Former Teammates Weigh In On New A-Rod Allegations

Just so you know before you start reading, this SI story is mostly about tipping pitches and not steroids.

From Ted Keith (hat-tip to WasWatching.com):

When it was reported last February that Alex Rodriguez had tested positive for steroids in 2003, the reaction around baseball was mostly one of shock. Thursday's revelation that Rodriguez might have been tipping pitches to opposing hitters while playing shortstop for the Rangers from 2001-03 elicited a similar reaction from his former Texas teammates, with one important distinction: this might be even worse.

"In a lot of ways, it's worse than steroids and HGH," said Twins pitcher R.A. Dickey. "It's so much worse because you're harming another person deliberately."

These latest allegations -- that A-Rod might have been purposely tipping pitches to opposing hitters while playing shortstop for the Rangers in the hopes that they would return the favor for him -- landed like a body blow to former teammates Doug Glanville and Dickey. When told of the news, Glanville, who played with the Rangers in 2003 and is now retired, said "Oh wow." Dickey's first reaction was "Oh gosh man."

Shane Spencer, though, was not surprised. Spencer came to the Rangers from the Indians in a July 2003 trade and it wasn't long after his arrival that he began hearing whispers in his new, divided clubhouse about Rodriguez. "It was brought up. I overheard it but not from specific people," said Spencer, now a coach with the high Class-A Lake Elsinore (Calif.) Storm. "I think I overheard it in our clubhouse, but that team was really split up -- a bunch of groups of threes and fours. It wasn't a real close clubhouse and guys start talking especially when you're getting your butt kicked everyday. I remember hearing that."

Both Glanville and Dickey were reluctant to believe the allegations, which are a part of Selena Roberts' forthcoming book "A-Rod," until further information is made available, but neither could be sure that it didn't happen either. "I certainly didn't know or see anything like that," said Glanville. "Obviously if that's true that would be insane. I don't remember hearing anything about that when I was there. Of course it would be egregious and unforgivable."

"From personal experience, I can tell you I've seen nothing or heard nothing that would support any chapter in that book that says that," said Dickey. "Then again, it's not so far outside the realm of possibility where you could dismiss it because obviously it could happen. It's mind-boggling."

Not to Spencer. The journeyman outfielder said that while he never saw or heard of other players doing that, he wouldn't have been surprised if Rodriguez wasn't the only one doing so. "I'm sure it does happen. There are friends of friends. I'm sure there are catchers out there that have told guys what's coming. Hopefully it didn't happen [in Texas] and hopefully it didn't happen that often."

The allegations, which were first made public in a New York Daily News story on Thursday, are in Roberts' book, which will be released on Monday. In a phone interview with SI.com, Roberts said that over the course of a couple years, some people with the Rangers began to detect a pattern whereby Rodriguez would appear to be giving away pitch type and location to hitters, always middle infielders who would then be able to repay him in kind when he was at the plate, with his body movement. According to Roberts' sources, "If it was a changeup, he would twist his glove hand. To indicate a slider, he would sweep the dirt in front of him and he would bend in the direction of where the pitch was going to be, inside or outside." Roberts' sources stressed that this only occurred in games that had long since been decided and was done for "slump insurance. You can count on your buddy to help break you out of your slump. There was no intent to throw a game or change the outcome."

That explanation wasn't sufficient for Glanville or Dickey, who said "There's no situation that would ever justify him doing that on any level. That's somebody's ERA that's somebody's livelihood, that's somebody trying to provide for their family. I'm holding on to the belief that it's not true. No one with a conscience could do that. Blows me away."

I know as a fan, this bothers me a lot. But to me it's more interesting to hear how players feel about this kind of stuff, because they're the people who are effected by it. Can you imagine if you're a pitcher trying to make it in the big leagues, and Alex Rodriguez, the guy with the highest salary in the game, is giving the other team your pitches and probably helping you get a ticket back to Triple-A?

So what do you think is worse, steroids or tipping pitches?