In six degrees of hatred of Alex Rodriguez consider this scenario: Joe Torre and MLB may find themselves protecting A-Rod.
Torre, who hardly counted Rodriguez among his favorite players to manage during his Yankee tenure, and Joe Garagiola Jr. are the main executives in charge of reviewing on-field matters for discipline for MLB. And The Post was told they were looking at Dempster’s sequence in which he threw behind, near and finally at A-Rod in the second inning of Sunday night’s game to determine if they will recommend a suspension for the Red Sox righty.
Dempster denied purposely trying to plunk Rodriguez, but there seemed little doubt about his intentions because he is known for having very good control and, in a four-pitch at-bat, he threw behind Rodriguez, inside off the plate twice and then hit A-Rod in the left elbow. If his hope were to make a statement against A-Rod for alledged steroid use or for allegedly being a rat who sold out other players to try to save himself, Dempster may have hit the unintended consequences button — because Rodriguez did derive quite a bit of support/sympathy for being treated like an on-field piñata.
And Dempster also put MLB in a tough spot. Home-plate ump Brian O’Nora did not eject the veteran righty. But if MLB does not suspend Dempster, it likely will lead to the A-Rod camp again suggesting that the Commissioners Office has his worst interest at heart. If there is no suspension, then would the Commissioners Office tacitly be saying to any pitcher with animus toward A-Rod that it is open season on him — there will be no punishment?
Plus, if there is a suspension, but it does not cover an extended period, you could expect the Yanks to be furious. Because Dempster could accept say a five- or six-game suspension quickly — and MLB is supposed to rule today — and the Red Sox would not miss him. With off-days on Thursday and next Monday, Boston would not need a fifth starter again until Aug. 31.