MLB: Fair & Balanced

George King reports:

The Post has learned Bob Watson entered the Red Sox dugout during last night's game to talk to Terry Francona about not wearing a uniform jersey while managing. Francona opts for a red pullover, which is sanctioned by MLB properties.

Upon seeing baseball's top cop, who was ushered into the dugout by an MLB resident security agent, Francona snapped at Watson.

"Get out of the dugout during the game," Francona firmly told Watson, who left.

There's a long and documented history of former Yankee general manager Watson showing he still bleeds pinstripes -- even in his current job. I'm not all about the conspiracy theories, but Watson makes it pretty easy to believe he has some biases he hasn't quite resolved. Showing up in a dugout during a game at Yankee Stadium to talk about uniform jerseys and pullovers? Get real.

It's time to end Bob Watson's tortured tenure as baseball's inconsistent, combative disciplinarian.

Comments

[Brad]

Maybe it was him who ordered the hall of famer strike calls Roger was getting up and away all game?

[sunny615]

You failed to mention in that same article that he fined Yankee's hitting coach Kevin Long $1000 for the same offense... no bias here.

"Watson, a vice president of on-field operations, has warned and fined coaches and managers for wearing a pullover instead of a jersey. He recently docked Yankees hitting coach Kevin Long $1,000 for not wearing a jersey."

http://www.nypost.com/seven/08302007/sports/yankees/watsons_visit_irks_francona.htm

[Paul SF]

I don't doubt that he's fining everyone (it's the suspensions that have been ridiculously inconsistent). But going into a team's dugout while the game is going on to discuss the issue? That's a galling amount of arrogance.

[SF]

If not biased, this move by Watson is at least ill-advised and completely arrogant. It doesn't show good sense, at all.

[Sam-YF]

Bob Watson does indeed suck. I think that suggesting that he went into the dugout during the game (which is a wrong move) because he worked for the yankees years back I think is incorrect. I think the guy is an arrogant prick, was at the game, saw tito in his reds and decided to go say something since he is a king in his own mind.
As far as suspensions goes, they have been very inconsistent but I dont think there is a Yankee bias here either. Look at Clemens' suspension last month for example. I still dont get how the Jays pitcher (I forget who it was now) doesnt get a few games when he was blatently throwing at A-Rod too. Ump warning or not his intent was pretty clear.

[IronHorse (yf)]

Gooo thing that no Red Sox fans are in extremely important supposedly unbiased positions like, for instance, the Commissioner's lead investigator on steroids George Mitchell.

[Paul SF]

Well, that might be true, Sam. Watson may just be so inconsistent and awful that he invites accusations of bias because he's completely tone-deaf and certainly arrogant.

[Paul SF]

Haha, IH. So true. Though I'd be surprised if Mitchell's committee actually ends up doing anything of value.

[SF]

Watson may just be so inconsistent and awful that he invites accusations of bias because he's completely tone-deaf and certainly arrogant.

I think this may be right, as Sam says and you restate. There's just no reason for him to go into a dugout during a game and give anyone ammunition about his supposed biases, it's a stupid move, all about Watson and nobody else, about him asserting his power. Tito handled it well. I can imagine several more hot-headed managers confronting him physically; Tito was wise to show him the door curtly.

[YF]

arrogant, yes. biased i don't think. that weeklong suspension of rocket didn't seem"biased.

watson doesn't belong in a dugout. but why is tito wearing those pajamas in the first place?

[IronHorse (yf)]

Paul, I think Mitchell's report will be more consequential than many fans and commentators tend to expect. The guy doesn't do things lightly and he is queitly going about compiling facts. The question is how public will damning information become in the end, but I don't doubt that he will get to it if it can be gotten to. What they do with it we shall see.

Either way, I don't have much sympathy on the Watson issue - sorry...

[Ric]

cant tito wear a silk uniform if comfort is the issue?

[IronHorse (yf)]

I think it was his Red Sox bunny slippers that got him in trouble last night.

[SF]

So when is Watson going to fine Jeter for his Superman Underoos?

[IronHorse (yf)]

Right after Coco and Manny get slapped with a fine for the doo-rages.

[Ric]

does that mean the Yankees dugout has to get rid of the Sybian machine?

[Sam-YF]

The more I think about this the more absurd and arrogant it seems. Watson actually thought that his stupid little pet issue of what a manager is wearing was important enough to discuss to go into a dugout during a ball game. Its almost laughable. Like anyone in the world cares other than him!

[YF]

Jeter doesn't need Superman underoos. He IS Superman. Duh. They keep a phone booth for him in the clubhouse. Everything's legal.

[IronHorse (yf)]

OK, I've been seeing cracks re: Tavarez and porn forever and must admit to having no idea what it is about - can someone let me in on the joke??

[Yankee Fan In Boston]

i just saw this link over at deadspin:
http://tinyurl.com/2t9v34

a guy's yankee flag was set on fire. he is actually calling it a "hate crime."

wow.

[John - YF (Trisk)]

I can't believe I am saying this...

Good for Francona, it's a dumb rule. Managers and Coaches who do NOT coach bases should not have to wear jerseys. The same rule applies (minus the fines) in High School (Varsity level only) and I hate it there too. I wear a windbreaker or BP Jacket with team pants, no need for the jersey it's silly. Fight the power Tito!

[LocklandSF]

In an interview somebody asked Julian what he would be doing if he wasn't a professional pitcher. His response... "Porn star."

[Yankee Fan In Boston]

tavarez was asked what he would have done if he didn't play ball... he said he'd have been a porn star.

yeah.

think about that for a minute, then try to rid yourself of that.

it can't be done, but you asked for it.

[John - YF (Trisk)]

Lockland, the million dollar question is would Hideki add a movie staring Julian to his extensive porn collection?

[Paul SF]

IH, Tavarez said that when he was growing up, he wanted to be a porn star because he felt it would be a way to make good money.

If what SF says is true, that means Watson went into a dugout during the game to discuss a pretty trivial issue that is actually only an issue because of health cocnerns. Classy.

[Frank]

Iron -

It has to do with him being Manny's "gimp".

[SF]

Um, that wasn't me. We have an impostor.

[IronHorse (yf)]

Thanks - i now have two very problematic things going on for me:

1. my respect for Tavarez, which was non-existent before based on performance, hit-batsmen record, and appearance, has gone up a notch. That is a great answer.

2. I am visualizing things I really shouldn't and don't want to. It is sometimes true that ignorance is bliss.

But thanks anyway.

[Ric]

tito can actually get fined for having unauthorized peeps in his dugout ala pesky, so watson was creating a hazardous situation to tito by entering the dugout, therefore, watson should be fined(i know...its a stretch)

[LocklandSF]

Huggy Bear...

"You just went up a notch in my book, that puts you at notch one."

Can we play a change of topic card? I'm going blind over here.

[Paul SF]

Ugh, don't get me started on the Pesky decision. That was outrageous, and not just because it affected the Red Sox. That's an insult to anyone who loves the history of the game and if I remember right affected several teams with similar "mascots."

[kurticusmaximus- yf]

Francona should just go all Bill Belichek on us and start cutting the sleeves off of huge sweatshirts for games.

I always found managers in uniforms to be kinda silly. It's like when you go to a play softball game with friends, and somebody shows up in a full uniform. I know they're major league managers, but wearing the uniform always strikes me as a subtle "man, I wish I was still a player" thing.

[LocklandSF]

Not to mention, 90% of them have no business wearing anything NEAR that tight.

[Devine]

Anyone see Manny could be out for about a week to 10 days? In the bostonherald.com sports section.

[fabio(yf)]

Yankees Lineup, per Pete Abe

Damon LF
Jeter SS
Abreu RF
Rodriguez 3B
Matsui DH
Posada C
Giambi 1B
Cano 2B
Cabrera CF

So, no housemoney lineup today. Joe Must believe we have a chance at the division. Also, Giambi at first with Wang pitching.

[fabio(yf)]

I remember reading somewhere that Wang was trying to throw less sinkers against the sox, because he felt they where sitting on it. Maybe Giambi at first is an indication that this would be the game plan. Or Joe just liked the first play of yesterdays game

[John - YF (Trisk)]

Wow, Jorge in a day game after a night game, impressive. Well it's our best lineup, let's see what we can do!

[Yankee Fan In Boston]

they're laying it all out there. giambi in the field again is a bit worrisome. i hope that doesn't bite the yankees in the rear end.

[Brad]

Devine, they were talking about it last night on NESN. I guess that's what the trainers told him, so who knows. But, if that's the case, I want Jacoby playing the OF for the time he's out.
If ever there was a Red Sox player that I can't stand, it's Eric Hinske. I can't stand to see him in the lineup, and I really can't stand to see him in the OF, last night included.
If it's true, and he misses ten days, I'm not that worried about it.
On another note, Bedard will not pitch this weekend with the same injury. Per EEI.

[Brad]

Especially with a guy who's going to let every batter put the ball in play, YFIB.:)

[Yankee Fan In Boston]

that's what i'm saying, brad.

...but i'm not smiling about it.

[fabio(yf)]

Brad, It seems you are very critical (is that the right word?) of Wang, but I believe that before the fingernail problem, his groudouts were not of the typical type, somewhat hard hit balls where some luck is involved. He was getting a lot of balls hit back to him, and more weakly hit balls where the only possible outcome was a infield single, or so is my perception.

Perhaps Wang is the exception to the rule that pitchers cannot control their BABIP.

[Brad]

Fabio, I know you're new here, so I'll let you in on a well known fact:
I happen to think that Wang is a good pitcher, who ultimately keeps his team in games most times, but when it comes to his luck level, it's off the planet. Regardless of what kind of ground balls they are, or where they're hit, he takes the game out of his own right hand, and puts it squarely on the performance of his infielders. When he absolutely needs a strike out (say, man on third with one out), he's not the kind of guy that you can expect one from, therefore that run will almost always score.
It's not that I'm hard on him. I just can't stand the style is all. I'm a strikeout pitcher kind of guy. I HATE guys like Wand and D-Lowe, who let every batter make contact, thus raising the probablility of base hits every time.
Nothing against the guy at all.

[Brad]

Actually, I lied.
I can't stand the guy!
:)

[Paul SF]

One thing: Wang is arguably not having as good a year despite having higher strikeout numbers, which might mean he has resorted to more Ks to compensate for worse luck.

[Brad]

I agree. Post All-star break, he's pitching to a 5.08 ERA, and has over a .300 batting average against, but has struck out about fifteen less in 55 innings than he has in the 105 innings before the break. So, basically if his trend continues, he'll strike out about 15 more in the second half, but be pitching much worse.
It's also interesting to note that Boston is batting about .315 against him, which goes to support my theory that no matter how good, these games stray so far from the normal performance levels of the players involved.

[Brad]

Francona said "it's as embarrassed as I've ever been in a major league game", when commenting about Watson asking him to "show his uniform to security personell" during the second inning of last nights game while Jeter was on second base.

[Ric]

photo of the encounter...
http://bostondirtdogs.boston.com/BDD_BW_uni_8.29.07_bgjd.jpg

[LocklandSF]

Tito's got nothing to be embarrassed about, it's Watson that should be embarrassed.

What a total buffoon.

[Paul SF]

That's just absolutely ridiculous. What a travesty for the game that a baseball official is engaging in such childish behavior.

[Lar]

I thought there was more context to this. Ah well, it does seem silly though..

[IronHorse (yf)]

On Wang's different pitchign style vs. Boston, he already changed this for his previous start against them months ago. It worked well for him, though seemd like a much more laborious game then we are used to seeing from him. He experimented with a change-up much more rather than doing his usual 2-pitch fastball/sinker and it seemd ot work well. Patient teams like the Sox were being with him tend to wait on his sinker to dive out of the zone and sit on his fastball, which is very good but not lights-out. His approach today should be interesting to see.

[Lar]

By the way, this is what I mean by "he could strike out more batters if he wanted to" - more like a gameplan change, not a situational change (as people read).

Eventually, if his sinker die, he'll have to learn say, a splitter or something and maybe get more K's if that's what it takes. I think Wang is good enough that he can learn.

Though it might take some adjustment period, if that's the case.

[Jackie (SF)]

I don't know if anyone's still reading this thread, or if it came up elsewhere, but one reason that Francona wears the sweatshirt is that he's on blood thinners for a medical condition and always feels cold. So it's not entirely a sartorial decision.

[jfh-yf]

long and documented history? you came up with two incidents from 2005 and call it a long and documented history? have some cheese with your whine.

[sunny615]

NYTimes - Jack Curry:

"Joe Torre, the Yankees’ manager, called the focus on uniforms “a farce.”"

Maybe the Bush Administration has an opening for Watson. He'd fit right in.

[beth]

YFIB, that story about the "hate crime" is truly unbelievable. thanks for posting that link.

[jfh-yf]

I guess Watson's suspension of Chamberlain is another in the long and documented offenses against RSN?