The Yankees And Double Standards

On the heels of the events of the last week or so I thought I’d take a look at how the Yankees and double standards have come into play in MLB.

The first thing that caught my attention was Rafael Soriano and Untuckgate. I couldn’t fathom how a guy who untucked his jersey after he recorded a save garnered so much attention from the media. Who cares if he does that? MSM does, I soon realized. He was vilified by baseball purists as a player who broke the sacred “unwritten rules” by showing up an opponent. OK, whatever. Manager Joe Girardi said he had his closer’s back and that it didn’t bother him, which seemed to quash the controversy.

Soon thereafter, Reds closer Aroldis Chapman recorded a save and then proceeded to do somersaults from the pitcher’s mound. This didn’t seem to create as much of a stir as Soriano’s antics, which baffled me. There is no way that untucking a jersey is more of a slap in the face to an opponent than doing two somersaults from the pitcher’s mound. I just don’t get how Soriano’s theatrics rubbed people the wrong way more than Chapman’s did. If a Yankee did somersaults after recording a save everybody would be up in arms about how the team is ruining baseball, but since he’s not a Yankee it’s OK.

For the record, I don’t have a problem with either celebration and in fact I think it’s cool when players show emotion on the field. Just trying to illustrate how the two celebrations were received differently. Also, I know Chapman’s teammates reamed him out after the somersaults, but he didn’t really seem to get it bad from the media. That’s my point.

Another case is when Dewayne Wise jumped into the stands to make a catch on a foul ball against the Indians on Tuesday evening (and, to a lesser extent, when Jeter pretended to be hit by a pitch against the Rays late in the 2010 season). Everyone was saying how Wise should’ve told the ump that he didn’t even have the ball to keep the integrity of the sport, and Jeter should’ve said that the pitch hit his bat; in not doing so they were both deemed cheaters by fans and some sportswriters.

Poppycock, I say.

Nobody said boo when Jason Donald kept his mouth shut after Jim Joyce botched the call on the final out in Armando Galaraga’s “perfect” game. That’s quite the double standard.

How about when Ichiro hit a walk-off homer and, right before touching home plate, motioned toward his groin in a “suck it” manner? Or the Prince Fielder home run celebration when he was on the Brewers?* Can you imagine if A-Rod (or another Yankee) partook in such antics? There would be a lynch mob at said player’s house while certain baseball writers penned slam pieces about how the Yanks are ruining baseball.

*Again, I don’t have a problem with these types of celebrations — and actually think they’re very cool — I’m just trying to point out the hypocrisy of fans and MSM.

Perhaps the most glaring example of this double standard is how David Ortiz and Manny Ramirez tested positive for steroids in 2003 but denied it and never had any backlash. Ortiz made up some bogus excuse about vitamins and said he’s searching for the truth, and the subject was never brought up again by the media. Whereas a few Yankees owned up to it and are still getting slammed. That’s some example MLB is setting for the children — deny everything and you’re gravy, take responsibility and it’ll be raining shit on you for the rest of your life.

I guess them’s the breaks when you root/play for one of the most hated franchises in sports. Some things will never change.