Baseball Noogies
Posted: Fri Dec 09, 2011 1:17 pm
On August 4, 1993, Nolan Ryan gave Robin Ventura six baseball head noogies. Ventura didn't want to rush the mound that night. The Sox had a team meeting in which it was decided that they would not tolerate any close pitches. Unfortunately for Ventura, he was at bat when, as Ryan so sweetly calls it, 'gave him a necktie'.
Since then, the 'fight' has been ranked the number one baseball brawl by ESPN viewers. It was one of the last games pitched by Ryan, he developed arm troubles and retired soon after. Ventura finished out his career and even though he once held college batting's longest hitting streak and had a nice career, it is that one moment in time for which he is most remembered.
Fast forward to this year. Ventura is the new Manager of the Chicago White Sox. Ryan, the CEO and President of the Texas Rangers. And Arte Moreno is the owner of the Los Angeles Angels.
Moreno gave the go ahead for the Angels to spend over 300 million dollars for two players yesterday. Moreno doesn't believe in haggling with free agents. He prefers the stealth method of waiting for the market to play itself out, meet with a free agent and give him a one time offer that is hard to refuse. Pujols didn't refuse. Neither did Wilson. Other teams were 'Don Corleone'd'
The timing couldn't have been better for Moreno. The Angels had just inked a three Billion, 20 year contract themselves. Feeling flush, Moreno simply waited and attacked. The effects were felt in Dallas. Last year, it was the Rangers who signed Adrian Beltre after it was assumed that the Angels sign Beltre. Having Beltre, and just as importantly, the Angels NOT having Beltre paved the way to a World Series trip for the Rangers.
The effects were also felt in Chavez Ravine. The Angels have already become kings of Los Angeles. Last year was the first year that they beat the Dodgers in attendance. The Dodgers, victimized by a clueless owner, are in a downward spiral. Moreno knows that once an opponent has been stunned, you go in for the kill. The Angels have Albert Pujols in the news. The Dodgers have Frank LaCourt and James Loney in the news. If you haven't heard, Loney was arrested on dui charges in connection with colliding with three vehicles. There were reports that he spit in a police officers face and tried to flee the scene.
Moreno knows that he has to make hay now. By the next free agent signing period, the Dodgers will have new owners and most likely, cash burning a hole in their pocket. Moreno isn't concerned about how Pujols plays 10 years from now. He is striking now.
He has a foot on the Dodgers throats and looks to keep the other foot on the throttle.
As for the Rangers, Moreno has become Nolan Ryan, and Ryan has become Robin Ventura.
Moreno has Ryan headlocked and has landed two baseball noogies.
It'll be intriguing to see if Ryan will fight back or look as helpless as Ventura.
Since then, the 'fight' has been ranked the number one baseball brawl by ESPN viewers. It was one of the last games pitched by Ryan, he developed arm troubles and retired soon after. Ventura finished out his career and even though he once held college batting's longest hitting streak and had a nice career, it is that one moment in time for which he is most remembered.
Fast forward to this year. Ventura is the new Manager of the Chicago White Sox. Ryan, the CEO and President of the Texas Rangers. And Arte Moreno is the owner of the Los Angeles Angels.
Moreno gave the go ahead for the Angels to spend over 300 million dollars for two players yesterday. Moreno doesn't believe in haggling with free agents. He prefers the stealth method of waiting for the market to play itself out, meet with a free agent and give him a one time offer that is hard to refuse. Pujols didn't refuse. Neither did Wilson. Other teams were 'Don Corleone'd'
The timing couldn't have been better for Moreno. The Angels had just inked a three Billion, 20 year contract themselves. Feeling flush, Moreno simply waited and attacked. The effects were felt in Dallas. Last year, it was the Rangers who signed Adrian Beltre after it was assumed that the Angels sign Beltre. Having Beltre, and just as importantly, the Angels NOT having Beltre paved the way to a World Series trip for the Rangers.
The effects were also felt in Chavez Ravine. The Angels have already become kings of Los Angeles. Last year was the first year that they beat the Dodgers in attendance. The Dodgers, victimized by a clueless owner, are in a downward spiral. Moreno knows that once an opponent has been stunned, you go in for the kill. The Angels have Albert Pujols in the news. The Dodgers have Frank LaCourt and James Loney in the news. If you haven't heard, Loney was arrested on dui charges in connection with colliding with three vehicles. There were reports that he spit in a police officers face and tried to flee the scene.
Moreno knows that he has to make hay now. By the next free agent signing period, the Dodgers will have new owners and most likely, cash burning a hole in their pocket. Moreno isn't concerned about how Pujols plays 10 years from now. He is striking now.
He has a foot on the Dodgers throats and looks to keep the other foot on the throttle.
As for the Rangers, Moreno has become Nolan Ryan, and Ryan has become Robin Ventura.
Moreno has Ryan headlocked and has landed two baseball noogies.
It'll be intriguing to see if Ryan will fight back or look as helpless as Ventura.