Glynn Carrigan posted this comment to Chris’s outstanding post on Jim Hickey:
I believe a comment is in order for both Hickey and Maddon. Please talk with Rodney about him wearing his hat cocked like a gangbanger or a hoodlum instead of a straight on his head like a professional player! Grow up and act like a major league pitcher, not a punk!
I think his comment touches on something every Rays fan has discussed at some point this spring. What’s the deal with Rodney’s hat? Here’s the thing. I absolutely agree with Glynn AND absolutely disagree with Glynn. I suppose that kind of logic only makes sense in an election year.
I agree with Glynn because I am decidedly old-school. I don’t pretend to be a sociologist but, the forced schtick in today’s sporting world wears me out. I can barely stand more than one NFL game a week anymore because every single tackle leads to some contrived dance or taunt. Rodney’s hat seems to be right in that mold. It’s like Rodney is saying “Yeah, I know we are supposed to look uniform but F that. I am unique. You’ll look at me because I look different.” Forget letting your play do the talking. Do the talking before, during, and after you play so that no one remembers whether you were actually succesful. That is sports in 2012.
But, on the other hand, Rodney’s hat hits right in the sweet spot of Joe Maddon. Joe manages performance, not process. Joe seems to inherently understand that his primary role as a manager is to keep every player in a good mental state to keep their brains from screwing up their game. In some ways, Joe is like a less attractive Annie Savoy. And Fernando Rodney is the perfect example of what makes Joe a genius. In this last two stops, Rodney battled with grizzled-old baseball men over non-baseball related issues. His personality (and presumably his crooked hat) ruffled the feathers of Jim Leyland and Mike Scioscia leading to ugly public divorces. None of those scuffs had anything to do with Rodney’s ability. Rodney just couldn’t live under the strict parenting rules imposed by Leyland and Scioscia who, like Glynn, probably thought Rodney was a punk.
So, I leave the question open. Is Rodney a punk that needs to fix his hat? Or, is he just another jewel in Joe’s crown as a the best personality manager ever?
Also, does the answer to this question change if Rodney stops getting guys out?
I love the tilted hat. Not only is it inconsequential to his numbers, but it takes the attention of opposing batters, runners, and managers away from what he is doing on the mound. What he does on the mound is all we fans care about. If Joe Maddon addresses the hat, what is next? …Luke Scott’s sideburns? … David Price’s leg over the dugout railing and other in game shenanigans? That just is not the Ray’s style. Let us face it, not all baseball players are going be clean cut and a perfect reflection of “a civilized” baseball player like a Carl Yastrzemski, Joe Dimaggio, Ryne Sandberg, or Joe Mauer. Moreover, there is the perception and then there is reality. These types of eccentric and standout actions, hair and shave styles, and other behaviors have been around for a long time. The Great Bambino (Babe Ruth) rarely took his picture with his hat on straight. Then there are examples of Oscar Gambles hair (Yankees 1976), Goose Gossage (pick a year) mustache and Cal Ripken on his cell phone (Upper Deck Card No 240). All of these were about the individual player and not impeding their game in the slightest and all of them are Hall of Fame level athletes. Please keep the tilted hat, side burns, and shenanigans…I love my Rays just the way they are. Winning!
I’m just going to say “ditto” to Mark Raney.
I’m with you too Mark, I love it. I wonder if we can draw a direct correlation between the angle of said hat and his pitching performance? Is it more or less jaunty than in Detroit/Anaheim? Did it always lean the same way? Can we confirm whether or not he removed the stickers from his hat (a trend that literally baffles me)? These are serious baseball questions that need answering!
Mark, Merrill & Chris,
The examples you state in no way draw a reference to gangbangers, hoodlums or punks. The cocked hat is typical of that sterotype. Next you’ll see players throwing the ball with one hand and holding up their pants with the other so their boxers don’t show. Will that be OK with Maddon because it makes a player happy? I believe Maddon’s a terrific manager, but allowing any player to disrespect the uniform is going too far! Sorry, I’m an old school baseball fan that believes in being professional as a major leaguer.
Glynn, don’t confuse the uniform with the game. John Madden wrote the best summary of what matters in his book:
“Discipline is knowing what you’re supposed to do and doing it as best you can…. On third down and short yardage, the Raiders don’t jump offside. That’s discipline—not a coat and tie, not a clean shave.”
SO, Rodeny’s crooked hat is gang-banging but Babe’s crooked hat was what…retro drunk chic?
I totally see how it’s better for the fat drunk white guy to do it, but not the black-hispanic athlete. Ok, no I don’t, but I know how it scares older white guys. Hopefully your suspenders don’t fall out of style any time soon, you’ll be completely lost.
Funny story. When I was a kid, two of my best friends were twins whose father won a state title and a Saladino title as a high school baseball coach. He had a pitcher named Chris Myers that was a first round pick of the Orioles in 1987. Myers always wore his hat cockeyed. One day, my friends’ dad finally asked him about it and Myers explained that he moved the bill of his cap depending on where the sun was. Oddly, that makes a ton of sense. (Obviously, the aforementioed explanation doesn’t apply to the Trop).
Holy cow, I found a picture! [img]http://cdn.bleacherreport.net/images_root/slides/photos/001/306/880/ChrisMyerssportsbuydotcom_display_image.jpg?1316103024[/img]
I totally agree with Mark. What difference does it make??? I happen to love it.
These men are already professional in their own right. They’ve put in the work to play in the major league. I feel as though “old school” means every player dressing the same. I think they all have the right to have a little fun. Plus a player’s success is definitely guaged by their performance and wins, not how they dress or how much smack they talk before and after a game.
I think its no different than all the tattoos and beards, who cares
Really? Did you write a post about the way Rodney wears his hat? Get a life. Who cares how he wears his hat, I don’t care if he wears it backwards. Does it matter? People get upset about the most insignificant things. Just find something useful to do besides nag and make racist comments
Totally agree. Doesn’t it drive you crazy when people get upset about the most insignificant things? Like blog posts for example.
Or by not reading them and taking them completely out of context, for that matter….
Yeah, hes a punk, no doubt. How can you say that hes not? The crooked hat is a gang related deal and we in Miami know that to be true. So I guess hes a punk and sooner or later he will get whomped! Mafia does not like this!
Doesn’t Justin Bieber wear a crooked hat? I know he’s not in a gang. (Well, maybe he’s a Shark or a Jet or something. But not a gang I am scared of.) I get why people think he’s a punk. I just embrace him.
As for your Mafia reference, I literally have no idea what you’re talking about but, in an abundance of caution, will show some respect.