Brawl fallout: Maddon calls Duncan slide "borderline criminal"

So much for any issues between the Rays and Yanks being "put to bed."

The Rays-Yankees spring training game Wednesday took a wild turn in the top of the second, when Yankees 1B Shelley Duncan slid spikes-high into Rays 2B Akinori Iwamura while trying to stretch a single into a double. Duncan's hard slide prompted a quick ejection, and sparked the benches to clear. Rays OF Jonny Gomes, however, got to Duncan first, racing from rightfield to shove the Yankee. The dugouts emptied, with many convening around the middle infield, with most of the action posturing and light pushing (not punching), though LF Carl Crawford said the scrum got a little "heated."

"A dirty play,'' Rays CF B.J. Upton said of Duncan's slide. "Just flat out dirty. Period.''

Rays manager Joe Maddon went a step further, discussing what he feels is a clear difference between INF Elliot Johnson's home-plate collision Saturday at Legends Field and Duncan's slide Wednesday.

"In Tampa, that play you saw at home plate was a good hard baseball play," Maddon said. "What you saw today is a definition of a dirty play. There's no room for it in our game. It's contemptible. It's wrong. It's borderline criminal. I can't believe they did it."

Duncan, if you remember, had made some veiled threats earlier this week that there would be more intensity in today's game following the much-publicized home plate collision by Johnson. The Rays felt it was just a hard play. Yankees manager Joe Girardi said it was "uncalled for" during a spring training game.

Duncan said afterwards that there was no malicious intent behind the slide, saying, "I was going hard at the glove." The first baseman said it wasn't premeditated, but when "you're out by a mile," sometimes you try some creative slides.

In the ensuing scramble in the middle infield, even SS Ben Zobrist, his left hand wrapped in a cast, raced out to help. RF Rocco Baldelli made his way out there, joking afterward, "That's all I got."

Gomes said he was taught ever since little league to "defend" your teammates. Gomes called Duncan's slide dirty, and not the Yankee way of doing things.

Gomes had to be held back by Rays bullpen coach Bobby Ramos, and he was later tossed.

"He was trying to hurt Aki," Rays RF Cliff Floyd said.

Iwamura had a cut on the inside of his right knee, which drew a little blood. The second baseman said he was mad for just a few seconds, but said those feelings were gone quickly. Iwamura said he wasn't hurt, "I'm smiling," he said with a grin. "No problem."

Duncan was one of three Yankees tossed (hitting coach Kevin Long and third base coach Bobby Meacham the others). Gomes was the only Ray ejected.

Duncan's play wasn't the first spark today. In the first inning, Yankees LHP Heath Phillips was tossed after he hit touted Rays prospect Evan Longoria with a pitch. That sparked Yankees manager Joe Girardi to argue his case with the umpire.

Phillips said it wasn't intentional, and Longoria felt the same way. The third baseman said the ball glazed his left arm.

Both teams went back to their dugout with an ovation from the sellout crowd.

-- JOE SMITH

joesmith@sptimes.com

Comments

[Victor]

Joe Girardi has to treat his bunch of overpaid ,spoiled brats as they deserve. He can't do it this way.

Vic'

[jeff]

ROCKN' WITH THE "G" MAN

[Mrs. Deeley Algebra class]

We are students in Mrs. Deeley’s Algebra class period two. We are tracking statistics of various baseball players throughout their spring training and regular season in an effort to better understand the importance of math in the real world. We saw what happened with the Yankees and were disappointed by what happened to Aki. We feel that the actions were inappropriate and hostile on the part of the Yankees.

One student feels that the Yankees need to get it together before they go against the Rays again.

Another states that the Rays shouldn't be so mad because the Yankees played dirty and lost anyway. You can't win playing dirty.

Another believes that Johnny Gomes did the right thing by sticking up for his team mate.

OUr students want the Rays to come to our class.

Another states that Duncan could have seriously and permanently ruined Aki's career.

We are rallying behind the Rays.

Another states baseball is boring.

[rayray]

Pinkees lose, ha ha ha, Pinkees!!!

& get used to it you classless yawkers...

[Hawkeye]

"Just because your manager and old fart Zimmer say it was clean you all jump on the band wagon."

Uh, two other top managers (Pinella and Scioscia) said the hit coming into home the other day was a good hard play.

But, thanks for playing.

Today's slide was bush-league (as indicated when the ump threw him out of the game). I'd expect a suspension.

[Michael M]

So I guess Torre took all the class with him when he left New York. Duncan is a punk that's pretty obvious, at least he could have said "Yea, I did it on purpose to get back at him." Instead he goes on with the company line about how he was just playing hard. What a bunch of crap.

Try and get some class back New York.

"All Yankee fans are jackoffs"
---Whitney Johnson

[Tom]

Play the same way the opponent wants to play. Rays--get those spikes up.

[Mark]

If Spring Training didn't matter so much, why bother throwing to home to gun down Elliot Johnson to begin with? The Rays were already ahead in that game. It was the 9th inning. Who cares, right?

This should be an indication to all Rays fans, or if you just flat out don't like the Yankees, OR even further, if you don't like baseball but still don't like the Yankees.

Go to Tropicana Field for games vs. the Yankees. Cheer for the Rays. Bring your cowbells, whistles, airhorns, what have you.

It is simply ridiculous how a home team can host more visiting fans who bad mouth the Rays, as much as Yankee fans do, without any real defense other than how many World Series they won in the 20th Century.

As a Rays fan living in Central Florida, and also without a source of income that would allow me to purchase season tickets to go to all 81 home games, I would settle for an actual home atmosphere when I watch on TV.

The team is finally standing up for themselves, so why shouldn't we?

If Carl Crawford wasn't on the team, my favorite player would be Jonny Gomes. He has that tough guy attitude like what was seen today.

This is a new team. We're not in 1998 anymore. The Yankees are on Life Support. Pull the cord.

If I could paraphrase a certain other Florida based professional team... "The Time is NOW. Be Bold. Be a Ray."

[Karpo]

Heart is what all the great teams are made of, I’m not here to compare the mighty Yankees to the Rays, but it’s awesome to see fire.

[Mike]

Having been a NY fan since the days of Berra, Mantle and Maris,it is difficult to write them off....But I just did it. Go Rays...Go Dodgers......and GO RED SOX!!! I hope Mr. Torre and Mr Maddon win about 150 games in a row this year. Low class, NY.

[LP]

If only Jonny Gomes was good at baseball he'd be my favorite player!! Either way, I love that he had the marbles to get in there and mix it up...

Rays 2010 World Champs!!

[Larry]

The Yankees absolutely suck! They spend 200 million a year on salary. For what? They've won just as many titles this century as the Rays! Zero. A bunch of high priced whiners. Your new manager is a joke. He keeps all the A list players home and brings all the goons to start a fight. I wish Gomes would have torn into Shelly Long. Go Rays!!!

[derekj]

All you Rays fans, go and buy out the 3rd base side seats at the Trop in April, so the whining Yankees fans can't sit there. Buy all the tickets and lets get more Rays fans in there than Skankee fans!!! Go Rays!

[Carolina Rays Fan]

I hope Hank is proud of his Yankmees. First Girardi's whining and now this classless move. I'd love to see the Yanks in the cellar. Will it happen? Doubtful, but let me dream.

[derekj]

All you Rays fans, go and buy out the 3rd base side seats at the Trop in April, so the whining Yankees fans can't sit there. Buy all the tickets and lets get more Rays fans in there than Skankee fans!!! Go Rays!

[boston rays fan]

Now does everyone understand why Boston fans have such a disliking for Yankees fans? Nah, just kidding. Its just a game folks. I'm originally from MA, so I'll die being a Boston fan. But now that I live in the Tampa Bay area, I also root for the Rays (when they aren't playing the Sox). But the Rays have actually won the last 2 games I've gone to see :(. I'm excited for the Rays this year. It is getting exciting. Go Boston...and Rays!

[Jimmy G]

The baseball world is changing, for the better. Yankees are led by a low class hot head will only get worse.
Rays starting to shine!
Shelley is a girly man, who talks big and can't back it up with results.

[Tampa, Flor-i-duh]

Man, you Rays fans are the ones acting absurd, not Joe Girardi. He made ONE comment about how he felt about one of his players getting his wrist broken, and just because he isn't Mr. Zen-and-his-green-tea Joe Torre, you all have a fit! Then when the Yankees play hard, you cry your way onto every local radio show moaning about how "dirty" the Yankees are. Boo-hoo. Here's a novel idea: Try refocusing all that hatred and aggression for the Yankees into the season, and maybe you won't finish last for once. Or, here's another one: start putting the blame for having a shitty team where it belongs - on yourself - not on every team that has more money than you. The As have a good team every year, and I don't see them whining!!

[Dale]

And you Yankmee fans wonder why nobody likes you? You complain about a guy running over your catcher, which is a legal play (albeit does not happen much in spring), and you cry like babies. Then one of your players comes in spikes up on a play that he was going to be out by 20 feet on, and you justify it? That play would not be acceptable in Game 7 of the World Series. He had intent to injure our starting 2nd baseman, not a backup catcher. Go back to the sewers you came from, and take your 80's mustaches, jean shorts, and gold chains with you.

[Bob]

"I was going for the glove". Let's see - the glove was on Iwa's left hand, while Duncan spiked him on the right knee. Hmmmm. With aim like that, how did he manage to get the ball in play in the first place?

[Joe Cooter]

What goes around comes around. Iwarmura suffer a couple of laserations. Our guy gets his wrist broke. Don't go blaming the Yankees. Look yourselve in the mirror and ask yourselves how it feels to be a bunch of LOSERS

[JM]

Rays fans can't talk.Don't dish it out if you can't take it.Just because your manager and old fart Zimmer say it was clean you all jump on the band wagon.When you losers win as many titles as the Yankees then you can talk until then go back and play in the little leagues.

[Jimmy Mack]

Listen, boys... The games they are playing now are pretty meaningless. I would like to see the Rays save a little of this aggressiveness for the regular season. The Yanks are chumps, and they will always be chumps. They are not worth the effort. The Rays should prepare for the REAL competition in this division! I would hate to see a fire this hot flame out too quickly...

[Tony]

Just to preface, I have been a Rays fan since the beginning. Getting on point though. That guy from the Yankees has some d*mn big feet. Could have slid differently? Who knows. He did slide with his leg bent and I never saw it straighten out so I don't think it was totally purposeful. I definitely think he tried to send a message, but I don't think he tried to hurt. Believe me, if he wanted to hurt Aki, he could have. BUT the Yankees, and the rest of the American League need to watch out. The Rays have this year something they NEVER had...attitude. The Bucs got it and won a Super Bowl. The Lightning had it a won a Stanely Cup. Now the Rays seem to have it. Ohhhh baby, the Yankees are first...than bring on the Red Sox. Welcome to Rays Country everyone!!!

[TPFolair]

Oh jeez, you're all a buncha pussies. The slide was NOTHING compared to what the revered Ty Cobb did back in his day.

[Kipp]

Hey, Andre Roy's not playing hockey for a while, maybe the Rays can to borrow him for Yankee games!

[e a]

Shelley Duncan, Joe Girardi, and Hank Steinbreinner are Pus**ies. Do you think that Jeter and Rodriguez (another Pu**y) were not there because they were tired? No.......they were kept away because they knew what was going to happen.

[p]

you yankees fans are pathetic!! all you know how to do is be rude..all your players know how to do is CHEAT not only on the field but off the field as well...you need to start remembering what baseball is all about...gomes should have been able to whip your a--

[Whitney J.]

All Yankee fans are jag-offs!

[Tuck]

Girardi is the worst leader in the state of NY.... (What??? Their governor got busted paying for prostitutes?)...

Girardi is the 2nd worst leader in the state of NY.

[Forgetaboutit]

7 years since your last title Yankees. Not really on topic. Just wanted to remind you of all that failed money and all those little New York children who've never seen the Yankees win anything. You're closing in on a full decade of forgettable baseball.

[shane]

finally the rays have gotten under another team's skin hopefully it leads to a lot of wins for the rays

[T]

The Marlins had some reason to fire Girardi. I think it is starting to show. Why would he start a fued with the RAYS when the BOSOX are the ones who are going to kill them this year.

[kyle]

Jake- that is because you are a DANY.
"DUMB AS- NEW YORKER"- Wanna be boy.

[good grief]

Where did all these blue ray fans come from? I guess because the Lightning now are cellar dwellers they moving over to some hope. They knock out a prospect and think they are going to win something. Forgetaboutit, Rays are losers forever.

[kyle]

Jake- Your name sshould be Jack.Ast you very well know, there is never any love between the Rayss and the Sstinkss. I like sseeing the identity thing. Nice to see a team tired of lossing attitude. Ssorry about my sspeech impediment.

[Boo my Hoo]

What a bunch of little girls...

Maddon: “What we saw today is the definition of a dirty play. There’s no room for that in our game. It’s contemptible, it’s wrong, it’s borderline criminal. I can’t believe they did that.”

OH not so tough now huh? Now you have time to give quotes to NY press people1?! I wonder what good ole Zim will say.

[Dennis]

Pretty low by Duncan, aggressive play versus something that will get you thrown out of ANY game instantly is not what any intelligent person would call a baseball play. Spikes high is an instant ejection, and did you notice, the cry babies left home A-Rod and Jeter and oddly Pettite did not start (sore butt from the needles I guess), the other two were not even in the park. Sounds like a plan to me, and right now Joe Girardi is not going to win any friends or influence anyone. Once the season starts, if the Yankmees are not killing it, the NY media is going to turn on him and roast him. He strikes me as a small man for this, especially when respected managers are not siding with him. Look out AL East, these are not the Rays you are used to. I would not be so bold as to say they can win the east at 1/5 th payroll, but they might influence who gets the wildcard, so you better win this division if you want to be in the playoffs this year.

[Duane]

That's about as much heart as you'll see out of that rag of organization from New York all year long.

Shelly Duncan...how much can that card be worth?? Does it come with his batting average AND his bra size?

[rocky]

New day in Rays land...this team is really coming together. Reminds me of the Lightning in the 2 prior years before the Cup win. Our starting pitching staff is better than the Yankees this year. Winning in the Spring will carry over to a fast start in the season.

[Jake]

hey mang, if ju wan trouble with Yankee Nation STEP UP Homes!
Even tho i never been to NY, i am diehard

I like NY Giants too!

Posted by: Puerto Rican Yankee Fan

That is the best post ever...I can't even comment about the story after reading this.

[Oh the Yanks lost]

The only people I heard crying so far is Johnny "I'm just trying to defend my teammate" Gomes.

Don't count on the Rays getting back. Your "hero" already said he wanted this to be over with today.

http://tinyurl.com/2z2ghw

“I hope not, but probably,” Gomes said. “Truthfully, I hope not. This is baseball, not boxing.”

Oh what now Johnny, you have no fight in you?

[Kyle]

You bunch of kittycats. I just might go watch the Rays beat up on the Yankees this year. Even if it is just physically.

[raysfan]

i can't wait to see what girardi has to say about this one! not to mention the yankees LOST. i can hear the yankee fans now: "wah wah wah it's only spring traaaaining!!!" they'll cry. well, you better believe your sorry team feels even more demoralized after losing to the rays AGAIN after TWO incidents. pack it up and go home and take your obnoxious fans with you.

[Go Tampa!]

Chris - You think anyone will have the gall to actually throw at Shelley Duncan? Shelley will snap that dude's arm in no time.

BTW, that gomes takedown, didn't even happen. Shelley said he felt "a bump." Hehe.. you tampa folks don't even know how to get back at someone right.

[Lou Pinella]

"So what if Iwamura has a cut, Cervelli has to undergo surgery and will be out for 10 weeks. Deal with it."

Then don't block the plate.

[David]

To Keith the Yankee honk. You are an idiot if you think a CLEAN play at home plate compares to a DIRTY play spiking Aki. Im tired of these loud mouth Yankee fans acting like we should lay down for them. And for the crime here in Tampa. Your right it is pretty bad....Seems to me it started to get worse when all the NEW YORKERS decided to move here. HMMMMM makes you wonder huh!!!

[Hurray! TB won the game.]

Crown them with the Grapefruit league trophy! They beat the Yanks in a meaningless game in March. Let's all celebrate!

[Chris]

GO RAYS.

I love this. Let's bash and beat up the over payed losers from New York, and send their arrogant, uneducated fans HOME. Duncan, bring that wussy slide, just don't be too comfortable at your next plate appearance. And tell your next catcher to get the hell out of the way before the Rays run another little Yankee over.

[Kyle]

Someone should take the time to explain to Nick how the luxury tax works, it has absolutely nothing to do with team revenue. Let's not all jump on the anti-New York bandwagon, remember every dollar they spend here prevents us from having state income tax.

Go Rays - Actually looking forward to this season.