Rays manager Joe Maddon exchanged pleasantries with Coco dropping an f-bomb or two.

Which was completely uncalled for as Maddon attempted to discuss the matter in a calm, level tone with the utmost civility.

Classy of Coco to take it out on the littler guy who didn't wrong him.

Classy of Coco to take it out on the littler guy who didn't wrong him.

And then he gets in a screaming match with the Devil Rays about how they should retaliate against him and nobody else.

Coco might not be the sharpest tool in the shed

Coco did say after the game he expected Bartlett to take the throw in the 8th. I was intially shocked to see Coco slide in like he was breaking up the DP, but it was pretty well explained after the game.

Meh. We haven't had a good brawl between the Sox and the Rays in 5 years or so. I could stand to be entertained by another.

Well, to his credit, at least Coco didn't suggest he wasn't trying to do anything. He laid out his case. Whether you think his actions were justified is one thing, but he was pretty forthright about the matter, which is somewhat refreshing.

Am I just noticing "It is what it is" more, since the Clemens/McNamee hearings, or has it suddenly entered everyone's lexicon as a result of it?

In any event, roll on, Coco! Just don't break that finger again.

I dunno, considering the Sox were up by 4 runs at the time, I don't blame Maddon for getting heated. Coco going for second with revenge the motive being doesn't seem right to me. Not that I give a crap about a lot of this "baseball etiquette" stuff, just my 2 cents.

Am I just noticing "It is what it is" more, since the Clemens/McNamee hearings, or has it suddenly entered everyone's lexicon as a result of it?

As Kevin said, it existed before that. But the hearings probably gave it a boost.

I steadfastly avoid these popular phrases, past the point where it's probably healthy.

"It is what it is" makes me cockpunch anyone who says it. I have no control over that reaction.

I'm not sure why it makes you angry. It has a real meaning.

Two guys playing baseball agressively. Coco didn't like the dropped knee. (Which isn't wrong.) He was expecting the dropped knee the next time and was going to go feet first and hard. Maddon blows off steam and Coco mouths back. If anything was wrong, maybe Crisp should have ignored the trash talk back.

Really it was not much but with today's extensive media coverage any opportunity at a story is going to be over analysed and hyped.

Radio guys a while back were claiming that they thought Todd Bertuzzi was the first person to use the term "It is what it is." I suppose around the time he was tossing it around is when it picked up steam, but it had to be around before that, right? No way he invented it, I'm sure I had heard it sometime in my life prior.

He was expecting the dropped knee the next time and was going to go feet first and hard.

Seriously? You think Coco slid like that because he was expecting another knee, and not because he was seeking revenge?

In other news, Hank has looked into acquiring Coco to bring some fire to the Yankees.

Am I just noticing "It is what it is" more, since the Clemens/McNamee hearings, or has it suddenly entered everyone's lexicon as a result of it?

This past winter, I was making a long drive to visit family during some inclement weather. We stopped for a quick bite to eat. My wife was going to fill up her drink and noticed a state trooper. She asked him about the condition of the interstate further south (the direction we were headed). He responded with "It is what it is".

Least helpful response ever.

I'm not sure why it makes you angry. It has a real meaning.

You're kidding, right? I hope.

I've heard it for many years, and I agree about the cockpunching thing. Ruben Bolling skewered it nicely a while back.

This past winter, I was making a long drive to visit family during some inclement weather. We stopped for a quick bite to eat. My wife was going to fill up her drink and noticed a state trooper. She asked him about the condition of the interstate further south (the direction we were headed). He responded with "It is what it is".

Least helpful response ever.

And I'm going to go out on a limb and guess the f***er was wearing pants. Typical.

Seriously? You think Coco slid like that because he was expecting another knee, and not because he was seeking revenge?

Probably a bit of both. If anyone has a problem with the actions of either player go watch slo-pitch.

Well, as Shelly Duncan and I have always been taught, you're supposed to aim your foot at the glove when sliding into 2nd in order to try to knock the ball out. Coco just made a good baseball play.

I'd be willing to have a parrot stapled to my shoulder, squawking "It is what it is, it is what it is, it is what it is" for the rest of my natural life, if in return I could be guaranteed never to hear the phrase "throw ----- under the bus" ever again.

Sutcliffe kept going on and on about how Coco violated baseball etiquette but he never mentioned that Coco might be retaliating for Bartlett violating etiquette.

This dictated the subsequent coverage on Baseball Tonight and Sportscenter, where they treated it as if Coco's slide initiated the dispute, which was followed by he and Maddon ######## at each other. No reference to the dropped knee.

Whether Crisp was justified or not to retaliate the way he did, removing the context to present a different version of events was a classic in irresponsible television reporting.

Seriously? You think Coco slid like that because he was expecting another knee, and not because he was seeking revenge?

More than revenge it was to provide insentive for the rays infielders to be a little more careful around the bag. Not to say revenge had nothing to do with it.

Bill Belichick uses "it is what it is" a lot, since the early part of this decade, and the local talk radio boobs picked up on it and use it over and over again.

It isn't what it is. It's what it isn't is what it is.

irresponsible television reporting.

Redundancy?

I'd be willing to have a parrot stapled to my shoulder,

It'd have to be an African parrot, stapled under the dorsal guiding feather.

#23: LOL!

I personally don't mind "throw under the bus." But I feel your pain.

Meh, I could care less.

Azzhat Coco seemed mystified why the 2nd baseman covered when a righty was up, since the SS had covered when the lefty was up. I guess he missed "how not to be a stupid fukface" in 2nd grade t-ball and went straight to MLB douchery.

Dave McCarty's input in the postgame analysis on NESN (in the linked video) is priceless.

That's one of those instances where, if uh, back when I was playing, if I'm playing first base and that shortstop drops a knee on one of my guys, if he gets on base, I'm gonna tell the pitcher hey, make sure you throw over, and when he does I'm gonna uh, I'm gonna knock the uh, knock the you know what outta the guy with the tag.

And nice job RTFA #32. Or WTFV I guess. Since Crisp specifically addressed that point.

Coco has some good feet.

Since Crisp specifically addressed that point.

He didn't really address it in a reasonable way.

Yes he did. The SS usually takes the throw, regardless of the handedness of the batter.

That's generally not true.

Bottom of the 5th, Orioles Batting, Behind 2-4, James Shields facing 9-1-2
O --- 2 73% L Hernandez Groundout: SS-1B (Weak SS-2B)
--- 5 69% B Roberts Walk
O 1-- 5 74% M Mora Flyball: LF (Deep LF-CF)
O 1-- 1 77% N Markakis Roberts Caught Stealing 2B (C-SS)

Top of the 3rd, Orioles Batting, Tied 0-0, Jeff Niemann facing 1-2-3
O --- 1 53% B Roberts Flyball: CF (Deep CF)
--- 2 50% M Mora Single to 3B (Bunt to Weak 3B)
O 1-- 54% N Markakis Mora Caught Stealing 2B (C-SS)

Top of the 5th, Yankees Batting, Ahead 3-2, Edwin Jackson facing 8-9-1
O --- 4 61% M Cabrera Strikeout Swinging
O --- 6 59% C Moeller Flyball: CF (Deep CF)
--- 5 60% J Damon Walk
1-- 62% D Jeter Damon Steals 2B
R -2- 9 73% " " Single to CF (Line Drive); Damon Scores; Jeter to 2B/Adv on throw
R -2- 2 81% B Abreu Single to CF (Line Drive); Jeter Scores
O 1-- 3 80% A Rodriguez Abreu Caught Stealing 2B (C-2B)

Top of the 2nd, Blue Jays Batting, Tied 0-0, James Shields facing 5-6-7
--- 7 L Overbay Walk
1-- 7 S Stewart Walk; Overbay to 2B
R 12- 4 G Zaun Reached on E3 (Ground Ball to 2B-1B); Overbay Scores/Safe on E1 (catch)/No RBI/unER; Stewart to 3B
RO 1-3 2 M Scutaro Groundout: 1B-SS/Forceout at 2B (2B-1B); Stewart Scores/unER
O 1-- 1 J Inglett Flyball: CF (Deep CF)
O 1-- 5 D Eckstein Scutaro Caught Stealing 2B (C-SS)

Bottom of the 1st, Orioles Batting, Tied 0-0, Andy Sonnanstine facing 1-2-3
--- 2 42% B Roberts Single to RF (Line Drive)
O 1-- 47% M Mora Roberts Caught Stealing 2B (C-2B-1B)

Bottom of the 2nd, Blue Jays Batting, Tied 0-0, Andy Sonnanstine facing 4-5-6
--- 4 41% M Stairs Single to RF (Line Drive to CF-RF)
O 1-- 4 45% V Wells Groundout: 2B-SS/Forceout at 2B
O 1-- 49% L Overbay Wells Caught Stealing (PO) 2B (C-1B-SS)

Top of the 9th, Yankees Batting, Ahead 2-1, Trever Miller facing 6-7-8
--- 4 86% R Cano Single to RF (Ground Ball thru 2B-1B)
OO 1-- 8 80% M Cabrera Double Play: Strikeout Looking, Cano Caught Stealing 2B (C-SS)

Bottom of the 9th, Cardinals Batting, Tied 8-8, Trever Miller facing 2-3-4
Trever Miller replaces Al Reyes pitching and batting 9th
--- 3 71% A Miles Single to 2B (Pop Fly to Short CF-RF)
OO 1-- 9 54% A Pujols Double Play: Strikeout Swinging, Miles Caught Stealing 2B (C-1B-2B-C)

Top of the 6th, Rangers Batting, Behind 0-5, Scott Kazmir facing 8-9-1
--- 6 93% M Byrd Single to LF (Line Drive)
1-- 2 87% R Vazquez Double to RF (Line Drive to Deep RF Line); Byrd to 3B
RO -23 1 90% I Kinsler Flyball: LF/Sacrifice Fly (Deep LF); Byrd Scores
O -2- 94% M Young Vazquez Caught Stealing 3B (C-3B)

Bottom of the 8th, Red Sox Batting, Ahead 5-1, Jason Hammel facing 8-9-1
Justin Ruggiano replaces B.J. Upton playing CF batting 3rd
--- 5 99% C Crisp Walk
O 1-- 98% J Lugo Crisp Caught Stealing 2B (C-2B)

That's every CS by Tampa Bay this year. On plays at 2nd, the 2B covers when an RHB is up in all but one case -- with David Eckstein, not exactly a pull hitter, up.

The SS usually takes the throw, regardless of the handedness of the batter. He doesn't have to reverse himself to take the throw like the 2B does.

?

Didn't you ever wonder what was happening when the TV cameras show the shortstop put his glove in the front of his face and do that "open mouth"/"closed mouth" signal?

O 1-- 37% T Buck Suzuki Caught Stealing 2B (C-SS)
OO 1-- 7 40% A Rios Double Play: Strikeout Swinging, Eckstein Caught Stealing 2B (C-2B)
O 1-- 31% F Gutierrez Cabrera Caught Stealing 2B (C-2B)
O 12- 31% E Longoria Upton Caught Stealing 3B (C-3B); Gomes to 2B
O 12- 96% D Eckstein Overbay Caught Stealing 3B (C-3B); Rios to 2B/Adv on throw
OO 12- 8 17% G Sheffield Double Play: Strikeout Swinging, Ordonez Caught Stealing 3B (C-3B)
O 1-3 96% B Harris Gomez Caught Stealing (PO) 2B (P-1B-SS)
O 1-- 54% R Braun Weeks Caught Stealing 2B (C-2B)
O 1-- 44% M Cameron Weeks Caught Stealing 2B (C-2B)
OO 1-- 6 70% J Cust Double Play: Strikeout Looking, Crosby Caught Stealing 2B (C-SS)
OO -2- 5 69% " " Double Play: Strikeout Looking, Cairo Caught Stealing 3B (C-3B)
OO 1-3 5 50% A Huff Double Play: Strikeout Looking, Mora Caught Stealing 2B (C-SS)

And that's every CS by the Red Sox. I'll let you find the pattern.

You can take your facts and get out of town, mister.

To be clear, Coco wasn't the one who said the SS usually covered. He did seem to call out Bartlett for not being a man or something, though, by not covering.

Yes he did. The SS usually takes the throw, regardless of the handedness of the batter. He doesn't have to reverse himself to take the throw like the 2B does.

I am not surprised that you know nothing about baseball.

To be clear, Coco wasn't the one who said the SS usually covered. He did seem to call out Bartlett for not being a man or something, though, by not covering.

He muttered "I dunno why he didn't cover, I guess he thought Lugo would hit it there."

redsoxfanboys rule!

And nice job RTFA #32. Or WTFV I guess. Since Crisp specifically addressed that point.

I read it and watched it. He muttered the Lugo crap when everyone in the world knows he is just a fukkin idiot. Like most of the fanboys on this thread.

Uh. Yeah. Crisp acknowledged that Bartlett wasn't covering on the play because Lugo was up. Far from "seemed mystified", a characterization based solely on... your fantasy?

Why was he surprised and why did he spike Iwamura? That is the "mystified" part.

Remy talks about who takes the throw all the time. One or the other of the middle infielder gives the signal: Mouth closed means "me", mouth open means "you". If it were strictly a RHB v LHB thing, there'd be no need for signals.

Without getting into a long back and forth on this, Crisp went after the 2B probably because he wanted to deal with the previous incident as soon as possible. It's a team game. Your guy does something to piss off and possibly injure one of our guys, our guy does something to piss off and possibly injure one of your guys. Requiring Crisp to wait for the moment when the SS is in position to receive his retribution may mean that it never happens, so Crisp got it over and done with the first chance he got. Now, Tampa Bay retaliates, and there's a fight, and after suspensions, the incident should be put behind both sides.

Some may disagree. Whatever. That's my take on it, and I played Babe Ruth baseball, so :-p

petunia is a giants fan?

kevin, please lecture me on how the SS "always" takes the throw.

Remy talks about who takes the throw all the time. One or the other of the middle infielder gives the signal: Mouth closed means "me", mouth open means "you". If it were strictly a RHB v LHB thing, there'd be no need for signals.

Correct, and usually it is done after the SS sees the catchers signals. Outside or inside, offspeed or fastball.

you want to see the typical kevin argument?

how is the divorce going?

kevin, you wouldn't know class if it ###### you up the ass.

i'm not surprised that after being here for years, you have no idea what team i follow.

whatever.