Bleed Cubbie Blue · Aug 19, 2020
Outside The Confines: Unwritten rules are stupid
Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty ImagesLast time I checked, the goal of baseball was to win games.
There are, of course, those who cling to the concept of baseball’s unwritten rules, who believe that these old, staid traditions are as much a part of the game as peanuts and Cracker Jacks. And certainly, I cringe when a bunt breaks up a no-hitter, who doesn’t? But on Monday evening, Padres phenom Fernando Tatís Jr. did the unthinkable: he swung away on a 3-0 count when his team had a substantial lead, and he hit a grand slam.
Yes, you read that right. Tatís was taken to task, thrown under the bus by his managers, and made to apologize, because he helped his team win. How very dare he?