Mar 6, 2014; Jupiter, FL, USA; Boston Red Sox right fielder
Alex Hassan(68) at bat against the Boston Red Sox at Roger Dean Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports
After today’s rain-shortened tie against the Miami Marlins, several of the Marlins’ team executives expressed “outrage” at the Red Sox lineup. Tickets for the game had been granted “super premium” status and fans were disappointed when only two players in the Red Sox starting lineup had any big league experience. Citing an obscure rule requiring teams to bring at least four major leaguers, or at least those with a reasonable chance to be major leaguers, Marlins beat writer Juan Rodriguez goes as far as to write that the Miami may even contact the league offices due to this violation.
Though this rule is admittedly vague, one could easily make the argument that the Red Sox are actually in violation of it. Though Jackie Bradley Jr., Allen Webster, Ryan Lavarnway, and Brandon Snyder all have seen time in Boston and will again see time in 2014, none of them (with the exception of Bradley) will likely make the 25-man roster. The Marlins, on the other hand, played almost exclusively their projected starting lineup as well as using almost exclusively major league pitchers.
Ironically, that didn’t make a difference for the Marlins. Despite playing their A-lineup and the Red Sox playing what seemed to be a mix of their B-lineup and their yet-to-be-seen C-lineup, the game finished in a 0-0 tie in which the Red Sox actually outhit the Marlins 7-2.
Besides, if we are being realistic, then this game was never truly going to be “super premium” anyway. The Marlins’ spring training camp in Jupiter, Florida is approximately 140 miles from the Red Sox camp in Ft. Myers. According to the unwritten rule of spring training baseball which states “if thou hast more than one year of MLB experience, thou shalt not travel,” the Marlins were never really going to see any Red Sox regulars anyway. They may demand satisfaction from Major League Baseball, and they may get it, but in most respects, this is a non-story.