A-Rod Starts A Triple Play & An Argument In The Same Inning

The sixth inning of yesterday’s Yankee loss to Oakland had Alex Rodriguez’s name written all over it. In the top of the inning, depending on who you talk to, he made an ass of himself. Then, in the home half, he looked like the conquering hero.

As everyone knows by now, A-Rod took a short cut back to first base after going from first to third on a foul ball. He ran accross the diamond, onto the mound and stepped on the rubber before runing down the first base side of it. A’s pitcher Dallas Braden, whose name sounds like that of an umpire’s, had choice words for Alex, saying, among other things, “If I’ve got that ball in my hand and I’m out on that mound, that’s not your mound. You want to run across that mound? Go run laps in the bullpen.” [Yankees.com]

For his part Alex produced a subtle insult: “That was a little surprising. I’d never quite heard that, especially from a guy that has a handful of wins in his career,” [Yankees.com]

According to Braden, A-Rod broke and unwritten rule by running onto the mound. Alex claims he’s never heard of the rule. True or not, Alex was called out by Braden for only one reason: He is Alex Rodriguez. If anyone else had run accross that mound Braden would have kept his mouth shut. I’m absolutely sure of that.

Perhaps Alex knew that, too. Perhaps he went into the bottom of that inning wanting to do something to shut Braden up once and for all. He got his chance when that ground ball came his way and he started the first Yankee triple play in 42 years. Nicely turned, Alex.

A Personal Update: It appears that I will soon have a home again. The details have not all been worked out yet, but as soon as they are I will fill everyone in. Thanks to you all for your continuing patience as I struggle to find the time and place to post here.