NTTAWWT.

Consenting adults and all, but that doesn't mean I want to read about it.

I think the only proper intro would have been, "It's incredibly hard."

Two huge a--holes. They deserve each other.

How is Wash an a-hole? He may be a terribly incompetent manager, but he seems like a nice guy.

How is Wash an a-hole? He may be a terribly incompetent manager, but he seems like a nice guy.

Never forget.

Never forget.

I never knew in the first place (not surprising, since its insignificance couldn't possibly be greater). But forced to choose, I'd say that incident reflects more poorly on the sad little Angels than mean ol' Ron. YMMV.

Sad little Angels? They didn't complain. They were asked about it after the game and said it was weird, something they'd never done after winning the division five of the previous six years, and sad for the opposing pitcher that had to sit through nonsense. As an Angels fan, however, I have no problem calling it bush league and totally unprofessional, and something only a real a--hole would do. Sounds like he'd make a great college basketball coach though.

Poor wittle Torii Hunter, one of the biggest dicks in all of baseball, seemed to have been unhappy. I would chalk it up to a whole bunch of whogivesashit.

Haren: "I was just wondering if this was something we had done before to them.

Hunter: "It doesn't matter if it bothers me or not," Angels outfielder Torii Hunter said

Sciosia: "You have some guys who thought it was maybe a little over the top"

Yeah, I'm sticking with sad little Angels. As non-issues go, that one was truly monumental.

The most you get from the Angels there is along the lines of, "that was odd." I wouldn't say they're being "sad". Certainly not "little".

Shredder is the only person so far that has registered any significant objections to Washington pulling his players and letting the crowd give them an ovation.

Even if you think that taking players off the field to get them a standing O for winning the division is unprofessional (LASTINGS MILLEDGE SHOULD HAVE NEVER GIVEN THOSE HIGH FIVES! *clutches pearls*) it's a pretty big leap to use that as proof that Ron Washington is generally a complete a-hole. Especially compared to AJ Pier-etc.

I'm sure the Angels probably don't care. Two of those guys aren't even there anymore. If you want to say "poor little shredder", then hey, whatever makes you feel better, but that doesn't mean not entitled to my opinion that Ron Washington is an unprofessional a--hole, which means he'll mesh just fine with A.J., who is more of a professional a--hole.

And I'm not sure What Will's problem is with Hunter, other than he didn't re-sign with the Twins. He's always seemed to wear his heart on his sleeve I don't have much of a problem with his criticisms of the Angels front office this year, other than that he's misguided, but he has a right to feel slighted I guess.

Never forget.

No offense, but that is about the whiniest thing I have ever heard, not from Busch Stadium.

Two of those guys aren't even there anymore. If you want to say "poor little shredder", then hey, whatever makes you feel better, but that doesn't mean not entitled to my opinion that Ron Washington is an unprofessional a--hole, which means he'll mesh just fine with A.J., who is more of a professional a--hole.

None of this makes me feel better, or worse.

You're obviously welcome to your opinion on Wash. I'd never try to deprive you of that. But I doubt that piece convinced many other people of his a-hole credentials, which seemed to be the point of linking to it and its 9-11 type tag.

How is Torii Hunter an a-hole? He may have left the Twins in free agency, but he seems like a nice guy.

Jerry Manuel did the exact same thing on the last day of the 2000 White Sox season.

Torii Hunter almost decapitated White Sox catcher Jamie Burke in 2004. Burke was completely blind to the hit, leaning away from the plate, waiting for a throw from right field. It was one of the dirtiest plays I ever personally witnessed at the major league level.

I think, were I a Twins fan, I might dislike Torrii Hunter not because he left the Twins but in the way that he did so. I'm not even a Twins fan but I still remember Hunter spending his last year on the team openly speculating on where he might go as a FA and why he would like to play in certain cities (this all while the Twins still had a somewhat realistic chance of making the playoffs) and it basically seemed like a middle finger to the org and its fans. I dunno about biggest a-hole in baseball (thats CLEARLY Josh Beckett) but certainly quite off-putting.

Ron Washington is an unprofessional a--hole, which means he'll mesh just fine with A.J., who is more of a professional a--hole.

It strikes me that an a--hole is probably even less likely to get along well with another a--hole than he is with a nice guy.

My a-holes rankings would be something like this:

1. A.J. Pieryznski (pantheon HOF A-hole)
2. Brett Myers
3. Chris Perez
4. Carlos Zambrano
5. Francisco Rodriguez
6. Jose Valverde
7. Miguel Cabrera
8. Jonathan Papelbon (something about being a closer makes you a jerk?)
9. Chris Carpenter
10.Hanley Ramirez

I can see people putting Logan Morrison and Brian Wilson on that list and their schtick is wearing thin, but I still find them kinda quirky and funny. BUT FOR HOW LONG.

How is Torii Hunter an a-hole? He may have left the Twins in free agency, but he seems like a nice guy.

He has this awful problem getting taken out of context.

How is Torii Hunter an a-hole? He may have left the Twins in free agency, but he seems like a nice guy.

well, I can refer to his words to clear up any confusion as to whether he is an a-hole

People see dark faces out there, and the perception is that they're African-American. They're not us. They're impostors. Even people I know come up and say: 'Hey, what color is Vladimir Guerrero? Is he a black player?' I say, 'Come on, he's Dominican. He's not black.' ... As African-American players, we have a theory that baseball can go get an imitator and pass them off as us. It's like they had to get some kind of dark faces, so they go to the Dominican or Venezuela because you can get them cheaper. It's like, 'Why should I get this kid from the South Side of Chicago and have Scott Boras represent him and pay him $5 million when you can get a Dominican guy for a bag of chips?' ... I'm telling you, it's sad

There's also that whole "doesn't want a gay teammate" thing

Hunter, among baseball's most thoughtful and intelligent players, isn't kidding when he says an "out" teammate could divide a team.

"For me, as a Christian … I will be uncomfortable because in all my teachings and all my learning, biblically, it's not right," he says. "It will be difficult and uncomfortable."

Hunter may make my list now that I think about it. But he smiles so much! He's kinda likeable on the exterior at least.

Jered Weaver seems like kind of a jerk, but I think I may be projecting my ire towards his brother Jeff onto him.

Delmon Young and BJ Upton are also kinda jerky.

Delmon Young and BJ Upton are also kinda jerky.

I know that Delmon doesn't like the jews, but what did Bossman Junior ever do to be labled a jerk?

Jered Weaver seems like kind of a jerk, but I think I may be projecting my ire towards his brother Jeff onto him.

Weaver actually seems like a good guy from what I've read. I think he came in with a bad reputation after the hold out, and he probably had the stink of Jeff on him. It probably didn't help that he got kicked out of his first ever minor league game, a game in which he didn't even pitch, but I thought the way he got kicked out was pretty funny.

He never really argued or made a big deal out of people discounting his ability. He just took the ball and pitched. He has a tendency to get a little emotional on the mound when a teammate makes an error or something, but he gets equally excited when they make a great play. Of course, taking the big home town discount makes him look pretty good to Angels fans.

Probably based on my irrational hatred of the Red Sox, but Pedroia and Youkilis always seemed pretty dickish to me, though for different reasons.

#21 Pierzetc falls well short of the Rogers Hornsby standard. But then if Hornsby is the standard for induction, you're going to have a mighty small hall.

Sad little Angels? They didn't complain.

I'm sure the Angels probably don't care.

Well, Haren threw behind Treanor after it happened. I guess you can argue that it was an accident, but I find it unlikely. Either way, I find it hilarious that in an effort to point out the Rangers and Ron Washington as ########, if anything it looks like the other way around. Also, Scoscia is unequivocally a bigger ####### than Ron Washington.

I know that Delmon doesn't like the jews, but what did Bossman Junior ever do to be labled a jerk?

He's a lollygagger. Probably not fair to lump him in with the jerks.

Youk also seems kinda dickish to me, but I can never put on my finger why.

Also, Scoscia is unequivocally a bigger ####### than Ron Washington.

I'd much rather have a manager focused on sticking up for his team than showing up the other.

Well, Haren threw behind Treanor after it happened.

Treanor didn't deserve it, of course, but Kinsler had already been ceremoniously removed from the game, and it would have looked silly to throw at the dugout.

Youk also seems kinda dickish to me, but I can never put on my finger why.

1.) The face. World-class backpfeifengesicht.
2.) He IS a well-known red-ass, heckling opposing players, yelling in the dugout, etc.

I'd much rather have a manager focused on sticking up for his team than showing up the other.

Do you REALLY think that's what Washington was trying to do? Really now?

Of course you don't. Because you're a rational human being you know as well as the rest of us that all he wanted to do was give the home team an opportunity to cheer for its favorite starting lineup at the end of a season which had brought them to first place for the first time in a very long time. It would've happened if the Rangers had been playing the Royals or the Orioles. It had nothing to do with the Angels.

Because you're a rational human being you know as well as the rest of us that all he wanted to do was give the home team an opportunity to cheer for its favorite starting lineup at the end of a season which had brought them to first place for the first time in a very long time.

While making the other team sit there and wait, which is dickish enough in itself. And this wasn't the first time the Rangers had done something pretty dickish against the Angels (see: Kinsler), so no, I don't know that. But that's beside the point. Regardless of he may have also done it in front of, it's a bush league thing to do that almost no other team in baseball ever does (except perhaps the Jerry Manuel White Sox, as noted above).

And I'm not sure What Will's problem is with Hunter, other than he didn't re-sign with the Twins. He's always seemed to wear his heart on his sleeve I don't have much of a problem with his criticisms of the Angels front office this year, other than that he's misguided, but he has a right to feel slighted I guess.

I had no problem with Hunter not re-signing with the Twins. He's just been exhibit 1 of "being a good quote" getting conflated with "being a good guy." While with the Twins, he attempted to punch a teammate in the face in the dugout (and missed the teammate and accidentally hit Nick Punto instead which, in actuality, is pretty awesome). He also shows off his "leadership" by constantly attempting to reassert his type A awesome toughness while calling others around him giant pussies. Basically if you actually parse his words, rather than just reading them the way they are always presented by the media (who love him because he's willing to talk), you will actually note that he always, always comes away either insulting someone or making himself out to be a martyr.

I think, were I a Twins fan, I might dislike Torrii Hunter not because he left the Twins but in the way that he did so. I'm not even a Twins fan but I still remember Hunter spending his last year on the team openly speculating on where he might go as a FA and why he would like to play in certain cities (this all while the Twins still had a somewhat realistic chance of making the playoffs) and it basically seemed like a middle finger to the org and its fans. I dunno about biggest a-hole in baseball (thats CLEARLY Josh Beckett) but certainly quite off-putting.

There was also that. I didn't really like him all that much, so I could care less that he was leaving, but the Torii Hunter Farewell Tour of 2007 was obnoxious ("I've always, ALWAYS wanted to be a Royal so I could play in the same hometown as the Negro Leagues Museum" followed by "Nobody is more knowledgeable than Yankee fans. They really know their stuff and I would love to play in front of them" followed by "Texas has always been my hometown team," etc. during every single roadtrip. All this, from a purported "team leader").

Oh, and I should also clarify that I have, from day one, absolutely LOVED A.J. Pierzynski - even with the White Sox - because he actually revels in his assholery rather than spending most of his time trying to hide it like Hunter.

And I'm not sure What Will's problem is with Hunter, other than he didn't re-sign with the Twins.

Part of it is that Hunter talks a lot without thinking (or caring), as others have pointed out, but the other part is that his media image as "clubhouse leader" really contrasted with his talking/instigating, particularly when the Twins weren't winning and/or his free agency was approaching.

For me, the "two-faced" dynamic basically neutralized my opinion of Hunter. But some prominent internet Twins fans, like Will, seem to have swung it to the other side of the spectrum, into strong Hunter dislike.

No list of a-holes is complete without Johnny Cueto and Johnny Gomes. Especially Cueto. Dude's literally human garbage. I agree that Paplebon is an ####### because he takes 30 minutes between each pitch and as that stupid mouth stare. Also Ryan Theriot.

Weaver did have that little outburst against the Tigers (though to be fair Carlos Guillen was being a bit of an ####### too).

That was a pretty funny sequence of events. Guillen hits home run, openly taunts Weaver, which results in a non-fight incident. After several minutes of guys milling about on the field trying to look like they desperately want to fight without actually fighting the umps calm things down. Players return to dugouts, umpires deliver warnings. Normalcy appears to be restored.

Weaver throws his first pitch at Alex Avila's head and starts storming off the field in a rage before the ball even arrived at home plate. It's like he had the perfect amount of anger. Not so much that he couldn't stand calmly on the mound for a minute or two and give the impression that he was going to continue with the game, but not so little that he couldn't throw a ball at Avila's head.

Plus, if I recall correctly, he was up against Verlander that day, and at the time they were the top two contenders for Cy Young. A memorable game.

My a-holes rankings would be something like this:

hey come on, carp is retiring!

I'm trying to think of incidents in which my beloved team has been wronged or shown up by a rival, but coming up with nothing off the top of my head. Though I suppose this comes from not fielding a contending team in 15 years.

I do recall my dad being a little disapproving of Roberto Alomar's pimping his home run off of Eckersley in the 1992 ALCS. But,

A) Only mildly disapproving
B) Looking back on it now it's pretty reserved compared to what a hitter would normally do in that situation now
and
C) He did it for our team.

Maybe I need to have more trust in my own convictions, but I tend to give opposing teams the benefit of the doubt when it comes to possible instances of showing up the good guys. Love can sometimes make one over-defensive.

Ah, I've sort of quasi-got one.

Billy Koch showing up to a Jays game in Tampa to heckle the Jays after being cut from their spring training squad. That was pretty douchey...though I suppose not a rival team showing up the good guys as he was unemployed at the time.

I'm also suspecting it might just be a Jays thing. Because pretty much everything every Ottawa Senator player or fan has done in their lives has been for the purpose of disrespecting the honourable tradition of Toronto Maple Leaf hockey, so it's clearly a part of some professional sports teams' experience.

No list of a-holes is complete without Johnny Cueto and Johnny Gomes. Especially Cueto. Dude's literally human garbage.

I don't recall ever hearing this sentiment before. I certainly remember him being involved at the epicenter of that big Reds-Cardinals kerfuffle, but have there been any other incidents that corroborate your "human garbage" characterization?

Johnny Cueto is actually Oscar The Grouch. Have you ever seen them in the same room?!

No list of a-holes is complete without Johnny Cueto and Johnny Gomes. Especially Cueto. Dude's literally human garbage.

Human garbage? Like poop? Or like a used kleenex or something? I seriously doubt a literal pile of poop could hold together long enough to not fall over or just collapse into a puddle or something, particularly in Cinncinnati in the summer. Plus they wouldn't really technically be human beings, just piles, and I'm pretty sure there are rules that inanimate objects can't play. Even an animate pile of poo that could move around and somehow grip a bat or throw a ball would be a stretch.

So basically I don't think you're correct on this.

shawon dunston over-celebrated when the giants beat the cards in the 02 nlcs, and probably would have been plunked, but he retired pretty soon after, iirc.

No list of a-holes is complete without Johnny Cueto and Johnny Gomes.

I mainly know Gomes because of his 2012 with the A's... so of course I have no problem with the guy.
What's the deal there?

Plus, if I recall correctly, he was up against Verlander that day, and at the time they were the top two contenders for Cy Young. A memorable game.

He was going against Verlander, though what made it truly memorable was that Verlander had a no-hitter going and the Angels' Aybar tried to break it up with a bunt, leading to even more ballplayer bellyachin'.

hey come on, carp is retiring!

That's the only reason I can think why he wouldn't be No. 2 on RR's list.

Plus, if I recall correctly, he was up against Verlander that day, and at the time they were the top two contenders for Cy Young. A memorable game.

You also had Eric Aybar's bunt shouldvebeenasingle to break up Verlander's no hitter that day, which the official scorer, in a gift to Verlander, ruled a two base error. He scored before the Angels had a hit (fielder's choice), then Maicer Izturis delivered a clean hit as the Angels almost came back to tie the game.

I LOVE AJ. Although I can see why an Angels fan might not like him.

I love Carlos Z. too and of course Miggie. Why would anybody think these guys are ########? They are very talented athletes and they are people.

No list of a-holes is complete without Johnny Cueto and Johnny Gomes.

I mainly know Gomes because of his 2012 with the A's... so of course I have no problem with the guy.
What's the deal there?

No deal at all, other than his (and Cueto's) involvement in a brawl three years ago that everyone has put behind them. Except for a small segment of Cardinals fans.

hey come on, carp is retiring!


That's the only reason I can think why he wouldn't be No. 2 on RR's list.

actually, i wouldn't be surprised if he comes back to the cards in some coaching capacity, so maybe you could go ahead and put him back on. i'd probably be annoyed with him if he wasn't a cardinal, so i'm just going with fiery competitor!