Steinbrenner rants against the dowdy National League
Boy, the acorn never falls far from the tree. Hank Steinbrenner, co-chairman of the New York Yankees and son of the famously braying George, cut loose with a diatribe against the National League after one of his pitchers, Chien-Ming Wang, was injured running the bases in an interleague game with the Houston Astros.
That wouldn't have happened in the American League, where pitchers don't hit or run the bases. But National League eschews the use of the designated hitter, and that's got Hank's back up.
“My only message is simple,” Steinbrenner said. “The National League needs to join the 21st century. They need to grow up and join the 21st century. ... I’ve got my pitchers running the bases, and one of them gets hurt. He’s going to be out. I don’t like that, and it’s about time they address it. That was a rule from the 1800s.”
"Don't give me that traditionalist crap," he added.
Well, the National League could adopt the DH, I suppose. A better idea might be for the American League to teach its pitchers how to run. Or perhaps Mr. Steinbrenner could take a few weeks off this summer, find a nice, quiet spot, and try to grow a brain.
Comments
"just a rule from the 1800's." well yeah, it's a game from the 1800's and the designated hitter has ruined it for the AL...at least Bob Gibson had to stand at the plate and face down another pitcher after throwing a bean-ball in the previous inning,... a simpler time when men were men and pitchers could run the base-paths. I'd rather watch small-ball than see a line up w/ two cleanup hitters.
Posted by: swift | June 17, 2008 6:22 PM
Maybe they should drive their pitchers around the bases in a golf cart, if they're that fragile. Aren't pitchers supposed to be athletes?
Posted by: Mike D. | June 18, 2008 12:32 PM
Poor baby! Just think, a baseball player actually running! To think, a pitcher must actually swing a bat! What is this world coming too? Maybe we could get them a motorized scooter so they wouldn’t dirty their dainty and tender feet!
The only thing left for us to do is create a liberal advocacy group taking up the cause of tender-footed pitcher locomotion! Surely the Dems can see some votes here!
What is important is the right of pitchers to NOT run! We must advocate on behalf of these poor, beleaguered pitchers who are openly discriminated against in many baseball parks! Oh, the embarrassment of running from base to base, the ignominy of it all, how can we live with such injustice?
I call upon every Democrat to arise in protest and do the right thing. Condemn vigorously and immediately those who do choose to run. Your reputation is on the line. You must continue to major on life’s trivialities. Do it now! Stop pitchers who dare to run!
Posted by: T C Morgan | June 18, 2008 1:19 PM
Sorry, T.C., but I'll pass on this one. Coming to the aid of millionaires is more of a Republican-type activity, anyway.
Posted by: Mike D. | June 18, 2008 2:29 PM