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Old Forum Index » Other Stuff » Sports Talk » Steve Kline is a big fat jerk
Duff77
Kline has been less than impressive this year, giving up 28 hits and 17 walks in 28.1 innings with a 5.08 ERA, but as banged up and badly struggling as the Orioles are right now, they can't afford to lose anybody--not even for a few games.
Last night, tied 4-4 in the top of the eighth, Kline gave up a leadoff single to Jorge Posada. Then, he went 3-0 to Jason Giambi. While in his next stretch, he very clearly turned his shoulder and part of his body as if he was coming set, and then went back into the stretch. It's a stupid rule, in my opinion, but very clearly a balk. Posada moved up to second.
Kline then proceeded to distinguish himself as one of the games great jerks by going completely ballistic. Sal Fasano tried to hold Kline back, but I believe he was ejected when he touched one of the umpires. At any rate, Fasano's human shield was the only thing that prevented him from decking an ump--he was that pissed.
Now I didn't see it, but according to the New York broadcasters (was watching the game over the Internet on the YES network), Kline threw a ball onto the field after Fasano dragged him to the dugout. Even if he managed NOT to touch an umpire, THAT will almost certainly result in a suspension.
There are several things that infuriate me about this:
1) Kline clearly balked. It's a stupid rule, but it was a balk, and Kline's been around long enough to know what a balk is.
2) It was already 3-0 to Giambi, so the balk wasn't that big a deal. I'm sure they would'ved tried to get Giambi out without the balk, but he probably would've lost him anyway and put the runners exactly where they ended up after Jorge Julio (who relieved Kline) threw an intentional ball four.
3) Kline got himself ejected in a tie game in the eighth when the Orioles had lost five straight and desperately needed a win.
4) Kline likely got himself suspended at a time when the Orioles can ill-afford to lose anybody.
And that's inexusable. He sucks anyway--nothing about his stuff or his character has yet to impress me, but the Orioles are at the point where AA closer Chris Ray is being called on to pitch to Derek Jeter with the bases loaded and two out with a 4-2 lead in the sixth (he walked him to forced in a run). It's pretty clear, I think, that we CAN'T AFFORD TO LOSE ANY MORE PLAYERS!
Kline's outright stupidity is a sign of a player who has his head more up his ass than in the game. Like I've always said, I don't care if players are jerks, as long as they play the game like men. Steve Kline apparently can't do that. I think the Orioles can find another lefty who can post a 5.08 ERA and be less of a total loser.
Less Mazzilli isn't thrilling me either:
"He should be upset. There was no balk there," Mazzilli said.
Um, yeah there was. But then, this is from Mazzilli, who recently got himself ejected (and later suspended) for arguing a foul ball was a home run when it was, in fact, foul. Mazzilli has been criticized for not standing up for his players, but nobody should be standing up for Kline's childish nonsense--especially when he freakin' balked.
Steve Kline is a big fat jerk
June 28, 2005 at 03:55PM View BBCode
Let it be said that I never disagreed with Furious on this point, but after last night's game, I'm officially done with Steve Kline.Kline has been less than impressive this year, giving up 28 hits and 17 walks in 28.1 innings with a 5.08 ERA, but as banged up and badly struggling as the Orioles are right now, they can't afford to lose anybody--not even for a few games.
Last night, tied 4-4 in the top of the eighth, Kline gave up a leadoff single to Jorge Posada. Then, he went 3-0 to Jason Giambi. While in his next stretch, he very clearly turned his shoulder and part of his body as if he was coming set, and then went back into the stretch. It's a stupid rule, in my opinion, but very clearly a balk. Posada moved up to second.
Kline then proceeded to distinguish himself as one of the games great jerks by going completely ballistic. Sal Fasano tried to hold Kline back, but I believe he was ejected when he touched one of the umpires. At any rate, Fasano's human shield was the only thing that prevented him from decking an ump--he was that pissed.
Now I didn't see it, but according to the New York broadcasters (was watching the game over the Internet on the YES network), Kline threw a ball onto the field after Fasano dragged him to the dugout. Even if he managed NOT to touch an umpire, THAT will almost certainly result in a suspension.
There are several things that infuriate me about this:
1) Kline clearly balked. It's a stupid rule, but it was a balk, and Kline's been around long enough to know what a balk is.
2) It was already 3-0 to Giambi, so the balk wasn't that big a deal. I'm sure they would'ved tried to get Giambi out without the balk, but he probably would've lost him anyway and put the runners exactly where they ended up after Jorge Julio (who relieved Kline) threw an intentional ball four.
3) Kline got himself ejected in a tie game in the eighth when the Orioles had lost five straight and desperately needed a win.
4) Kline likely got himself suspended at a time when the Orioles can ill-afford to lose anybody.
And that's inexusable. He sucks anyway--nothing about his stuff or his character has yet to impress me, but the Orioles are at the point where AA closer Chris Ray is being called on to pitch to Derek Jeter with the bases loaded and two out with a 4-2 lead in the sixth (he walked him to forced in a run). It's pretty clear, I think, that we CAN'T AFFORD TO LOSE ANY MORE PLAYERS!
Kline's outright stupidity is a sign of a player who has his head more up his ass than in the game. Like I've always said, I don't care if players are jerks, as long as they play the game like men. Steve Kline apparently can't do that. I think the Orioles can find another lefty who can post a 5.08 ERA and be less of a total loser.
Less Mazzilli isn't thrilling me either:
"He should be upset. There was no balk there," Mazzilli said.
Um, yeah there was. But then, this is from Mazzilli, who recently got himself ejected (and later suspended) for arguing a foul ball was a home run when it was, in fact, foul. Mazzilli has been criticized for not standing up for his players, but nobody should be standing up for Kline's childish nonsense--especially when he freakin' balked.
FuriousGiorge
June 28, 2005 at 04:59PM View BBCode
At least we can all agree now. Steve Kline sucks. I actually hope that they Graves him at this point.
youngallstar
Oh, and Steve Kline is definately a jerk
June 28, 2005 at 05:03PM View BBCode
How is it a stupid rule? If it wasnt against the rules to balk than pitchers would be up their twitching like an idiot every pitch to try and throw off the runner. Who wants to see that!?Oh, and Steve Kline is definately a jerk
Duff77
When a pitcher does something that does, in fact, cause deception, and comes under terms of the balk rule, it should absolutely be called; but I'd like to see it changed so that balks don't automatically have to be called when a pitcher's flinch causes absolutely nothing of consequence to happen. Maybe you could call time, make it a dead ball, or issue a warning, but I think a balk call is a little much.
And all this when it is legal for a lefty to intentionally decive a runner at first by doing everything to make it look like he's coming home and then throwing over.
June 28, 2005 at 05:16PM View BBCode
I just wish the umpires had some discrection with the balk rule. I have never in my life seen a runner try to take off while a pitcher was moving from the stretch to the set position. The only thing it could possibly effect is a step or two in a runner's lead. Now, that might've resulted in some deception if Kline had then stepped off or something, but that didn't happen. Nothing Kline did caused any actual deception, and I think it's stupid to have a hard and fast rule that requires calling a balk when there is no deception.When a pitcher does something that does, in fact, cause deception, and comes under terms of the balk rule, it should absolutely be called; but I'd like to see it changed so that balks don't automatically have to be called when a pitcher's flinch causes absolutely nothing of consequence to happen. Maybe you could call time, make it a dead ball, or issue a warning, but I think a balk call is a little much.
And all this when it is legal for a lefty to intentionally decive a runner at first by doing everything to make it look like he's coming home and then throwing over.
Smocko
Not an Orioles fan but let us not forget that he signed as a free-agent with the team and then complained sometime early in the season.
What a dick.
June 28, 2005 at 08:06PM View BBCode
The most funny thing about this game (which I was also watching) was that Pavano was called for a balk in the sixth which cost the Yankees a run on the next pitch (a single I think). This made Kline's blowup all the more ridiculous.Not an Orioles fan but let us not forget that he signed as a free-agent with the team and then complained sometime early in the season.
What a dick.
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