In the second inning of Saturday loss to the Milwaukee Brewers, Adam Dunn -- who was not in the game -- left the bench and the clubhouse, and went up to the Brewers radio booth to visit with legendary announcer Bob Uecker, who made his return Friday to the airwaves after missing time recovering from heart surgery.
Dunn even appeared live on Milwaukee radio.
I'm all for Dunn paying his respect to a friend and one of the venerable voices of the game.
However, the second inning of Major League baseball game on live radio is not the time or place.
There is plenty of time pre-game or post-game for Dunn to have caught up with Uecker. Before he reports, during batting practice, after the game. On HIS time. Dunn's personal time.
At game time, Dunn belongs on the bench, or the clubhouse, or the batting cage below the stands. Period. No exception. It's game time.
No wonder Dunn is so emphatic about not playing in the American League as a designated hitter. If he can't stay on the bench in a game where he didn't start, imagine the places he'll go if he knows he only has to hit every other inning.
He might go up on the concourse for a bratwurst and a beer. He could visit the family lounge to check in on the kids. Maybe he could give the color guy a break every other inning if he likes going in the broadcast booth so much.
Leaving the clubhouse during a game, riding an elevator up to the press box level, and going on a live radio broadast is simply inexcusable. It shows utter disregard for process, his manager and his teammates.
This is a simple case of a player that does not respect the situation he's in. If he isn't punished by the team I will be disappointed. Not that Dunn will get away with his brazen act, but that the organization has that little regard for process.
"I'll pay my fine," Dunn told reporters when confronted about the incident on Sunday.
Disrepectful in the least, insubordinate at worst.
"I wish you hadn't told me that," Manager Jim Riggleman said when he was told -- by reporters -- what had happened.
Riggleman obviously doesn't want to have to discipline one of his team's "leaders".
But somebody should.
Dunn, Dunn, Dunn. In the words of the great Mose Allison, "Your mind is on vacation and your mouth is working overtime." You've got to get permission to leave the bench during the game, and you might not have gotten it. The logical fine would be half of one game's check (one whole game's check). What happens if Alberto Gonzalez gets hurt while Dunn is in the booth? Hope not too much is made of this but he pays a large fine to a charity, preferably a heart disease research charity.
Pretty ironic that this criticism is coming from a guy who calls himself Nationals NEWS Network, a guy who demands credentials from the team, a guy who demands respect when people refer to him as "just a blogger." Yet that same guy decided to go to a movie on Saturday night instead of watching the game and reporting on it on his Nationals NEWS Network blog. Instead, he just commented on the game based on stuff he'd read second hand about it on other REAL news networks. Yes, this champion of blogger's rights just phoned it in. What would he say about a REAL media person doing something like that, I wonder?
Now, on to the Dunn incident. Players, coaches and managers do interviews with TV/radio hosts during the game ALL THE TIME. While doing so, their attention is diverted from the game every bit as much as Dunn's attention was diverted while he was in the booth with Uecker. Yet those interviews are not a problem. So why should Dunn's be? It's not like he was in the clubhouse taking a dump or a nap (like Griffey Jr) where he couldn't even follow the game action. He was in the broadcast booth watching the game. If something had happened on the field where he might have been needed, he would have seen it right away and would have been just a quick elevator ride away from the dugout. Perhaps his only mistake was not telling Riggleman where he'd be, but I'm willing to bet he told someone and didn't just wander off.
In summary, lighten up Francis.
Feel Wood- I'll bet that if Dave made $75000 every game, he'd see each and every one without fail.
Adam Dunn-be sure to say hello to Elijah Dukes on your way to Detroit.
Aren't you due at some cub scout meeting about now?
Thanks all for the comments.
@Feel Wood: I appreciate you taking the time to leave a comment.
I think there's a big difference between the corny in-game interviews that Fox et al. do with managers during the game (though I'm not a fan of that either) and what Dunn did--leaving the bench in uniform without permission and going up to the radio booth. you're certainly entitled to your opinion though.
as for the rest of your comment, even the paid beat reporters take a night off. at least I acknowledged the fact that I did not watch the game and didn't file a story under false pretenses.
Lighten up Francis, indeed.
Dave,
I totally agree with you; I was shocked when I heard Dunn was in the Milwaukee booth during a game. I was even more disappointed at his lackadaisical response when questioned about it; it surely didn't speak well to accountibility for me especially coming from one of the team leaders.
BTW, I hope you and your wife enjoyed a lovely date night Saturday! You & Cheryl do a great job with this site - I love her pictures and follow her on Twitter :)
@ondeck13: thanks for the kind words.
It is my pleasure to give credit where credit is due. Your work here adds volumes to my fan experience :)
I find it odd that Phil Wood would comment, but hey, maybe he's bored.
I think the real question is - does this make it more likely, less likely or have no effect for a potential Dunn trade out of DC?
I say it has no effect whatsoever and inasmuch amounts to no big deal. Should it be a big deal? Perhaps, but I doubt you'll see anything more than a fine for Dunn and maybe an "apology."
Stupid? Yes. Harmful? No.