Posted on 10/07/2003 2:38:03 PM PDT by Mr. Mojo
OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) -- Some of the Oakland Athletics were furious with Derek Lowe, accusing the Red Sox pitcher of making obscene gestures toward them after he struck out Terrence Long to finish Boston's 4-3 victory in the AL division series Monday night.
``It's a situation where if you did anything where you offended anyone, I'm sorry,'' Lowe said. ``I was swinging my arms around. I don't know what I did. I did the same crazy thing I do every game.''
The A's thought Lowe simulated a sexual act with his arms and made a gesture toward his crotch following the final out, sending Oakland shortstop Miguel Tejada into a rage in the clubhouse moments later.
``Derek Lowe is going to be paid back for that sign,'' Tejada screamed hysterically through the clubhouse, shouting expletives. ``My kid is in the stands. He's going to pay.''
Oakland general manager Billy Beane escorted the crying Tejada away.
Tejada was later told that Lowe apologized.
``I feel better now that I hear he apologizes,'' Tejada said after calming down. ``He was jumping around and making a scene. They have families up there, we have families up there.''
Tejada is one of the most emotional players on the A's, and this was probably his final game with them because he can become a free agent.
``He takes everything personally, wins and losses, and plays with his heart on his sleeve,'' first baseman Scott Hatteberg said of Tejada. ``He plays with everything he's got.''
Other A's players were offended.
``That's extremely unprofessional,'' center fielder Chris Singleton said. ``That's a shame that's the type of person he is. He was the only one who showed less than professionalism.''
Hatteberg spent seven seasons with the Red Sox and 11 in their organization. He and Lowe were teammates.
``To have that done is absolutely classless and unprofessional,'' Hatteberg said. ``I'm disappointed having known him. I don't think it was aimed at (Tejada), it was aimed at us. I know we show emotion, but I can't think of anything we've done to show them up.''
Not this year it won't, Red Sox in six.
There's a helluva difference between guys getting miffed about losing and guys crying about losing and then taking out their frustrations on some fictional act by an opposing player.
Yanks in 5.
Nah, the Sox played the Yanks virtually equal the whole season, scored more runs than the Yanks going head-to-head, and probably would have gone 10 - 8 against them if their best hitter, Manny Ramirez, hadn't missed a three game series against them.
Sox will lose big the first game due to helter-skelter pitching rotation after coming fresh off the A's series. Then they will win the next two and take the Yankees in six.
BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! Must be "stupid old fogey baseball-has-gone-to-hell" night on this thread.
Baseball players have been incredibly greedy since the 1870s. And also filled with cry babies as well.
I'll be holding you to your prediction.
But I tell you what....getting there and losing is a whole lot better than being out of the race by August.
My Braves have given me 162+ games of enjoyment going on 13 years now.
If Tejada wants to cry about something, that would be a darn good place to start.
And how much are you going to pay Barry Zito to throw a bean ball at Lowe?
Ooops, that's right Mr. Tejada, Derek Lowe doesn't bat in the AL.
Sour grapes. Loser.
I'm with you Big Guy.
Best quote I've heard all year:
"The Red Sox killed my father. Now they're coming for me."
We think alike. The Sox are more comfortable up against the Yanks. They know the Yanks. They're more composed. They did very well against them at the Stadium this year. They'll get their noses bloodied but I think they can take NY.
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