Maddon: Sox 'peeking;' A.J. 'inappropriate'

As Sox manager Ozzie Guillen said the "pressure" in the series is now on the Rays, Tampa Bay manager Joe Maddon came back with some interesting comments of his own, raising questions of impropriety.

Maddon suggested that that Sox may be "peeking in" or otherwise stealing their signs since they twice stole bases Sunday on curveballs, a pitch Matt Garza doesn't throw that often.

"Just curious,'' Maddon said. "Everyone's welcome to, everybody's entitled to steal signs, that's how the game works.'''

He also said it was "not right" and "pretty weak" for Chicago's A.J. Pierzynski to stick out his bat in an attempt to hinder C Dioner Navarro's throw on Dewayne Wise's stolen base in the third. "He tapped the bat like he was going to hit Navi's hand as he was throwing the ball,'' Maddon said. "He shouldn't do that; it's inappropriate.''

Maddon said "no comment" when asked whether he was surprised that Pierzynski -- a noted agitator -- would employ such tactics, then said: "He nurtures his reputation, actually.''

*

Comments

[Steve from Yellowstone]

AJ is a douche!!!

[Cara Mia]

The White Sox also could not win without dressing in black and waving white crying (ha ha) towels to distract our players. THAT is the only way they could win! Didn't work!! Also, the Ray's get no respect from the national commentators.. it was all white sox.. they are all in denial!! WE WILL SHOW THEM!! GO RAYS!!

[Novangelus]

Jim,

Is game one in chicago or boston? oh wait that's right...

[Jim]

MD and harold,

Thanks. The truth is, the White Sox got further than I thought they were going to get. It hurts to exit early, but on the South Side we will still remember 2008 as the year the White Sox finally beat out the Twinkies!

Here come the Red Sox, and I really hope you guys smack them down hard in the ALCS. I loathe the Red Sox.

[tampa bay realist]

Amanda we use Red Sox, Redsox, Sox, Swox, Bosox, etc. There's a million ways to do it. Who cares - bottom line is tonight the Rays and Sox proved the AL East is the best division in baseball yet again. Sorry we have to sweep you guys outta here but we're proud of what you guys did. You're like the Fredo to our Michael and on Friday we're going to be sending you out onto the lake. Start sayin your prayers!

[Amanda]

Novangelus-
It's Red Sox. Red. Sox. Two words.
Big fan, are ya?

[Novangelus]

Look at your pathetic fans. Selling away tickets? Bandwagoning We will crush you.

Sincerely,
Redsox Nation

[Jay]

Rays are due in Clearwater around 3:00AM. Too bad I have to work early. Why couldn't they just sleep in and roll in around 3:00PM?

Jesse, you're a nut case dude. Forget to take your Lithium?"

[Christy]

I heard a tv commentator saying "Joe Maddon talks about the 5 stages of a player and stage 3 is 'I belong'." Does anyone know the other stages?

[Kathleen]

Jesse = AJ = Jerkoff

Any Rays fan who sells their tickets to Red Sux fans is NOT a Rays fan. So stop saying you're a fan. Show me your tickets and then I'll believe you're a fan.

You're just cheap!

[dave]

Anyone know what time the rays get back into town tonight? It would be nice to give them a big hurrah when they get off the plane.

[harold]

No Jesse
We all dont agree that Maddon was wrong
And I am sure hell be here for awhile.
You are of course free to scalp your tickets and its nobodys business but yours. If they had been good seats I would have bought them no doubt. I got my two for game two. I could only afford two. I got them from stub hub and they are good seats. I cant afford the world series tix so I will be forced to watch them from home.
a tip of the Hat to Jim the White Sox fan. Good luck to the pale hose next year.

[Jesse]

Apology accepted RSR.

Okay I think we all agree Maddon was wrong. But it's okay we can win without his antics.

Let's all hope for the Rays to get some sleep and hopefully be ready (and please everyone root for my #2 team LAD in the NLCS)!

Go Rays Go Rays!

Go rays,
"Mr Ray"

[Red Sox Ricki]

Jesse,
Accept my apology

[The Bandwagon]

Jesse,
Why don't you go back to being a yankees fan. We don't need your kind around here. Lemme guess you were a White Sox fan in 2005 and maybe a Cards fan in 2006? You root for who ever is winning and everyone knows your not a baseball fan with your dumb comments. Why don't you like the yankees anymore? Did Jeter not sign an autograph for you? boohoo

[Anderson]

The Sox's stole signs, but here are the real signs. In the four games played The Ray's total runs scored equaled 21 which means BlackJack. The Chi Sox's total runs equaled 13 in the four games( unlucky 13). Rays all the way. Out-Ray- jus. Hey Ozzie you got the entire of season to steal signs.

[MD]

Um. Clearly Jesse has issues. May as well leave him be in his own delusional world while we all enjoy the fact the Rays made it this far, whether we have tix or not.

Ticketmaster always screws people over. It's essentially a monopoly that exercises its power in an entertainment environment where people want a product so badly they're willing to pay extra for it, if they are forced to. Not saying it's right but no one is stepping forward to fix it.

And with the issues going on today, I have a feeling Ticketmaster is not high on that list of problems to tackle.

Regardless, I'll be watching on TV, rooting for the Rays just as loudly as I would at the Trop.

[Jesse]

GK - every team I have ever rooted for has won a World Series. The Rays NEVER won it all since you've been a fan. I switched to the Rays and look: they are in the ALCS.

Instead of attacking a fellow Rays fan you should be thanking me.

GK, you are welcome.

Redsox Ricki I hereby banish you from this blog. Good bye.

King of Rays Fan Club,
Jesse ("Mr. Ray")

[christian]

jesse ur not a rays fan and stop acting like u are. the whole point of homefield advantantage is that u have more fans then the other teams. if u cant afford tickets than dont buy them and like real rays fans buy them. ur a disgrace to the real rays fans.

[GK]

Jesse,

You, sir, are a moron. Please, immediately refrain from speaking about the Rays. Keep you lips sealed and quit typing messages regarding the Rays' manager. I've never read anything so stupid.

Once you choose another team to cheer for, you may resume speaking your mind.

Otherwise, go to bed son.

Thanks,
Rays Fans

[Red Sox Ricki]

Jesse,
I guess you can afford a TV now that you sold your tickets.
BANDWAGON BOY.

[Jesse]

MD, please, let's stay focused on the RAYS and not get bogged down thinking about Redsox/LAA.

Thanks,

Jesse President of Rays Nation

[MD]

Jim,

Thanks... that was true class all the way. And you know, Angels or Red Sox, I think the Rays can take them... and go all the way!

Here's looking forward to another exciting round of games!

[Jim]

Congrats from a White Sox fan. The better team won the series. We sort of feel like we let at least one of the 2 games in Tampa get away from us, but the bottom line is: better teams don't let the opposition off the hook, and you guys kept us down today.

I am rooting for you to go all the way.

As for AJ, I don't blame you for being annoyed with him for yesterday. Assuming it was on purpose, I'd say that was crossing the line a bit, but I'd also say that if he had interfered, the umpire would have called it since his name was not Doug Eddings. Pushing the boundaries of the rules and good form is hardly a disease unique to AJP, by the way. Every catcher frames pitches to coax strike calls, just to name one example (yours did at least once today). Every team has batters who run on the inside of the baseline to make it harder to throw them out on a dribbler (and it always seems like they are outside the baseline but it almost never gets called). AJP is merely one in a long line of fierce competitors with not much of a conscience, if any. He may be a bit of an extreme example, but he's hardly unique.

Who do you hope wins the other series? I'm personally rooting for the Angels because I hate the wild card and feel like you shouldn't have to beat the Red Sox all over again, but you guys may be saying, "Bring 'em on" for all I know.

Go Rays!

With great and slightly grudging respect,
A Life Long White Sox fan

[Jesse]

Meg - we are on here to CELEBRATE not to attack fellow fans (I say fellow loosely bc I doubt a hater like you are a real fan).

I am sorry that I am not as rich as you but I had to sell the rays tickets to the sox fans. Sorry we are not as rich as you. I am going to ignore your attacks though and keep smiling because my first favorite team is one step closer and i made tons of money - that's what i call a double whammy meg, something you'd know nothing about!

signed,
a real rays fan (unlike RFN/Meg the frontrunners)

[Red Sox Ricki]

Read Jesse's blog.
What a typical Devil Ray jerk fan.
Real fans go to the games!!!!

[Jimbo]

John!?! How could you attack Ron Hextall? He's one of, if not the only, Stanley Cup MVP on the losing team...my Philly heart breaks ;-)

Oh well, I'll feel better when the Phillies play the Rays in the World Series. Unlike Jesse, I've been a season ticket holder of the Rays for about 4 years...about the time I moved here from Philly, even though they were HORRIBLE. This is my payoff! :-D

Hey...who said you can't have both an NL and AL team? It's not they play each other more than 4 times a year, anyway.

GO RAYS!!!

[Meg]

Jesse, if you're scalping tickets, you aren't a baseball fan. Real fans only buy tickets that they and their friends and families are going to use. They don't jack up the price and try to get rich on their team. They try to get real fans in to see the games and support their team.
- Rays fan since their inaugural year! Tampa Bay All The Way, 9=2 for now.

[Jesse]

Thank you MD. Us real fans must stick together.

I hope the Dodgers make it they are my second favorite team. I am so lucky I might clinch a World Series championship before the series even begins (assuming LAD and TB play each other)!

Best sports day of my life - I got like 4 tickets at 9am today and just sold them for sooooo much to some foolish Boston fans (the redsox haven't even made it yet!?)

GO RAYS GO RAYS!

[MD]

Jesse, you sure did show us how you're clearly the opposite of a bandwagoner, all right. I mean becoming a fan of the Marlins in their best year and now the Rays in theirs, who could ever call that into question? Kudos for telling RFN, who clearly knows nothing of the Rays, how Maddon's time will really play out here in Tampa.

Geez.

[John]

AJ is the Ron Hextall of baseball.

[Jesse]

RFN please, we don't need those kind of attacks on here. I am a true baseball fan (unlike you) and I am here to celebrate my favorite team going to the ALCS. When the Marlins won in 03 I was there, and I saw my (former team) Yankees win 2 World Series. How many times have YOU bought tickets to your favorite team's world series?

Sorry I didn't know when I was a baby that I was going to be a Rays fan but I am the biggest Rays fan on here. No one can disprove that.
Just because I switched later in life does not discredit me - so please stop harrassing me and calling me a bandwagoner because I am Rays through-and-through!

GO Rays!
Sincerely,
#1 Fan

[RFN]

Welcome to the bandwagon Jesse. After you've watched the Rays for more than a few games, you (might) figure some things out and you won't say anything as dumb as "we may be shopping for a new manager next year."

[Luke]

Maddon you Drew Carey look alike,
shut up

[mark]

AJ=Jackass....Well now he can go to the driving range...Screw AJ he's weak anyway.

Sticking your bat out to distract a catcher throwing to second isn't "just baseball." It's bush-league. It's too bad, because he's got talent. What a waste.

[kazmiroholic]

well the rays screwed me again I had tx to game 5- just joking congrads to the great tampa bay rays seya a.j

[Richard]

6 more outs

[Jesse]

I know a thing or two about the way these things happen (used to be a Yanks fan, but switched to Marlins in 03 and found my true baseball love in Tampa this year). What AJ did is just baseball. Come on Rays fans, we have to be bigger than this. Maddon needs to stop playing these little mind games or else we may be shopping for a new manager for next year.

[Jimbo Jenkins]

no big deal ... AJerkoff will be polishing up his golf clubs in a few hours anyway

[cg]

aj = ahole