A-ROD THE AGITATOR

As I've said before, there's no rule that says that the most talented player on the field has to be the guy you like. Most of the time, Alex Rodriguez is just so supremely gifted that even when he strikes out, it's compelling. I find it tough to resent his success with the Yanks, simply because he really does work hard at his game. And, you know, one of my great pleasures in life is watching Yankee futility, so I really do like most of A-Rod's game.

But every now and then, he does something that is just a bit jerky, and it's pretty clear that the media is not quite reporting the events correctly. In today's game with the A's, Rodriguez (unable to get close to second) clearly steps out of the basepath in an attempt to screen the defender and prevent them from completing a double-play.

That's a no-no.

The pitcher, a relatively unestablished fellow named Dallas Braden, barks at him.

At this point, Rodriguez (rather than head for the dugout) takes a detour, running up on the pitcher's mound in what is essentially is his way of saying, "Enemy pitcher that I don't know much about, I don't give a crap what you think."

Um, that's another no-no.

Braden then goes ballistic on his way back to the dugout and in more than one interview blasts A-Rod for breaking 'an unwritten rule.'

Here's my two cents: I don't know about any rule, but if A-Rod did that to me and I was a big-league pitcher, there would be a consequence. He'd be brushed back at least once in the next at-bat. If there's no one else on, he'd be walked. Then, I'd throw over, try to pick him off like maybe 8-10 times. I'd throw hard. I'd force him to dive into the dirt. I'd encourage him to get up after each dive. After about the eighth time, I'd say, "Nice uni'. In this fantasy, I'm not saying I'd be successful, but I would definitely let him know he wasn't going to disrespect me and expect me to take it lying down. What, he like makes about 70 times a year what Braden makes, and in addition to all that, everyone has to kiss his fanny?