May 30, 2005

Brawlin' in the Fens

Evan Grossman's article in the New York Post on the Nixon HBP yesterday includes a bizarre little 'jab' at Boston that I have a hard time reconciling:

Sturtze plunked Nixon and home plate umpire Jerry Meals issued warnings to both teams before things could get out of hand. The warning came almost immediately, which surprised Joe Torre and the Yankees a day after Derek Jeter was drilled and did not finish Saturday's 17-1 bloodbath at the Stadium.

"He said he hit him in the back with a fastball," Torre said of his conversation with Meals. "I said, 'So did Jeter yesterday.' What constitutes a warning?"

Meals responded with "It's a different umpire."

The incident went no further and there was no return fire from the Red Sox pitching staff. But things generally tend not to boil over at Yankee Stadium, versus Fenway Park, where the teams brawled the last two seasons.

So, admittedly yes, the last two memorable brawls between these two teams - the July 24th game and Game 3 of the '03 ALCS - both happened at Fenway Park.  Hell of a sample size you're working with there, huh Mr. Grossman?  There must be something in that dirty water - or maybe all that class in the air in the Bronx keeps out the fisticuffs.  Obviously not a big deal, but I love how NYY writers have to get their little jabs in, even if they make no sense at all.
Posted by 12eight at 19:01:02 | Permanent Link | Comments (4) |
Comments
1 - I remember Steinbrenner calling the city of Boston "lawless" after the Pedro/Zimmer incident went down at Fenway. As I recall, there were batteries thrown from the stands of Yankee Stadium - a retaliation effort, I believe, by the fans. It gets ugly on both sides. (Comment this)

Written by: Witch City Sox Girl at 2005/05/31 - 03:24:42
2 - Yeah, and of course we had the famed 'riot cops on the field during play' inning in Game 6 of the 04 ALCS... I think what the article refers to, though, is the fact that the Red Sox and Yanks have only to this point actually brawled at Fenway... a point so tangential and useless I can only conclude that he threw it in the as some kind of jab. I don't know what kind, though, as it makes exactly no sense. Much like the rest of the NY Post. (Comment this)

Written by: Andrew at 2005/05/31 - 16:18:16
3 - No brawls on field/but what about the tossers of batteries & baseballs in Game 6 of The LCS, in Da Bronx? Amazing Silence from NY Yankee Beat Writers! (Comment this)

Written by: Michael Leggett at 2005/09/28 - 16:20:13
4 - Once watched 50 brawls in stands @ '01 LCS, in The Bronx. Never saw anything in the NY papers @ all. (Comment this)

Written by: Michael Leggett at 2005/09/28 - 16:22:29
Write a comment