TIM'S TAKES: Tipping makes A-Rod bad news

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May 3, 2009

By Tim Schmitt The Niagara Gazette Sun May 03, 2009, 12:46 AM EDT

Tipping makes A-Rod bad news

Whether or not Alex Rodriguez used steroids seems irrelevant now. Too many players did it. It’s cheating, and hopefully Major League Baseball finds a way to efficiently rid it from the game.

But the thought that A-Rod might have been pitch tipping will forever tarnish his character in my eyes. For real? Telling the other team what’s coming all in the name of getting yourself out of a slump at a later date? That’s baseball blasphemy.

I’m not a Yankees fan, but can you imagine Derek Jeter ever giving an opponent an edge? Never. Not if the game is out of reach, not even in spring training. How about Kevin Youkilis? Think he’d flash Nick Swisher signs in a lopsided affair? No chance. In fact, Youkilis would go spikes up in a 10-run game.

Winning is winning. Steroids are cheating, but they’re cheating in the name of winning. Sinful for sure, but simply a line we’ve decided we don’t want our stars to cross. Cortisone’s OK. So’s Tommy John surgery. HGH is not.

But tipping pitches goes against everything competition stands for. If A-Rod was engaging in the practice, his teammates better understand what he represents — selfishness.

Wonder why Mr. MVP can’t manage a hit when it counts? He doesn’t know what’s coming.

Pivotal season for Power

We don’t mean to put the pressure on Cal Kern, but here’s hoping the general manager of the Niagara Power understands what’s at stake this year. The team’s first two New York Collegiate Baseball League seasons have been entertaining enough, but the city has had trouble getting behind a team that’s slumped in the second half twice.

Kern insists his team is better this year. Power-packed, to steal a pun.

Let’s hope so. Baseball is too much a part of Niagara Falls’ history to lose again, and the NYCBL is a great brand to have in town. Throw in the fact that Sal Maglie is one of, if not the best stadium in the league and we’re hoping to see the team near the top of the division standings — and the league’s attendance figures.

Kane’s laziness cost Hawks

Regardless of what happened in Saturday’s Game 2 (and the contest finished too late for publication), let’s not lose sight of the casual approach to defense South Buffalo’s Patrick Kane took in the final minutes of Game 1 in the second-round series between Chicago and Vancouver.

Kane was great in the third period, kickstarting the Blackhawks’ offense almost single-handedly.

But with the game on the line, and one of his defenseman pinching, Kane had defensive responsibilities he shirked with just over a minute to play. As the second man back, Kane should have realized he needed to cover the point. Instead, he waltzed toward the corner when Vancouver stole the puck and headed the other way.

The result was a game-winner for the Canucks.

Contact sports editor Tim Schmitt at 282-2311, ext. 2266.

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