Article:Thank you Duncan, you gave me another reason to hate the Yankees

Last time I checked taking out the catcher at home plate is a legal move in baseball. Well apparently Shelly Duncan and the New York Yankee’s don’t think it is, at least not in a spring training game. The situation all started when a Ray player was coming home and the play was going to be close so he slammed into the Yankee catcher. The catcher is a Yankee prospect. The catching prospect (I can not find his name, and will post it when I do) broke his wrist.

So in Wednesday’s game Yankee pitcher Heath Phillips through at a Ray’s batter and was ejected. Then in the second inning Shelly Duncan slid into Ray’s second baseman Akinori Iwamuri with his cleats high, very high! I am talking crotch range.

I think this is crap. The Yankee’s complained that the Ray’s were too aggressive for a spring training game. I don’t think that is possible. These are guys trying to earn a roster spot on a big league team. Are they ever going to earn a spot by gently running towards home plate and letting the catcher tag them for an easy out? NO! They are going to get the roster spot by playing gutsy and sacrificing their bodies. That is how you catch the manager’s eye. Not by lolly gagging into home plate so you don’t hurt anybody, you’re not going to do that in a regular season game, and if you do you will most likely be benched.

I am not saying I want to see people get hurt, but come on! It is part of the game, at times the game can be physical so let them play and stop complaining about it. I am hoping for some sort of suspension for Duncan, because as far as I can tell this was done with intent to injure. As far as I am concerned this is unacceptable.

So thank you Shelly Duncan, you just gave me another reason to hate the Yankees!

For the full story go to http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/recap?gameId=280312130

from my blog http://www.sammonroe.net