Fallout from Sox win-Damon collision/fans reaction/A's PO'd at Lowe

[underpants]

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/chronicle/archive/2003/10/07/SPGLE26QC91.DTL

Then the entire stadium's attention turned to the two players lying motionless on the grass. Jackson soon began to move, but Damon did not. After several minutes, television cameras showed Damon talking with his eyes open, though he remained on the ground.


The Red Sox announced that Damon sustained a concussion, though the team said he was awake and alert when he left in the ambulance. Damon told teammates he was OK before he was taken to the hospital for precautionary tests and evaluation.

Said Dye (out at second).........."They told me he didn't know what happened."

As the crowd of players surrounding Damon dispersed, Jackson and David Ortiz suddenly were seen shouting at fans near Boston's dugout. Stadium security and Oakland police quickly swooped in, including one cop who placed a vigorous headlock on a young fan.

Jackson (attended Ygnacio Valley High in Concord and still lives in Walnut Creek, was not amused) "I understand you're A's fans and you want your team to go to the ALCS, but have some respect. You can't do that." "... For that moment, I was ashamed to be a Bay Area resident."


Lowe's celebration offends A's players

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/playoffs2003/news/story?id=1632259
OAKLAND, Calif. -- Some of the Oakland Athletics were furious with Derek Lowe, accusing the Red Sox pitcher of making obscene gestures toward them after he struck out Terrence Long to finish Boston's 4-3 victory in the AL division series Monday night.

"Derek Lowe is going to be paid back for that sign," Tejada screamed hysterically through the clubhouse, shouting expletives. "My kid is in the stands. He's going to pay."

Tejada was later told that Lowe apologized.

"That's extremely unprofessional," center fielder Chris Singleton said.

[jmanjman]

1. Did you see the game...

Did you see Lowe making an obscene gesture? I'm not a fan of either team (Cardinals fan) so it doesn't bother me one way or the other but when he struck out Long, I just saw him jumping around. I didn't see anything that resembled an obscene gesture. I'm thinking that a couple of A's are overreacting. I could have missed it though. Did any of you see it?

[underpants]

2. I watched it and didn't see anything at all

Maybe it just wasn't caught by the Fox cameras.

I did see the jerk-off yelling at Jackson and his frat boy buddy who was giving the "COME ON!" hand signals to Ortiz. Ortiz by the way is the muscle of the team, sometimes beer does funny things to a person.

[Braden]

6. If it weren't for the Oakland Police

Gabe Kapler would have gone into the stands and beaten that guy badly. No Doubt in my mind.

I won't paint the whole Oakland fandom based on that guy though.

They were incredibly concerned about Damon, being a former A probably had people more involved then they might be when an opposing player is hurt.

As for Lowe if he aplogized then I would say he did it. Tejada will have a tough time exacting revenge playing for the Dodgers though.

[underpants]

8. No broad strokes here

The place went almost silent immediately. No it was two stupid jerks out of a crowd of thousands.

Gabe Kapler?

[Braden]

12. Kapler the reserve outfielder and known fitness fanatic

came out of the dugout an began jawing with those two and had to be restrained. I would bet anything had no one stopped him that guy would be in traction this morning. Ortiz laughed at the guy, no big deal, but he must have said something to set Kapler off.

Did Tejada apologize to all of his relatives for Yelling "MotherFucker" on national TV?



(ps my comment about broad strokes was about my post, you clearly are not showing any bias or implying anything)

[underpants]

17. Ooh good point Fox left the mic on for a little too long on that one

That was still in the "Family hour" too.

[Braden]

21. Big Oops.

I dont blame the players there. They are in the heat of battle in front of 60,000 fans. I think Fox tries to intentionally "accidentally" air some bad language to add some grit to the program.

[jmanjman]

10. Lowe's "apology"

Yes Lowe apologized but he said something to the effect of "I don't remember making a gesture but if I did something that somehow offended them, I apologize". So, he wasn't admitting any guilt, just that if someone misconstrued his actions, he was sorry. Like I said earlier, I didn't see him do anything like that so I think its a couple of guys from the A's overreacting during an emotional time.

[Caution]

3. I'm a sox fan so grain of salt here

But after having watched derek lowe for years, he did nothing last night that should be construed as an obscene gesture, he was jumping around like a mad man pumping his fist as he always does after a big win.

[DemNoir]

4. What a bunch of baloney

There was nothing unusual in Derek Lowes celebration. For this to come from Mr Tejada is a real laugh, considering his conduct on a baseball field.

But, I guess its frustrating to choke in such an embarrassing fashion every year.

[Uzybone]

5. Lowe slapped his crotch area

while in the direction of the As dugout. Wasnt anything obvious to me or really offensive. The As should shut the fuck up and check thier heads and hearts (or lack thereof) before looking to pick on the Sox. The guy just struck out 2 batters with the winning runs on base in the bottom of the 9th. Hell Id strip on the mound if I were Lowe.

[underpants]

7. I think both sides had a lot of emotion on this matter

All I saw was a team going nuts after not only winning three in a row to win a series but like you said striking out two in a row. I doubt he even knew what he was doing at that moment.

[jmanjman]

9. If he wants to smack himself in the balls...

that's Derek Lowe's own problem not Tejada's or the rest of the A's problem then.

[Braden]

13. indeed slapping oneself in the balls is a choice we make.

[Evil_Dewers]

11. I'm not a fan of either team

but I had no problem with Manny watching his home run or anything Lowe supposedly did after he struck out the last two batters to win their ALDS. If Lowe did something, it probably only because a few of the drunken Oakland "fans" were jerks after Damon got hurt.

[Drifter]

14. Don't forget ...

the asswipe BoSux player who hit the 3 run HR, and taunted the A's bench on his way to first. That is about as 3rd grade as you get. A's fans showed a tremendous amount of respect by giving both injured players standing ovations when they finally did leave the field.

I have never seen such sore winners in baseball before last night. I can only hope that they are off again to lose to the Yankees, as they ceratinly don't deserve a shot at the big game.

Cheers
Drifter

[Evil_Dewers]

15. Don't forget the asswipe BoSux player who taunted the A's bench

umm, Manny Ramierez pointed at his own bench as if to say "that one's for you, boys."

The A's have had a huge problem the last few years--they can't close out a series.

[underpants]

19. No Ramirez took too long to start running

Just my opinion but that was way too long.

[soleft]

20. he definitely was showing up the pitcher

But we're talking about Manny Ramirez.

[MissMillie]

23. He must have figured....

that it was gone, or foul, or caught. Actually, that's exactly what I had figured.

[StopTheMorans]

22. A's are all hat and no cattle

and did anyone see Zito yell "fuck yeah" after he got someone to pop out in the 5th I believe? The A's showed more than enough lack of class to warrant everything the sox did and more, and Billy Beane's comment after the game about payroll shows what an utterly classless and moronic bunch of losers they truly are.

[VermontDem2004]

25. Don't forget

Manny yelling "That's Bullshit!" To the first base umpire who said he didn't check his swing. Of course you didn't hear it but you could sure read his lips.

[Emboldened Chimp]

28. And of course, Manny was crying over spilt milk

He definitely went around on that swing. What was he screaming about? I have no idea.

[frylock]

27. make no mistake, manram will pay dearly for that exhibit..

come next year. Look for Zito to place one square in the ribs next time they meet up. And rightly so.. you don't pull krap like that out there. Pump your fist as you round first, but you don't stand there and admire your handiwork like Ramirez did last night. If you've ever played ball, then you know this.

[KFC]

30. Then ManRam will kick his ass

Zito will be the one who pays dearly.

[StopTheMorans]

31. yep, Zito would stand no chance in this contest

and if he tried it, besides Manny obiously beating him down, Pedro would probably locate a few nicely placed fastballs like he did last night.

[zls44]

16. I dont know...

But as usual, the A's find a level of hate I cant even direct at the BoSox.

Seriously, has there been a dumber baseball team/management in the last 5 years than the A's?

[HuckleB]

32. Dumber management?

Perhaps on the field in the playoffs, but the A's clearly have the smartest front office in baseball. To put together the string of competitive teams that they have with the budget they have is incredibly impressive.

[Braden]

18. sorry Drifter. Sour Grapes

Manny gave a look into the BOSTON dugout. Given the magnitude of what just happened, I don't think many will care what Ramirez did.

[Old and In the Way]

24. Hate the Red Sox if you must, but get your facts straight.

He was pointing to his dugout on the 1st base side of the field.

True, Manny was a tad dramatic in his standing there, but I don't see that as really showing Zito up. Actually, Zito made Ramierez look pretty bad in his earlier at-bat. Fact, I can't remember ever seeing Manny so helpless at the plate.

And, btw, I think the A's fans were actually pretty classy the way they cheered Damon as they carried him into the ambulance. As far as a few fans getting out-of-control...I've NEVER seen that at Fenway :-)

Very interesting incident in the middle innings when Hillman got hit by an object in the Red Sox dugout. Fox showed it about 10 times in slo-mo....ranted on about how terrible that is, etc. Come to find out, it was part of Nixon's weighted bat that came off in the warm-up circle. Just goes to show that while TV may capture the event, interpreting it can be something quite different.

[VermontDem2004]

26. I just watched the highlights

He did point to the Boston dugout basically saying this one is for you. After Lowe struck out the batter he was pumping his fist all over the place and he happened to slap his crotch then pumped his fist up in the air. I don't think he was intentionally trying to do anything, I think he was just exciting and he was pumping his fist all over the place.

[MaineDem]

29. Maybe his cup slipped?

Just a thought since I've never worn one or anything. :)