Lawrie and Order

Good Times: LAWRIE celebrates walk-off homerun with teammates ^_^

The 2012 Blue Jays here in my hometown have a different air about them, but as the eyes of the city, province, and nation look to the sole professional baseball team outside of the United States to represent, the more it matters when things go awry.

Such was the case, when earlier this week against the Tampa Bay Rays, Canadian and fan favourite Brett Lawrie set his competitive fire in the direction of home plate umpire Bill Miller after a pair of questionable strike calls behind the plate. Lawrie launched into an angry tirade, which led to his immediate ejection from the game; he threw his helmet to the ground, and it bounced off and hit the umpire. The argument between the two continued and Blue Jays manager John Farrell had to restrain Lawrie from causing further damage o_O Major League Baseball reviewed the incident and moved to suspend Brett Lawrie for four games, which he appealed right away. As of Thursday, however, Brett Lawrie dropped his appeal and agreed to sit out the four games (Eric Koreen, National Post).

Bad Times: Lawrie ejected arguing strikes with umpire Bill Miller o_O

There is no question Torontonians identify with Brett Lawrie: The energy, enthusiasm, and competitive spirit that he brings to every baseball game is a hit with casual and fanatical fans of the game, at least for the holdovers of the Strike of '94. For the younger generation, his energy, tattoos, and host of Internet memes are some of the things that bring them to the Rogers Center (they also go for good baseball, I can't forget that ^_^). The four-game suspension is an indication that the old guard of Major League Baseball is still in charge. With every game televised and watched by thousands at the park, and hundreds of thousands at home and aboard, and twenty-first century technology pushing other sports into the future, it is easy to find baseball so relaxing one minute and frustrating the next.

Years ago, my Politics 101 professor in university asked the class what is a strike in baseball. After a minute or two, one of the students raised his hand, and said "the ball must be over home plate, above the knees and below the shoulder blades of the batter." We all agreed, but the professor said we were incorrect, and that a strike is "Whatever the umpire calls a strike". MIND BLOWN o_O Going back to Brett Lawrie, another reason so many here in Toronto like him is because he plays baseball like a hockey player. When you play at full speed, like Pete Rose in his youth (without gambling on baseball), and you play to the whistle (there are no whistles in baseball o_O), then there should be a prize or a return for all the hard work and dedication you put in. Two pitches blurred that sentiment for Brett Lawrie and Blue Jays fans watching at the  park and at home.

The 2012 Jays are BIG, and demand to play BIG. However, the 4-game suspension handed down to Lawrie is another message that MLB is in charge of the "reality" of baseball, and the energetic Jays must play by their rules, whatever the umpire happens to call them. Speaking of reality, this kind of thing reminds me of something that happened last season (Phil strokes chin, dream music sequence, what is Phil talking about?)...


Click here to go to Brian Chisholm's piece for more on the Lawrie fallout.