A secret code

Today, in another installation of Stuff Candice Never Would Have Thought About In Sports Had She Not Read About It: Baseball’s unwritten rules.

This article, a shorter version of a book, explains The ‘Code.’
http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/blog/big_league_stew/post/The-Code-Ten-unwritten-baseball-rules-you-mig?urn=mlb,238853

There are apparently rules you follow—more courtesy for players and respect for the game than anything—that are not written down. Alex Rodriguez’s cut across the Oakland mound last month is one example of these rules. The article lists 10 others.

Among them, don’t swing at the first pitch after back-to-back home runs. Obviously the pitcher is going to be a little down. So the general rule is to give him a second to get back in the swing of things. This one I’ve actually heard, but the others I had no idea about.

One rule that I found most interesting were, when you’re hit by a pitch, you don’t let the pitcher know it hurt. These pitches can break bones or require surgery, and still, you’re not supposed to rub the area where you’re hurt.

Obviously this is some sort of manly proving yourself to the world thing, but I know I couldn’t do it. I’d bawl like a little baby.

Also, pitchers who are pulled should stay in the dugout until the end of the inning, at least, in order to show your teammates that you don’t think the game is already lost.

It’s an intriguing list, and an unofficial survey at The Sunflower found that even people who know sports and baseball didn’t know about these rules. Check them out.