Forgive me, but I must get some Pete Rose feelings off my chest. After doing radio for a while, it's one of the all-time go to stories. If you had nothing to talk about during a football-less Summer, you could always talk Pete. And now, there's been a development. Here. We. Go.
Dictionary check...
"Permanent - lasting or intended to last or remain unchanged indefinitely."
Keep that in mind. Rob Manfred just changed the definition. Pete Rose was on the permanently ineligible list in baseball until the commish took him off. The justification? He died. No new evidence. No new angles to consider. He just died and his family drew up a petition.
Manfred said in his decision...
"once an individual has passed away, the purposes of Rule 21 have been served. Obviously, a person no longer with us cannot represent a threat to the integrity of the game."
Hmmm. How does Pete's dying affect his threat level? Was he a threat to baseball when I saw him in Vegas years ago and my buddy Rick wanted his autograph and a pic? The punishment that day was he can't work in baseball ever and he can't be considered for the HOF ever. The punishment was the same the day before and after he died. So, again, how does his death change that? It doesn't, does it? It shouldn't, should it?
For review, here's the key part in rule 21...
"Any player, umpire, or Club or League official or employee, who shall bet any sum whatsoever upon
any baseball game in connection with which the bettor has a duty to perform, shall be declared
permanently ineligible."
The end of the person's life is never mentioned. If that mattered, why wasn't Shoeless Joe taken off the list when he died...in 1951?
I remember 1989 and the years after when people SAID "lifetime ban" when talking about Pete. But, to be clear, that's not what he signed. He signed a document that said he was out forever. Did they say they might re-visit? Sure. And they did a few times over the next 30+ years. Every time, they landed on the same, simple line of logic...
1) We made a rule he can't break or he's out permanently.
2) We have proof he broke the rule.
3) He's out permanently.
So now, Manfred is redefining how we are supposed to view these kinds of penalties. And get a load of this...
"Moreover, it is hard to conceive of a penalty that has more deterrent effect than one that lasts a lifetime with no reprieve.” - Manfred
Oooo oooo (hand up quickly and waving wildly) I can conceive of one. Make the damn thing a PERMANENT ban...like you already did. That way, 100 years after the player dies, if he's still guilty, he's still out. The rule still has power. Pretty big deterrent, Rob. The word "permanent" is in the rule. You painted the rule on every clubhouse wall. Why would that word not matter now? If you had new evidence he didn't bet, that's different. If you finally subscribe to the idea that Shoeless Joe played too well to have thrown the World Series, then say that. But you're falling back on...welp, they died?
That feels weak. If he's just getting it off his plate and passing the responsibility to the 16 folks on the Classic Committee, that's weak. If he's reacting, in any way, to The President, who may have thoughts on Pete Rose, that's weak too.
Hopefully this Classic Baseball Committee will bring their dictionaries in 2027.
The evidence has not changed in Pete's favor. It's actually gotten worse. There is evidence he bet on Reds games while he was a player and the manager. What else do you need to know? Whether Pete got hit by a bus and died in 1990 or lived to be 100, the punishment has to be permanent. You know, cause that's what you put in the damn rule and that's what he signed.
Plus, if Pete Rose knew he could get taken off that list by dying, don't you think he'd have faked his own death in like 1995 and legally changed his name to Charlie Hustle?
Words have to matter. And death can't change the truth.
________________________________________
- Sinus & Snoring Specialists
Get rid of your allergies for good with Sinus and Snoring Specialists. Ask Dr Slaughter about their allergy center and how it works. Also ask about how they deal with sleep apnea, sinus infections, and how to get that good night sleep you deserve.
This week on OB Live, @Alex Dunlap said he has a friend that found out he had 127 in incidents per hour with his sleep apnea. I had never heard of a number that high. Please contact Sinus and Snoring if you are a big time snorer. Get it taken care of.
I went to them in 2017 and I have never regretted it.
Sinus & Snoring Specialists
512-601-0303 (secure calls and texts)
www.sinussnoringent.com
Tell 'em you heard about it on OB.com or OB Live, or mention my name.
Dictionary check...
"Permanent - lasting or intended to last or remain unchanged indefinitely."
Keep that in mind. Rob Manfred just changed the definition. Pete Rose was on the permanently ineligible list in baseball until the commish took him off. The justification? He died. No new evidence. No new angles to consider. He just died and his family drew up a petition.
Manfred said in his decision...
"once an individual has passed away, the purposes of Rule 21 have been served. Obviously, a person no longer with us cannot represent a threat to the integrity of the game."
Hmmm. How does Pete's dying affect his threat level? Was he a threat to baseball when I saw him in Vegas years ago and my buddy Rick wanted his autograph and a pic? The punishment that day was he can't work in baseball ever and he can't be considered for the HOF ever. The punishment was the same the day before and after he died. So, again, how does his death change that? It doesn't, does it? It shouldn't, should it?
For review, here's the key part in rule 21...
"Any player, umpire, or Club or League official or employee, who shall bet any sum whatsoever upon
any baseball game in connection with which the bettor has a duty to perform, shall be declared
permanently ineligible."
The end of the person's life is never mentioned. If that mattered, why wasn't Shoeless Joe taken off the list when he died...in 1951?
I remember 1989 and the years after when people SAID "lifetime ban" when talking about Pete. But, to be clear, that's not what he signed. He signed a document that said he was out forever. Did they say they might re-visit? Sure. And they did a few times over the next 30+ years. Every time, they landed on the same, simple line of logic...
1) We made a rule he can't break or he's out permanently.
2) We have proof he broke the rule.
3) He's out permanently.
So now, Manfred is redefining how we are supposed to view these kinds of penalties. And get a load of this...
"Moreover, it is hard to conceive of a penalty that has more deterrent effect than one that lasts a lifetime with no reprieve.” - Manfred
Oooo oooo (hand up quickly and waving wildly) I can conceive of one. Make the damn thing a PERMANENT ban...like you already did. That way, 100 years after the player dies, if he's still guilty, he's still out. The rule still has power. Pretty big deterrent, Rob. The word "permanent" is in the rule. You painted the rule on every clubhouse wall. Why would that word not matter now? If you had new evidence he didn't bet, that's different. If you finally subscribe to the idea that Shoeless Joe played too well to have thrown the World Series, then say that. But you're falling back on...welp, they died?
That feels weak. If he's just getting it off his plate and passing the responsibility to the 16 folks on the Classic Committee, that's weak. If he's reacting, in any way, to The President, who may have thoughts on Pete Rose, that's weak too.
Hopefully this Classic Baseball Committee will bring their dictionaries in 2027.
The evidence has not changed in Pete's favor. It's actually gotten worse. There is evidence he bet on Reds games while he was a player and the manager. What else do you need to know? Whether Pete got hit by a bus and died in 1990 or lived to be 100, the punishment has to be permanent. You know, cause that's what you put in the damn rule and that's what he signed.
Plus, if Pete Rose knew he could get taken off that list by dying, don't you think he'd have faked his own death in like 1995 and legally changed his name to Charlie Hustle?
Words have to matter. And death can't change the truth.
________________________________________
- Sinus & Snoring Specialists
Get rid of your allergies for good with Sinus and Snoring Specialists. Ask Dr Slaughter about their allergy center and how it works. Also ask about how they deal with sleep apnea, sinus infections, and how to get that good night sleep you deserve.
This week on OB Live, @Alex Dunlap said he has a friend that found out he had 127 in incidents per hour with his sleep apnea. I had never heard of a number that high. Please contact Sinus and Snoring if you are a big time snorer. Get it taken care of.
I went to them in 2017 and I have never regretted it.
Sinus & Snoring Specialists
512-601-0303 (secure calls and texts)
www.sinussnoringent.com
Tell 'em you heard about it on OB.com or OB Live, or mention my name.
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