The Boston-Baltimore Saga

Over the weekend the Boston Red Sox were in the news and it had nothing to do with their play on the field, rather it what was being said from the stands. Orioles’ outfielder Adam Jones said after the game on Monday that he was subject to “racial slurs” from fans and even had things such as peanuts thrown at him. As a Red Sox fan this is embarrassing, not only for the Red Sox organization and it’s fan base but for the entire Boston Community. Boston doesn’t have the best track record when it comes to race and now thanks to this small group of “fans” the entire community of Boston looks like the same people who harassed Jackie Robinson when he first broke the color barrier. This isn’t 1950 anymore. It’s time to get real.

Yes, the Red Sox and the Orioles have a bit of bad blood between them and that’s an understatement. It more of a full blown hatred toward each other. It all began when Orioles star Manny Machado engaged in what Red Sox players deemed to be a dirty slide that injured long time Sox star Dustin Pedroia. Those kind of things happen in baseball all the time, players play dirty. They talk trash as they round the bases after smashing a home run to the upper deck, they stare down a hitter that they’ve just struck out and yes pitchers intentionally throw at batters.

But racial slurs have no business in baseball or anywhere for that matter. How can Red Sox fans call Jones or anybody else in the league the N word and yet give a standing ovation to David Ortiz, Manny Ramirez, Mookie Belts or Hanley Ramirez, guys who are all black and some of the best Red Sox players in the last two decades. You can’t. You can’t be racist to black players unless they wear your favorite team’s shirt and you shouldn’t be racist at all.

The worst part is that this hasn’t been the first instance of racism players have faced at Fenway. Yankees’ pitcher CC Sabathia came out after the incident and told reporters “There’s 62 of us. We all know. When you go to Boston, expect it.” As a Sox fan that’s rough to hear. Not only are racist remarks common at Fenway they’re EXPECTED! I’m glad that Adam Jones had the courage to call out Sox fans for this kind of behavior because it has no place in sports or anywhere else and it’s time for Red Sox fans and the organization to put a stop to it.

Yes, the Red Sox did offer an apology to Jones and Red Sox fans even gave Adam Jones a standing ovation in the game following the reported incidents which is all great but you can’t expect to stand and clap for a player and expect racism to go way, it takes an effort on the part of the organization, the players and most importantly the fans to end it. Let’s not keep making the same disgusting mistakes we made when Jackie Robinson first entered the league. We’re better than that.

Now to a lighter side of the Orioles-Red Sox beef. Racism isn’t the only things that Orioles have had to face in Boston this week, they’ve also had to face Red Sox pitchers. This is already a difficult tasks as Boston has one of the best rotations in baseball but the task becomes a bit harder when those pitchers are trying to take your head off, as is the case with Manny Machado.

Now I’ve already gone over the incident between Machado and the Red Sox when Machado’s “dirty slide” Boston’s Dustin Pedroia and apparently Red Sox pitchers took exception to the slide and they’ve been trying to get Machado back ever since by throwing a 100 mph pitch at him. Now this is something that there’s no issue with. Pitchers throwing at players has been a part of baseball for decades and it’s actually one of the most exciting parts of the game.

Like a fight in hockey or acrobatic dunk in basketball, a pitcher throwing at a hitter gets fans on the edge of their seats. And can you blame them? In a game that is largely considered long and boring, the possibility of a benches clearing brawl gets fans excited. But Machado doesn’t seem too happy about the Red Sox strategy. In a tirade following Tuesday’s game between the Sox and Orioles Machado voiced his displeasure over Boston pitchers throwing at him in an effort to send a message. I would write what was said although 75% of it would be “[expletive]”.

The problem with Machado calling Red Sox pitchers dirty and saying that he could go after them with a bat except for the fact that he would be suspended “for a year” is that Machado himself is a dirty player. This is the same player who injured the Boston star with a dirty slide, and yes it was dirty, and even has gone after an opposing player with a bat, throwing a bat at an A’s pitcher although he claimed it was an accident (it wasn’t).

If Manny Machado wants Red Sox pitchers to stop throwing at him then throwing a hissy fit after the game is not the way to go. Charging the plate and inciting a benches clearing brawl is. Who didn’t love it when Alex Rodriguez went after a Red Sox pitcher only to be attacked by Boston catcher Jason Veritek, that act alone launched Varitek into Red Sox lore. And who can forget Coco Crisp dodging punches from Rays’ pitcher James Shields. Fans love brawls and it’s a great way to get your point across without sounding like a toddler complaining to your parents that your sibling pushed you over. Machado needs to handle his business like they did 10 years ago and charge the mound and maybe then Red Sox pitcher Chris Sale won’t compare the celebration in the dugout after hitting Machado to a “Pool Party”. No matter what happens the Red Sox-Orioles matchup will be one to watch the entire season.

For those interested Videos of baseball brawls can be here

Manny Machado Bat Throw: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d9CzjwJja3U

Coco Crisp Fight: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i0n4ihd492Y

A-Rod/Varitek Fight: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IGuF-Wy_QUc