Torii Hunter Breaks MLB rule, out for 3 years?

[FiddySicks]

Nowadays with all the money these guys make, how big of a bounty would someone have to offer to seriously affect the way any game is played? A million? Two million? I'm not sure it is even possible.

You probably couldn't buy off Manny or A-Rod, but those guys make more during one game than a Sept call-up makes all season. If the Cubs were out of the race in Sep (a wild concept, I know), maybe one of their youngsters would spike Albert Pujols to help another team catch the Cards in the standings.

Yeah because sliding feet first into first wouldnt look suspicious

[marlinfan]

This looks like a rule from the early 1900s, infact I wouldn't be surprised if it has been around since then. I don't expect anything serious to come from this, maybe just a fine or slap on the wrist.

[ninersdd]

Didn't Dick Vermeil and Morten Andersen for a problem like this except they were on the same team?

[winghaz]

I recall very well that Torii Hunter's comments last year came in the excitement of the Royals sweeping the Tigers. He was so thrilled, he said he was going to buy them all champagne.

For Hunter to buy the Royals champagne is like for me, a Twins fan, to be so excited that the Royals swept the Tigers that I would buy a Royals fan a piece of bubble gum. That's the way the salaries compare these days.

Now, had he told the Royals before the series that he would pay them $50 million if they swept the Tigers, then it would be a different story. It would be meddling.

As someone in here said, baseball has a way of dealing with major problems and minor rule infractions. This isn't like the NFL going way overboard over a small uniform infraction. Baseball also has a precedence (thanks to a famous Royal, George Brett, and the Pine Tar Game) of following the "spirit of the rule."

[zer0dotcom]

I was reading on a Cardinals board, and some other rules that people break all the time that aren't enforced were brought up, and that's fraternizing with the competition on the field. It happens all the time. Players chat it up before the game, standing at first base, whatever. Rules say it's illegal, but baseball is smart enough to realize it doesn't need to be enforced. The rule again has some good basis to keep competition high, but the MLB realizes that the kind of fraternization that occurs doesn't damage compeition, so they don't enforce it. I think that's what will happen here with Hunter.

Of course, one time MLB did speak out against it, and they looked like complete jerks (and no, Selig wasn't one of them who spoke about it I don't believe, so stop blaming him for everything).

That one time was when the Cardinals beat the Dodgers in the 2004 NLDS and the two teams stepped back out on to the field to shake hands. It's one of the greatest traditions in sports in the NHL playoffs, and Larry Walker (Canadian) knew that and thought it'd be a great thing to bring to baseball. And it was when it happened. But citing the fraternizing rules, some MLB officials weren't pleased that it happened. Pretty dumb if you ask me.

Most rules the MLB has are important and there for a reason. But baseball rules tend to be all about common sense both on the field and off. And for the most part, the MLB is pretty good about using common sense when enforcing (or not enforcing) their rules.

I'm sure they will in regards to Hunter as well.

I find it silly that the rule still exists personally. I mean, sportsmanship? Naw, we shouldn't have any of that. You can be friendly with guys on the other team and still want to wipe the floor with them. It's good for the fans to see too, especially the younger fans to see good examples of sportsmanship for when they play.

I'm not trying to argue your point at all STL, that rule is there for a reason, something must have happened somewhere down the line. But it seems really silly to me right now

[Hat Boy]

Yeah because sliding feet first into first wouldnt look suspicious

My original example was going to be someone spiking Jeter, but I wanted to get away from the Red Sox/Yankees thing.

I guess you could step on Pujols' heel if he were stretched out at first.

[DDR]

Hey, he broke a rule and he should have to pay. Ignorance is not innocence. I say give him the full three year ban.

The fact that I'm a White Sox fan and Torri's a Sox killer has nothing to do with this view. Seriously. No, I mean it. For real.

[rams80]

Yeah because sliding feet first into first wouldnt look suspicious

My original example was going to be someone spiking Jeter, but I wanted to get away from the Red Sox/Yankees thing.

I guess you could step on Pujols' heel if he were stretched out at first.

Jeter would have been a better analogy though, simply because there's a better chance of it happening-the Yankees don't retaliate.

[pcgd]

I can't believe nobody's brought this up...

But I think I remember the packers throwing one of the arizona cardinals players a parade (or something) for catching the winning TD against the Vikings the year before...propelling them into the playoffs.

Surpised that wasn't mentioned yet is all. I'm sure someone else has more info on it.

[HedleyLamarr]

Did I hear right, that Torii Hunter received a baseball in the mouth by the Royals?

[buzzcut]

Did I hear right, that Torii Hunter received a baseball in the mouth by the Royals?

Yep, and I can attest to it because I was there. Fortunately he only got a few teeth knocked out. And no the pitcher(Zack Grebnike(sic?)) didn't mean to intentionally hit him.

[Fred T. Jane]

I can't believe nobody's brought this up...

But I think I remember the packers throwing one of the arizona cardinals players a parade (or something) for catching the winning TD against the Vikings the year before...propelling them into the playoffs.

No, the city of Green Bay gave Nate Poole the keys to the city in gratitude for his play.

[Joshawaggie]

The reason Torii shouldnt get anything but a slap on the wrist for this is this reason:

After the Royals beat the Tigers last year, Torii announced he would buy them chmpagne to thank them. He announced it, out loud for everyone to hear. Now, he didnt own up to his word untill after the Twins/Royals series last week... thats what 6 months later?! MLB knew about it, they had plenty of time to say "Torii we understand you are grateful to the Royals, but technically it is wrong to do this." Nobody did, cuz the rule is so trivial, nobody knew about it. It was the "The Cheater's Guide to Baseball Blog" who found the rule, not MLB. Hunter promtly asked for it all back, the Royals obliged.... no harm, no foul.

[24 Hour Charleston]

The reason Torii shouldnt get anything but a slap on the wrist for this is this Hunter promtly asked for it all back, the Royals obliged....

...then Zack Greinke knocked Hunter's teeth out with a fastball. Renege on the Royals, get yr teeth knocked out.

[Mac the Knife]

While technically speaking there may or may not have been a violation of 21 ( B ), the facts are that the rule is written a little vaguely, and as such Hunter, if he has half-decent representation, will skate.

The question with respect to all aspects of Rule 21 (which includes the famed 21 ( C ) that Pete Rose was nailed on) is whether or not the gift, prize, whatever you want to call it was offered as an enticement before the fact, or a reward after the fact.

If it were an enticement offered before the fact, then it could be construed that Hunter offered a team a bribe in an attempt to change the outcome of an MLB game, in which case the book would be thrown at him.

If however it were a reward offered after the fact, it cannot be construed as such, as the outcome of the contest(s) had already been decided.

That, plus considering the fact that an MLB making even the league minimum can buy his own Dom Perignon, and the ruling in this situation should be pretty obvious.

Judge Mac has ruled. Case dismissed!