There are plenty of players in Major League Baseball that hate Alex Rodriguez right now. Many disagree about the New York Yankee's slugger being allowed to finish out the season before beginning his suspension next year. However, the controversial star has one person in his corner, David Ortiz. After Ortiz's teammate Ryan Dempster plucked Rodriguez (allegedly) on purpose, Ortiz is speaking out.
"I didn't like it. I don't think it was the right thing to do," Ortiz said, via USA TODAY Sports. "But we don't all think alike, and the guy who did it -- Dempster -- is a great guy. It's not that I didn't think it was right because Alex and I are friends, because once you cross the white lines, everyone's on their own."
Several players have come out and publically criticized Rodriguez for his involvement in the Biogenesis scandal and for attempting to appeal his 2011-game suspension. Meanwhile others involved like Ryan Braun have come out and admitted their wrong doing. Dempster was the first to actually take physical action, throwing three pitches targeted at Rodriguez, one hitting him. The action caused the benches to clear as most interpreted the move as retaliation.
Ortiz is concerned the move by Dempster has awoken a sort of "sleeping giant" with the Yankees. The team has won their last nine of 11 games and now sit 6 ½ games behind Boston while sitting four games behind in the wild card race.
"You saw how the game ended up. CC Sabathia was throwing 91 (mph) and started throwing 96. Alex later hit one way out there. You're talking about a good team that you can't wake up. But we learn from our mistakes," Ortiz said.
The Red Sox dugout appears to be pretty divided over the Rodriguez situation. Both John Lackey and Jon Lester side with Dempster on the issue while Ortiz continues to speak out for his friend. The Red Sox slugger believes the suspension given to Rodriguez could have something to do with the size of his contract with the Yankees, something MLB officials have denied.
"And thinking in general terms, what's good for me, what's good for other players, what's good for your kids if they decide to become ballplayers, you can't let any team break a contract, because then the next time a player gets a DUI, or is charged with domestic violence or with any other thing, then the team may try to get out of a contract. They would have (precedent)," Ortiz said.
When told about Ortiz's comments, Rodriguez said that he had a lot of respect for the Red Sox player. Dempster was suspended for five games and fined $2,500 for his actions on Rodriguez.