The New York Yankees-Red Sox rivalry appears to only be getting worse. The two teams already hate each other and Boston starting pitcher Ryan Dempster is only making things worse. Dempster is not exactly the biggest of Alex Rodriguez, especially after the performance-enhancing drugs fiasco that is still going on. As a result, the right hander nailed Rodriguez's ribs, causing benches to clear and ejections to get thrown around,
The hit was clearly intentional, there is no arguing that. Ynakees managers Joe Girardi was ejected, but Dempster was only warned. So, that makes sense. Dempster's hate for Rodriguez has been documented by journalist Wane Scanland. The writer reported that Dempster said he had an issue with Rodriguez and would drill him the first chance he gets. The pitcher was a man of his word.
After the game, Dempster failed to address the hit, simply saying that his goal was to get the pitch inside. That inside pitch resulted in Rodriguez getting on base and eventually scoring a run. After the game, Girardi was not thrilled by the pitcher's move at what looked to be retaliation. The manager said, "I wish he had to hit. That's what I wish."
So, is Girardi saying that if Dempster were a hitter and a Yankee was pitching, he would have gotten hit at the plate?
"Ryan Dempster has hit six guys in the last 320 innings," said Girardi, who had plenty of time to do such research after his ejection in the four-plus hour game. "He threw the first ball behind him; intentional. He threw the next one inside, he didn't hit him, intentional. At some point Brian O'Nora has got to give him a warning. And he should've thrown him out of the game is the bottom line," Girdardi said via the New York Daily News.
Girardi claimed the umpires were "changing the system" by keeping Dempster in the game. He is likely referring to the fact that Rodriguez was served a 211-game drug suspension and people around the league are retaliating.
Girardi certainly has a point. Baseball columnist Joel Sherman suggests that a suspension on Dempster be the next best most in the whole debacle. Technically that is a normal next step in these sort of situations. The league has not spoken out about the hit, but if they fail to bring down discipline, Rodriguez's argument of the league being out to get him only becomes more true.
