Now, I may be reading too much into this...

Well, let me first say that I'm not by any means a pessimist, and I don't usually point fingers unless I see blatant hypocrisy, so...

Anyway, in Game 4, Sabathia threw a few "quick pitches" before some of the Phillies' batters were settled into the box, resulting in easy outs and strikes from the batters, who weren't ready.

Now, in Game 5, a Philly pitcher (wasn't watching the game, saw it on Sports Center) did the same thing to Posada. Now, Posada tried calling time because of the pitcher's early wind-up, and then complained to the ump when he didn't get it, and was visibly unhappy with the at-bat, but probably not because of his own inability to get on base and rather because of the "quick pitch."

Now, being Sabathia's catcher, unless I'm mistaken (only saw the later innings of Game 4), does anyone else see something wrong about Posada's beef with the pitcher/ump?

Now, in the entire post season, I've seen Yankees players try to go for absolutely every loophole they could; Molina going to the mound after every pitch, disrupting the game, etc., and I'm wondering, did anyone else notice this classlessness? It's like A-Rod last year, distracting the (Twins'?) third baseman so that he failed to catch a routine pop-up.

These are like unwritten rules of baseball: don't go out to the mound after every pitch, pitchers should wait until the batter's ready in the box, etc. Though you CAN do these things, it's expected that you won't...but the Yankees seem to break as many as they can.

Now, I'm not saying that this is why they win games or anything. I don't know if any of these examples clearly resulted in a Yankees win, ever (I actually doubt that they have), but it still bugs me.

Your thoughts?

Regarding the quick pitch. It's up to the batter to put his hand up in the air to ask for time until he's ready to bat. Jeter is a perfect example of this. Batters today take too much time in the box. Some step out on every pitch and go through some kind of routine. I can understand why pitchers who like to work fast would get tired of this.

Regarding Molina going out to the mound several times in one inning. Better safe than sorry. If the catcher feels a base runner is stealing his signs or needs to talk to the pitcher about something, there currently are no set rules on how often he can go to the mound. It's up to the home plate umpire to move things along.

If the batter is in the box, be ready to hit. If they dont want the pitch to be pitched, then step out of the box.

I thought this was another thread about the Dodgers, lol.

One game,one of our home ones (you'll have to excuse the fact I can't remember which one it was the middle of the night) their bullpen was doing its usual bad job,Girardi didn't know what to do,decided he wanted Rivera who wasn't ready and they basically used every stalling trick in the book while he warmed up,he was able to get ready without another pitch being throwen and the umps did nothing

Yes, I know that these aren't written rules, but baseball is known as a gentleman's sport; like ultimate Frisbee, for example. Ultimate is played with no refs, for those that don't know.

Anyway, baseball has so many unwritten rules: pitchers allow batters to get ready in the box for example; if they take too long, they deliver, but Sabathia didn't wait at all. The batter barely stepped in, and he threw. That's a slight exaggeration, but just slight.

I dunno, I'm seeing baseball becoming less and less gentlemanly.

At least, in Yankees games (opposing team are now using the Yankees' brand of baseball against them, but not against other teams as far as I'm aware).

Well, if you guys think it's nothing...I'm hoping baseball doesn't lose its class.