BBTF's Newsblog Discussion :: Josh Reddick ‘Infuriated’ by Al Alburquerque’s Kiss of Baseball in 9th Inning

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Sunday, October 07, 2012

Josh Reddick ‘Infuriated’ by Al Alburquerque’s Kiss of Baseball in 9th Inning

Who is Al Alburquerque….and Why Is He Saying Those Terrible Things About Him?

Al Alburquerque picked up the win in Detroit’s dramatic 5-4 victory Sunday — Alburquerque came out of the bullpen to retire Oakland slugger Yoenis Cespedes on a ground ball back to the mound, stranding runners on first and third.

Apparently, though, the A’s aren’t all that impressed with how Alburquerque handled himself during that big moment. USA Today’s Bob Nightengale reported that Oakland, and particularly outfielder Josh Reddick, were incensed that Alburquerque kissed the baseball before flipping it to Prince Fielder for the key out.

Bob Nightengale @BNightengale

Reddick and #Athletics infuriated w Alburquerque kissing ball

Fox Sports Detroit’s Dave Hogg added this from Reddick:

Dave Hogg @Stareagle

“We didn’t appreciate that. I thought it was immature and not very professional. You don’t do that on the field.” - Reddick on the kiss.

Repoz Posted: October 07, 2012 at 04:43 PM | 68 comment(s) Login to Bookmark
Tags: oakland, tigers

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1. Justin T is expanding the aperture of awareness Posted: October 07, 2012 at 04:55 PM (#4258212)

Don't get douchey. It doesn't fit on a team of this sort. You're not in Boston anymore.

2. Jose Can Still Seabiscuit Posted: October 07, 2012 at 05:00 PM (#4258217)

If only Albuquerque could be the level headed professional that Grant Balfour is.

3. Pat Rapper's Delight Posted: October 07, 2012 at 05:01 PM (#4258219)

“We didn’t appreciate that. I thought it was immature and not very professional. You don’t do that on the field.” - Reddick on the kiss.

Doing the Bernie, on the other hand, is the height of maturity and professionalism.

4. Horror Posted: October 07, 2012 at 05:03 PM (#4258221)

Whiners who whine about stupid #### when they lose are the worst whiners of all.

5. The Id of SugarBear Blanks

Posted: October 07, 2012 at 05:04 PM (#4258225)

Boo-#######-hoo.

6. cardsfanboy

Posted: October 07, 2012 at 05:05 PM (#4258227)

Whiners who whine about stupid #### when they lose are the worst whiners of all.

This is legitimate whining. (not your comment, but Reddick's)

7. Jose Can Still Seabiscuit Posted: October 07, 2012 at 05:12 PM (#4258237)

That clip from Francesa is wonderful.

8. Lassus Posted: October 07, 2012 at 05:14 PM (#4258240)

I agree with #4 more than #6.

9. An Athletic in Powderhorn™ Posted: October 07, 2012 at 05:15 PM (#4258244)

Shut up, Reddick. I wish so many players weren't so damn sensitive about seeing their opponents visibly happy when they, you know, do something that they should be happy about.

10. Jose Can Still Seabiscuit Posted: October 07, 2012 at 05:15 PM (#4258245)

This is legitimate whining. (not your comment, but Reddick's)

My personal tolerance level has always been engaging the opponent. As long as you aren't pointing at your foe or saying anything to him I'm generally ok. I'm not a huge fan of rehearsed stuff like Fernando Rodney's arrow shot but I don't think it's inappropriate, just stupid.

11. Ardo Posted: October 07, 2012 at 05:27 PM (#4258260)

Somebody needs to give Josh Reddick a kiss. It might lighten him up.

12. PreservedFish Posted: October 07, 2012 at 05:31 PM (#4258270)

Al Albuquerque can do no wrong in my eyes.

13. cardsfanboy

Posted: October 07, 2012 at 05:36 PM (#4258274)

My personal preference is if you win, you can do whatever the F you want. Go all out like Peter did on Family guy and perform a chorus line singing "Shipoopi". Don't want to see it as an opposing player? Either win or get off the field.

14. Howie Menckel Posted: October 07, 2012 at 05:37 PM (#4258276)

The most important thing that the pitcher needs to do there is make a composed throw, given that there is plenty of time.

If the kiss helps enable the basic muscle memory, I don't see the big deal here. It's very common in high-pressure situations for people to make brief mundane body movements that help set the tempo.

Hard to blame Reddick, though. He comes from a franchise where Papelbon's Zen-like demeanor on the mound set the standard for all future Red Sox relievers AND other players.

I just hope Reddick doesn't need a Job-a next year...

15. Gonfalon Bubble Posted: October 07, 2012 at 06:04 PM (#4258329)

Shame on Alburquerque and his inappropriate kisses.

16. Joe Bivens, Minor Genius Posted: October 07, 2012 at 06:59 PM (#4258500)

He was "infuriated"? Really? He's very quiet when he's "infuriated".

17. FancyPantsHandle glistening with foreign substance Posted: October 07, 2012 at 07:03 PM (#4258506)

Whiners who whine about other people whining are the worst whiners. Just saying.

18. Horror Posted: October 07, 2012 at 07:23 PM (#4258527)

I agree with 9 more than 17

19. bobm Posted: October 07, 2012 at 07:27 PM (#4258531)

Reddick is just worried about the slippery slope that follows from the relationship between one man and one baseball. :-)

20. Swedish Chef Posted: October 07, 2012 at 07:32 PM (#4258534)

I don't see the use in broadcasting to the league what buttons they should push to rile you.

21. Mayor Blomberg Posted: October 07, 2012 at 07:37 PM (#4258540)

I agree with 8 and 18 about the same.

22. Never Give an Inge (Dave) Posted: October 07, 2012 at 07:37 PM (#4258541)

23. cercopithecus aethiops Posted: October 07, 2012 at 07:40 PM (#4258548)

Umm.. I hate whining whiners as much as the next guy, but kissing the baseball while it is still in play is bush league BS. Would have been great if he'd flipped it over Fielder's head after doing that. I'll bet that at least a few Tigers thought Alburquerque's move was stupid too, and I'd imagine that Leyland was pretty pissed.

24. Howie Menckel Posted: October 07, 2012 at 07:41 PM (#4258549)

Consciously? I doubt it (unless he's done it before in the same spot). But in the moment, I think it made it more likely, for him, to make an accurate throw...

25. Mayor Blomberg Posted: October 07, 2012 at 07:42 PM (#4258550)

It probably wasn't, but Howie's point is sound. Slowing it down and letting off the tension in such cases is a good idea.

26. Misirlou is bad, he's nationwide Posted: October 07, 2012 at 07:44 PM (#4258554)

Reddick is just worried about the slippery slope that follows from the relationship between one man and one baseball. :-)

I mean, if it's OK to marry a baseball, what's next? A Hockey Puck? A shuttlecock? A Golden Snitch?

27. AJM Posted: October 07, 2012 at 07:46 PM (#4258556)

Now I have to root for the Tigers.

28. Russlan is fond of Dillon Gee Posted: October 07, 2012 at 08:01 PM (#4258564)

I think it's stupid that the A's, the team with homefield advantage, has to play the first two games on the road in a 5 game series.

29. Justin T is expanding the aperture of awareness Posted: October 07, 2012 at 08:19 PM (#4258576)

Interesting position, and one which has not been considered thus far in this postseason.

30. Never Give an Inge (Dave) Posted: October 07, 2012 at 08:21 PM (#4258578)

Consciously? I doubt it (unless he's done it before in the same spot).

Yeah, that was my question. I mean, if he's never done it in a game before, I doubt it had anything to do with muscle memory.

31. ajnrules Posted: October 07, 2012 at 08:22 PM (#4258580)

Hmm. It sounds more like complaining than whining.

The difference

32. Russlan is fond of Dillon Gee Posted: October 07, 2012 at 08:24 PM (#4258582)

Interesting position, and one which has not been considered thus far in this postseason.

I am assuming that this is mocking me and it's quite well done.

33. Dale Sams Posted: October 07, 2012 at 08:43 PM (#4258592)

Heh...when i played soccer as goalie, sometimes (and i've seen it on the professional level)when a player beat me on a one on one, he would go around me...and get on his hands and knees to head the ball in.

Did I and my entire team pile on the guy and beat the crap out of him? Call him douchy? Hell no, I was too busy being mad at myself, and I'd hope the defenders were mad at themselves too. And if we did talk about it, it was to say "That was dumb, I hope he does it every time. Someday a defender is going to catch up to him and accidentally kick him in the head."

So Al, please kiss the ball everytime, I hope someday it costs you.

34. McCoy Posted: October 07, 2012 at 08:45 PM (#4258595)

Because someday the baseball might be a hand grenade?

35. Never Give an Inge (Dave) Posted: October 07, 2012 at 08:54 PM (#4258609)

If you're in a baseball game, try not to kiss the baseball, because you don't know where that baseball has been.

36. Howie Menckel Posted: October 07, 2012 at 09:05 PM (#4258616)

"if he's never done it in a game before, I doubt it had anything to do with muscle memory."

which is why I typed, "If the kiss helps enable the basic muscle memory"

and by that I mean, the meaningless gesture defuses the enormity of the situation, allowing the player to simply revert to the same process he always uses in such a routine throw to first base....

37. Jack Keefe Posted: October 07, 2012 at 09:26 PM (#4258634)

Al there is no thing going on in Ballmer we are winning easely as we all ways do and Jojo Rorty says we must not make any noise or exclamations during a playoff game so I logd into Primer supertitously to see what they are all up set about. Well it is because Al Alpo Kirky kissed a base ball he fielded what is so bad about that Al. When I came up with the Sox I had never kissed a base ball but Ozzie Guillen had us do this drill ever Sping. He would drop us little Bunts with a Fungus Bat and we would have to field them cleanly and kiss them before throwing them back. It helps the Mussel Mammary like the man said Al. We would all Pucker Up and wait for the Bunts and if a guy kissed sloppy Ozzie Guillen would yell "TWO LIPS! TWO LIPS!"

38. chemdoc Posted: October 07, 2012 at 09:41 PM (#4258653)

Were I Josh Reddick, I'd be a little less offended by Al Alburquerque's act of affection toward a baseball and a little more offended by Coco Crisp's act of rejection of a baseball.

39. The Yankee Clapper Posted: October 07, 2012 at 10:03 PM (#4258685)

. . . kissing the baseball while it is still in play is bush league BS.

Did Albuerquerque give it any tongue? That would be a little over-the-top, IMHO.

40. Robert in Manhattan Beach Posted: October 07, 2012 at 11:17 PM (#4258776)

Waaaaa! Enjoy the off-season douche. You will be there in one more game.

41. SteveM. Posted: October 08, 2012 at 12:21 AM (#4258870)

Hey, a kiss from Albuquerque is nothing. I got married in Albuquerque and its been all downhill since then.

42. The Yankee Clapper Posted: October 08, 2012 at 12:22 AM (#4258871)

Game 3: Tigers with a big lead in the bottom of the 9th, 2 outs, Sweeney hits a come-backer to Alburquerque, who rubs the ball on his crotch then turns his back to first and tosses the ball over his shoulder, bridal bouquet-style, for the putout. Too much?

43. Best Dressed Chicken in Town Posted: October 08, 2012 at 12:28 AM (#4258878)

If he succeeded, I'd laugh my ass off.

If he failed, and was on my team, I'd of course be furious.

44. Voros McCracken of Pinkus Posted: October 08, 2012 at 01:18 AM (#4258914)

Can someone photoshop Alburquerque in Gene Simmons' Makeup? I was unable to...

45. boteman Posted: October 08, 2012 at 01:19 AM (#4258915)

#8, #18, #21 - This is not a Holiday Inn guest satisfaction poll. Jus sayin'

46. Athletic Supporter gangnam style Posted: October 08, 2012 at 02:49 AM (#4258933)

I agree with #55 more than #28.

47. Bitter Calculus Instructor Posted: October 08, 2012 at 04:19 AM (#4258937)

I hope whoever writes post 55 makes you regret that.

48. Ivan Grushenko of Hong Kong Posted: October 08, 2012 at 05:18 AM (#4258939)

Sweeney hits a come-backer to Alburquerque

Are the Red Sox in the playoffs?

49. RollingWave Posted: October 08, 2012 at 08:00 AM (#4258945)

And he isn't even Jose Valverde, the king of douche

50. Tippecanoe Posted: October 08, 2012 at 08:55 AM (#4258957)

If it's OK for Arnold Palmer's wife, it's OK for Al Albuquerque.

51. Double-Spin Mechanic Posted: October 08, 2012 at 12:10 PM (#4259117)

Josh Reddick is not thinking about winning baseball games. This is good for my team. 'Nuf said.

52. Mayor Blomberg Posted: October 08, 2012 at 12:39 PM (#4259156)

I don't agree with #45 at all.

53. Steve Balboni's Personal Trainer Posted: October 08, 2012 at 12:56 PM (#4259172)

I can't believe #46 thinks that way!

54. Steve Balboni's Personal Trainer Posted: October 08, 2012 at 12:57 PM (#4259174)

For real, just to be clear, #46 agreeing with #55 like that is just totally beyond the pale.

55. McCoy Posted: October 08, 2012 at 01:02 PM (#4259182)

Hitler had some really great ideas but didn't go far enough.

56. Jose Can Still Seabiscuit Posted: October 08, 2012 at 01:02 PM (#4259183)

People named Jose are great. I agree with #46.

EDIT: Damn, just missed. Well done McCoy.

57. The Chronicles of Reddick Posted: October 08, 2012 at 01:23 PM (#4259197)

I seem to remember the same amount of whining from A's players after the final out of the 2003 series against Boston when Derek Lowe supposedly made a gesture toward the A's. Hey Oakland, how about worrying more about other things like making less errors on defense than worrying about some idiot reliever.

58. Jose Can Still Seabiscuit Posted: October 08, 2012 at 01:29 PM (#4259205)

In fairness to the 2003 A's, Lowe DID make some sort of crotch pointing gesture (it kind of looked like the thing a pro wrestler would do). I suspect people in the know recognized it as a very specific f-you gesture, I thought it just looked stupid.

59. The Chronicles of Reddick Posted: October 08, 2012 at 02:02 PM (#4259236)

I don't remember Eric Chavez complaining Lowe like he did about the A's a few weeks ago. Then again going 1-22 would keep anyone quiet.

60. Voros McCracken of Pinkus Posted: October 08, 2012 at 02:38 PM (#4259254)

I agree that #50 knows some old jokes.

61. The Chronicles of Reddick Posted: October 08, 2012 at 03:18 PM (#4259286)

I'm sure Mark Fidrych would agree that kissing a ball is a bit much.

62. Dread Pirate Dave Roberts Posted: October 08, 2012 at 03:39 PM (#4259305)

I agree with #37 more than all the other posts here.

63. The Chronicles of Reddick Posted: October 08, 2012 at 05:54 PM (#4259518)

If it were possible for the A's to play the A's in a playoff series, would anybody win?

64. Misirlou is bad, he's nationwide Posted: October 08, 2012 at 06:02 PM (#4259528)

If it were possible for the A's to play the A's in a playoff series, would anybody win?

No. there would be an earthquake and the series would be cancelled.

65. Everybody Loves Tyrus Raymond Posted: October 08, 2012 at 07:18 PM (#4259651)

If only Albuquerque could be the level headed professional that Grant Balfour is.

Hey, you pull R.A. Dickey out of the Missouri River and you have a blank check to do whatever you want.

66. Robert in Manhattan Beach Posted: October 08, 2012 at 08:09 PM (#4259735)

If it were possible for the A's to play the A's in a playoff series, would anybody win?

Nonsense. They won their previous trip to the DS. The A's have nothing on the Braves who have lost in the first round (assuming you call that pox on baseball history that happened Friday a round) six times in a row. Baseball is making up new rounds of playoffs just so that the Braves can lose in them.

67. Athletic Supporter gangnam style Posted: October 08, 2012 at 09:44 PM (#4259882)

God, Reddick is so unlikable.

68. Fred Lynn Nolan Ryan Sweeney Agonistes Posted: October 09, 2012 at 03:08 AM (#4260173)

God, Reddick is so unlikable.

Eh, I kind of like his red-assery, at least so far.

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Sunday, October 07, 2012

Josh Reddick ‘Infuriated’ by Al Alburquerque’s Kiss of Baseball in 9th Inning

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