based on study, it says that some of them could very well be. I do find it funny that people have it in their head that NONE of the confrontations could be because of cultural differences even after reading the article (assuming they even read it before dismissing it). 'What I think it right, and nothing said will change it. I am not even open to the idea that it could be a cause even SOME TIMES.' And then they want to accuse the WRITER of having preconceived notions that affect HIS thought process in the article :-)

I don't expect Ryan to do much of anything. I think he'll figure a year of Ervin Santana plus the rookies from this year improving (along with a couple more graduating in 2016) will be enough.

“I think it’s a culture shock,’’ Norris said. “This is America’s game. This is America’s pastime, and over the last 10-15 years we’ve seen a very big world influence in this game, which we as a union and as players appreciate. We’re opening this game to everyone that can play. However, if you’re going to come into our country and make our American dollars, you need to respect a game that has been here for over a hundred years, and I think sometimes that can be misconstrued. There are some players that have antics, that have done things over the years that we don’t necessarily agree with.' Sure seems like this player understand the game is played differently elsewhere. Then there's the following: 'While there’s a certain uniformity to the way the game is played in the U.S., the standards are quite different in other countries. In Korea, for example, bat-flipping is commonplace, without negative repercussions. In Latin countries, the pros typically play more to the crowd, and actions that are often called “antics’’ in the U.S. are regarded as simply part of the show. Dominican-born reliever Fernando Abad of the Oakland Athletics said players often “dog’’ or taunt each other, but it’s considered fun, not disrespectful. “Baseball back home is very different than here,’’ Abad said. “In Venezuela it’s the same as in the Dominican, where players gesticulate and point a lot. Fans expect it. They’re used to seeing the players do that. It’s part of the custom.’’' Right there, the player(s) is saying that things that are not only things done in the game where they grew up that is different than how we expect the game to play (in regards to unwritten rules), but it's expected and enjoyed by players and fans. So these players watch a game played a certain way their whole life, play it that way growing up and then get told when they get to the US everything they knew is wrong and now play it another way and they are supposed to turn a switch off in their head and change right away? David Ortiz still hasn't learned. And yet we want to believe there's no cultural differences involved that may contribute to the difference in what some think is acceptable actions when playing and what others think aren't acceptable? And that difference of opinion isn't going to show up in regards to unwritten rules?

Not in this situation, no. Earning privileges based on rank doesn't extend to excusing disrespectful actions. IF an action is disrespectful it wouldn't matter if it was an Airman Basic doing it or a 4-Star General doing it, disrespectful is disrespectful. And any true leader wouldn't hide behind his rank to excuse such action. The First Air Force core value: Integrity first.

I suppose I should have re-read my post a few times so the point of the article wasn't lost or discarded by the way I wrote the description in a line or two. How about 'that so many of the confrontations seem to stem, at least in part, from cultural differences in regards to how to play the game.' In any event, I would recommend reading the article. It's interesting.

in fairness, today will be a my oh my what a wonderful day :-)

I hadn't even seen the play till like 3 minutes ago on MLB Network. I don't get the Twins games here.

I love the MLB Network guys making excuses for that play by Hunter. 'Hunter normally makes that play.' Yeah, in 2006 guys :-)

what happened?

My comment was in no way a slight on Buxton or the Twins selection of him, for the record.

Lindor, Correa and Russell. Could be the next ARod, Jeter, Nomar group in regards to overall talent.

I think their problem was not addressing the STARTING catcher position not the backup catcher position :-)

http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/mlb/2015/09/30/mlb-bench-clearing-brawls-unwritten-rules-ethnic-backgrounds/73066892/ So the article I linked above, done with the backing of research, suggest that part of the reason there are so many confrontations at the major league level stems from cultural difference. Meaning that maybe the PLAYERS' cultural upbringing may effect why some players play the game one way in regards to unwritten rules and why others play it a different way. The study believes that many of the clashes between players happen because of this, because of a fundamental difference in how they were taught the game and how they played it where they come from. In fact, one player comes right out and says it. It also just talks about how unwritten rules are in the eye of the beholder regardless of upbringing (giving more credence to the idea many are ridiculous). This seems like something that should be allowed to be discussed and in no way suggest any POSTERS (or really any players) are being racist in their backing of unwritten rules. Because having conflicts due to cultural differences doesn't have to, and often doesn't, have to do with actual hate of a particular race.

So the article I linked, done with the backing of research, suggest that part of the reason there are so many confrontations at the major league level stems from cultural difference. Meaning that maybe the PLAYERS' cultural upbringing may effect why some players play the game one way in regards to unwritten rules and why others play it a different way. The study believes that many of the clashes between players happen because of this, because of a fundamental difference in how they were taught the game and how they played it where they come from. In fact, one player comes right out and says it. It also just talks about how unwritten rules are in the eye of the beholder regardless of upbringing (giving more credence to the idea many are ridiculous). This seems like something that should be allowed to be discussed and in no way suggest any POSTERS (or really any players) are being racist in their backing of unwritten rules. Because having conflicts due to cultural differences doesn't have to, and often doesn't, have to do with actual hate of a particular race.

Here's an interesting article about conflicts, many centering on unwritten rules http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/mlb/2015/09/30/mlb-bench-clearing-brawls-unwritten-rules-ethnic-backgrounds/73066892/ Since the debate about what happened last night has taken place on two threads, I posted this link on both.

Here's an interesting article about conflicts, many centering around unwritten rules http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/mlb/2015/09/30/mlb-bench-clearing-brawls-unwritten-rules-ethnic-backgrounds/73066892/

Okay, wait a minute, it's either disrespectful or it's not. How could it be disrespectful for young guys to do it and not disrespectful for veterans to do it? Isn't it, supposedly, about the act itself? Veterans have earned the right but not you young whippersnappers. So, basically, just like grade school. And there is no way Hunter (or any Veteran) doesn't get POd about getting hit. He , and most veterans, certainly aren't tipping their hats to the pitcher (especially a young whippersnapper) for doing it (nor should they) and they very likely wouldn't have thought they did anything to warrant retaliation to begin with since, as you said veterans have earned the right and like many veterans, Hunter included, have said they teach the young players how to play 'the right way'.

If a pitcher hit a batter, the penalty for that according to the rulebook, is the runner gets first base (as long as he didn't swing at it and didn't actually let himself get hit). If a pitch balks, the runners on base move up one base. These are written rules. If a pitcher throws at a batters head, warnings very often happen and if it continues the umpire often tosses the pitcher and the manager too. There are real consequences handed out by officials on the field and often off the field. If a batter flips a bat after a HR the penalty for the batter, according to the rulebook, is?

More than 2100 PAs over 5 seasons in his professional career and he has hit like 20 HR. He's only hit 8 HR, and 30 XBH, in three MLB seasons. He hits them less than Mauer does. Maybe being excited about it, not as big of a deal as people make it out to be.

Fine, and what percentage of games did a team down by 6 runs come back in the 9th this season? How about in the last 10 years? What would you say the odds are? I've hit a Royal Flush once in my lifetime, I wouldn't count on it happening any time soon or think it likely it would.

I think some of us who disagree with the idea that beaning a guy who flipped a bat is wrong have played plenty of competitive sports. Maybe some have played up to and including semi-pro ball along with being involved in the game in other aspects like umpiring for 30 years and coaching, and can and still manage to believe that the person to be mad at was the guy who served up a meatball to a sub .650 OPS batter not the batter who was happy he hit a rare HR (rare for him). Not believing in some of the ridiculous unwritten rules does not mean one hasn't played the game, it might just mean they think they cause unnecessary violence, like say a choking of a player or broken bones from a beaning, and that things like that seem a bit too high of a price to pay for not running like someone thinks they should or for flipping a bat. And maybe the Twins anger had way more to do with getting butt hurt because they were already losing 7-1 in the 8th while battling for a WC spot when the HR happened (after a strategy backfired). The batter just gave them a reason to release that anger.

yeah, but the Twins did that and they were provoked by a horrendous and inexcusable act of bat flipping, so it's okay. As is beaning him with a 90+ MPH thrown from roughly 56 feet away :-)

Maybe that beaning you advocate puts him out for multiple weeks, the season or give him a concussion that will cause long time issues. That will teach him to flip a bat.

Maybe I believe a ton of baseball's unwritten rules are more about not upsetting a bunch of children who get butt-hurt because someone hit a HR and then 'disrespected them' because he showed some joy in doing so. Maybe next time, don't serve up the gopher ball and let a sub .650 batter crush it. The team was already pissed before that bat flip ever happened. Losing 7-1 in the bottom of the eight, wild card within reach and this loss hurting their chances, perhaps the team was emotional and over-sensitive before the flip ever happened? And just because a bunch of people want to stick with old traditions/ideas handed down from generation to generation doesn't make it right. I could name a bunch of examples to illustrate that point throughout history. For a long time in this game alone (let alone society), all the baseball people thought black men shouldn't play the game. I guess group think made that opinion correct? No, it did not.

Calling for a player to be hit is calling for a physical act. And who has been taught that honor doesn't or shouldn't exist? You think because some people think hitting a defenseless batter with a 90+ MPH that can cause real damage because a team, that was already pissed off, saw what they perceived to be a disrespectful, but not violent, act? I would opine there is no honor in throwing an object at such extreme speed at such a close range at a defenseless person.