Apparently a new way to go after your opponent:

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=2142263

WTF?

Baseball is gay.

Is he suspended without Milk money?

rimshot

Shit. It wasn't a dare, it was a bet.

Penny should throw the guy some money.

I'm wondering if the Marlins would have suspended the kid if Penny still played for them. Obviously, I don't know whether they would have or not, but I think it looks particularly bad that a member of another team is offering money to their batboy for any reason.

how does it look bad? he's a batboy. I'm sure they get $100 tips all the time for getting a guy a steak sandwich.

I heard if the batboy tested positive for steroids they were going to make it 12 games off.

Milk is a performace enhancing substance, only slightly less dangerous than chocolate milk. MLB players should not encourage anyone to indulge in such a dangerous and habit forming behavior such as milk drinking. The 6 game suspension reminds the batboy of the dangers and pitfalls associated with this habit. I'm hoping the batboy goes into rehab.

Hmm, a gallon of milk in an hour? I bet I could do that. Anybody willing to bet me $500?

Doesn't sound that hard.

such bs

Steriods - 10 Days
Milk - 6 Days

Yea, that seems about right.

Penny knew the kid from last year so it's not like he did it to hurt the poor kids job on purpose.

I can see where it might look bad because Penny plays for another team. Regardless of Penny's intentions, which I am certain were innocent, it's still the case that a batboy was trying to accept money from an opponent. When is it OK to take money from an opponent and when is it not? This will reek of "slippery slope," but what if an opposing player offers a batboy, say, $2000 to replace or alter equipment in some way? What if an opponent makes a bet with a batboy over a truly dangerous stunt? I don't know how old this batboy is, but a lot of kids and teenagers will try just about anything for money. The difference between a player on the same team and a player on an opposing team is that management can take action against its own players. In this case, the Marlins can't do a damn thing to Brad Penny for making bets with their (presumably) underage staff. I'm not trying to argue the actual penalty here. Maybe six games is too long, maybe it's not. My point is that I think they need to discourage their staff from accepting money or promises of money from opponents.

I know different teams are involved, but it sure seems odd that the batboy gets 6 games for taking the dare/bet, while Penny doesn't even get out the $500 he put on the line...

I know different teams are involved, but it sure seems odd that the batboy gets 6 games for taking the dare/bet, while Penny doesn't even get out the $500 he put on the line...
Well, wouldn't it be up to the Dodgers or MLB to do something about him?

Since batboys, et al often serve duties in the visiting clubhouse (and are tipped by those players same as their own, etc), I don't think there's anything particularly unusual down the "opposing team" path.

Well, wouldn't it be up to the Dodgers or MLB to do something about him?
Oh, I agree. Seems like something ought to happen there, though.

Since batboys, et al often serve duties in the visiting clubhouse (and are tipped by those players same as their own, etc), I don't think there's anything particularly unusual down the "opposing team" path.



Jon is right. Clubhouse Attendants and batboys accept money from opposing players after every series. The Clubbies tips are part of their regular income. Bayboys are tipped for all types of gopher deeds.

I know a guy who played for the Cardinals in '98. He told me McGwire sent the Clubby to the store to buy a stereo for the weight room. He gave him $1000, and when the guy came back with a $400 system, McGwire tells him to keep the change. Not bad.

This story reminds me of when we bet a batboy he couldn't eat 10 hotdogs in an hour without throwing up. He insisted he could do it, but ate 3 and blew chunks. Funny stuff, and I'm sure it happens all the time.

Post #7

OK, having never been near a Major League team until four weeks ago, I had no idea that opposing team players ever tipped batboys or even had that much interaction with them. I surrender.

OK, having never been near a Major League team until four weeks ago, I had no idea that opposing team players ever tipped batboys or even had that much interaction with them. I surrender.
All the more reason somebody should step in and either un-suspend the kid, or punish Penny. He's at least as guilty in all this, and if what happened was truly wrong, Penny should go down, too. If there was nothing bad done, the kid should be working. But to nail the kid without something happening to Penny (who is supposed to be an adult figure in this) is ludicrous.

I personally guarantee none of you can drink a gallon of milk in an hour. Haven't you ever done the milk challenge? I have footage of like 6 or 7 guys doing it in '01 or so and every single one threw up. One person even through up an item that can only be compared to a small intestine.

I have footage of like 6 or 7 guys doing it in '01 or so and every single one threw up. One person even through up an item that can only be compared to a small intestine.


Let's see it! (the footage, not the small intestine!)