A-Rod investigation to include pitch-tipping allegations

May 5, 2009 by Benjamin Kabak 32 Comments

This is ridiculous. According to Jon Heyman, Major League Baseball’s investigation into Alex Rodriguez is being expanded to include an inquiry into the pitch-tipping allegations in Selena Roberts’ book. The allegations come from some — or perhaps one — of Roberts’ anonymous sources, and MLB is simply doing its due diligence here. I have to wonder though why the numerous on-the-record denials aren’t enough to counter Roberts’ nameless allegations.

Either way, Heyman says that Major League Baseball’s burden of proof will be extraordinarily high. “They’d need either Rodriguez to admit to the charges,” Heyman writes, “or for someone else intimately involved to swear to it.” I expect nothing to come out of this. Bud Selig sure is staking a lot on a book that isn’t very good.

A.D.

Is it even illegal to tip pitches, I worse case what could even happen?
- http://www.puristbleedspinstripes.com Aunt Becca-Optimist Prime
  
  It’s certainly illegal. You get at the integrity of the game. I mean, doing something that helps your opponent?
  
  This from a sport that bans fraternization with other teams…
  - A.D.
    
    But is it actually against the rules, do they actually have the ability to take any action on him if it were true.
    - http://www.puristbleedspinstripes.com Aunt Becca-Optimist Prime
      
      It violates his contract, since there’s a play to a high standard clause.
      - rbizzler
        
        This clause has no bearing on whether or not tipping is against the rules. If it is a contract issue then it would be on his team to take action, not MLB.
JobaWockeeZ

A-Rod should go to Selena’s house, laugh his ass off and say I make more money in a day than you’ll book will will get. Seriously pitch tipping and roids. What is A-Rod NOT suspected for?
- http://cache.daylife.com/imageserve/00mwbIM15ofMv/340x.jpg Mike Pop
  
  Walk out burning 100 dolla bills.
- MattG
  
  Clutch hitting?
  
  Oohh, below the belt, that.
  - http://forums.projectcovo.com/images/smilies/e6omir.gif Expired Milk
    
    Well done sir
    - Rich
      
      Yet provably false:
      
      2006-08
      
      RISP: .303 .433 .549 .982
      
      RISP 2 outs: .300 .463 .570 1.033
MattG

Q: If the batter sees Rodriguez tipping pitches, how does the catcher miss it?

A: He can’t. End of story.
- 27 this year
  
  unless Pudge was in on it!!
  - http://eastrutherfordrant.com donttradecano
    
    Was it really hard to tip pudges pitches? I mean he did call all fastballs.
NaOH

I’m not certain what’s so ridiculous about this. The Commissioner’s Office is the ultimate authority in determining if such allegations have merit and meting out punishment if necessary. If there is any reason to believe that Alex Rodriguez tipped pitches in a quid pro quo arrangement with others, than it inherently involves other players, too. If any number of players are found to have done this, they deserve to be punished. If the Commissioner’s Office finds no substance to the allegations, then the public can reasonably be assured of the game’s integrity.

Citing on-the-record denials doesn’t carry the same weight as a league-backed investigation. If, say, Michael Young were involved, there’s no reason to think he would admit it when questioned by a Rangers’ beat reporter. Likewise, the questions of the reporter are geared toward news reporting, not investigative aims. And I doubt a reporter would use the same follow-up questions that would be used by an investigator.

Quite frankly, I think Bud Selig is doing what he ought to do as the head of the sport. Selena Roberts’ book may not be very good, but her unsourced revelation that Rodriguez used PEDs has proven true. So, while this biography may lack in literary quality, it’s not without merit, and Selig, as commissioner, is performing prudent due diligence.
- MattG
  
  Its ridiculous because baseball, and Selig, are reactionary monkeys. There is NO WAY Selena Roberts knows more about what is going on in baseball than Bud Selig, yet Selig insists on playing his condescending innocence role.
  
  The media is wagging Selig’s tail. Despicable.
  - http://www.riveraveblues.com Benjamin Kabak
    
    Matt hit the nail on head. As I said in the post, Selig is conducting his due diligence inquiry here, and he probably should. But this is beyond reactionary. He’s looking into allegations that are at least six years old and have been vehemently denied by anyone who has gone on record.
    
    At what point would Selig ignore something? Is he going to look into the Sox’s alleged sign-stealing yesterday or just A-Rod’s supposed tipping from 2003?
    - NaOH
      
      Certainly Matt, there’s no way Selena Roberts knows more about what’s happening in baseball. Now, please, tell me again who revealed that Alex Rodriguez used PEDs. It wasn’t the Commissioner’s Office, it wasn’t the Mitchell Report, and it was none of the beat writers from the three cities where Rodriguez has played.
      
      If denials by anyone on record are still considered valid, I guess we learned nothing from all those who publicly denied PED use but were later found to have used.
      
      Seriously, why would Selig look into sign stealing? It neither violates any rules nor brings into question the integrity of the game. And Rodriguez’s supposed tipping – if found true – automatically involves multiple players. I’m not saying I think the claims will hold water, but the potential ramifications would be tremendous if numerous players were implicated.
      
      Not only is it due diligence by Selig, I think it’s a prudent decision to alleviate (or confirm) any doubts in the public. And whatever the outcome of the investigation, Selig is then able to assure the public that the sanctity of the game is intact as it moves forward. I wouldn’t underestimate the value of this. For comparison, just consider all the questions David Stern received about whether the implicated referee was an isolated incident. Or the questions Roger Goodell received about many people having doubts about his investigation into Belichek since the league destroyed the evidence.
      
      These types of issues, when handled properly, can be quickly put to rest. I think such an investigation is part of that process, and think the Commissioner is taking the correct approach. In addition to the benefits from putting it to rest, there is also the criticisms the league is likely to receive if it fails to investigate. Right or wrong, baseball is often held to a higher standard, and I think Selig is responding appropriately considering the various circumstances this issue presents.
      - MattG
        
        Anyway you look at it, Selig’s management of controversy is ridiculous. Selig can know the name of everyone on the list Selena Roberts acquired, and much more. Selig has access to stuff Selena Roberts wouldn’t think to ask about.
        
        It is disingenuous to launch an investigation when something comes to light. It is analogous to apologizing for something after you are caught. Ridiculous.
      - steve (different one)
        
        Now, please, tell me again who revealed that Alex Rodriguez used PEDs. It wasn’t the Commissioner’s Office, it wasn’t the Mitchell Report, and it was none of the beat writers from the three cities where Rodriguez has played.
        
        why on earth would the commissioner’s office or the MLB sanctioned Mitchell report REVEAL the results of a collectively bargained confidential drug test? that makes no sense.
        
        even if Selig has all 104 names in his sweaty hands, he can’t reveal them.
        
        NaOH
        
        I fully understand that those test results were to remain anonymous. That obviously wasn’t clear in what I wrote.
      - http://eastrutherfordrant.com donttradecano
        
        Dude seriously? The commishs office didnt leak the results because THEY WERE SUPPOSED TO REMAIN ANONYMOUS!
        
        If Barry Bonds doesnt commit perjury,or the uninon gave up his name, the feds never get that list, and Selena Roberts never gets Arods name from that list.
      - DocBooch
        
        Do you actually think Selig didn’t know ARod tested positive to his own ordered drug test in 03? Please, he wanted to keep that under wraps just like every other official in baseball. You can blame the couple of sour grape players who ratted out the best player in baseball to Ho trying to pawn a book
NaOH

Tell me, without something coming to light, how should the Commissioner’s Office decide to launch an investigation?

While he may have poorly handled some past controversies, I’m not certain how that applies here. How is he handling this poorly? What should he be doing instead? I get the impression you think Selig is a complete fool and, as a result, everything he does is disingenuous or ridiculous. If that’s the case, there’s nothing to discuss because you have a perception of Selig that precludes new ideas which don’t conform to your preconceived ideas.
- http://eastrutherfordrant.com donttradecano
  
  Its a pointless investigation. Nobody is going to come on the record and say that it happened because then they would have had to tip pitches according to Roberts hack piece of journalism.
  
  And even if a player did come on the record and say it happened, without concrete evidence of him doing it (video tape, or an arod admission), you cant take the players words as fact.
  
  A witness could say someone shot someone, but without the gun, you cant put them in jail.
- MattG
  
  Well, I would say one thing that is required is that someone have a complaint. You know, like someone in baseball.
  
  If Rodriguez is hurting someone, take it up with the commissioner, and by all means, consider an investigation. Launch an investigation because someone outside of baseball is writing a book to make money? Ridiculous.
  - NaOH
    
    I’d be curious to know how you define “someone in baseball.” Does John Flaherty count? Peter Abraham? Or do you mean players, team employees, and league officials?
    - MattG
      
      Selena Roberts might even count. But last I checked, Selena Roberts has not asked to speak to the commissioner on an important issue that threatens baseball. She has her own agenda, and the baseball commissioner should be able to tell the difference.
http://eastrutherfordrant.com donttradecano

Who to believe?

1) Selena Roberts “anonymous sources”

2) Players on the record saying it didn’t happen

I got with #2.
Rich

It’s just Bud Lite grandstanding in a lame attempt to mollify his critics.
DocBooch

The facts stated by multiple sources and confirmed were that ARod called games from short stop. Therefor, it was wellknown exactly how he called a game from the middle of the in field.

The ONLY explanation that I heard Selena Roberts give for her “information” that Alex tipped pitches was that she spoke to multiple people and they all confirmed how he would relay a sign. When before the pitch, what the sign was, etc.

This is from the same “expert” journalist who said that since Alex went from a puny kid benching 100 lbs to benching almost 300 in high school that it MUST have been from steroids. Puberty had nothing to do with it apparently as Doug M. was flabergasted and angry to defend.

Let Selig investigate the claims and verify how much of a hack this woman is.
Jill Santana

The MLB is all over the map. They are investigating this, they are investigating that, they are next going to investigate A-Rod’s alleged evenings with Madonna. Who is in charge here? MLB or Selena? This is not going to help baseball at all. Can we PLEASE just move on already!!!!!!
Klemy

Agreed. Grandstanding. It’s incredibly stupid to be following this up and wasting any resources based on nameless allegations.