Baseball Purists Are Getting What They Deserve
By: Ryan Wooley
It truly amazes me that in today's day in age that people are shocked and appalled what athletes will do in a game to gain an advantage. Now I'm not talking about blatant cheating like using steroids or pine tar in baseball, or even using an ineligible player in college football or basketball, but rather when an athlete plays the game the way it is meant to be played and allows those that officiate the game to do their job, even if they get the call wrong.
I bring this up because on Tuesday night another blatant error occurred in Major League Baseball as umpire Mike DiMuro ruled that the Indian's Jack Hannahan was out after hitting foul ball into the stands where the Yankee's Dewayne Wise leaped and looked to have caught it for the out. Well upon further review Wise dropped the ball and it ended up in the hands of a fan, yet DiMuro was adamant that it was an out until after the game where he admitted he made a mistake after seeing the replay.
The uproar however continues to grow from fans and media saying baseball needs replay (which I agree) but also that Wise cheated on the play and he should have not tried to fake out the umpires upon getting up.
Well what I want to know is how he cheated on the play? He did his part by running towards the stands, leaped, appeared to catch it and yes, unfortunately dropped the ball—but because he got up and went to the dugout after it was ruled an out instead of telling DiMuro he made the wrong call and trotting back to left field he cheated? Give me a break.
Athletes always look for a way to gain an advantage over their opponent in any sport they play and at all times throughout the game. A lot of the times it is done within the rules like this one, while other times it breaks rules, and unless caught, they get away with it.
Some argue that Wise didn't show gamesmanship or integrity because he kept his mouth shut, but to that I say what good would have come out of Wise saying something to DiMuro? You really think he would have reversed the decision? I don't. And even if he did, what if the Yankees went on to lose the game because of it? He would have been labeled a traitor by New York fans and his teammates, which then would have made it harder for the journeyman left fielder to get another job with another team because they may think he would turn his back on them as well—not to mention the same media that is ripping him now would crucify him for breaking the unwritten rules of being a team player.
Nothing about what Wise did in that situation was cheating as all he did was take advantage of the human element that all baseball purists preach about. If you don't like it, then find a way to get instant replay into Major League Baseball. Until then, sit back and enjoy the comedy that America's former pastime continues to bless us with.
Follow Ryan Wooley on Twitter @WooleyMammoth85
