Justin Verlander's No-Hit, No-Go: Is Bunting a No No in a No-No?

Today's game between the Tigers and the Angels was enough to make a guy hope for a series between the two. Between the buzz shot and the stare down, you'd think the big news from the game would be something else, but the biggest drama came on a bunt. 

The drama is around a controversy concerning a team bunting to get on in the middle of a no hitter. 

Justin Verlander afterwards described the play as "bush league." 

Sorry, I thought that bunting was allowed in the major leagues. Sorry Mr. Verlander, if you can't keep your composure and make a play then that's not on you. 

It's not at all a surprise to me that this "unwritten" rule is the one cited by pitchers. Why wouldn't they want to take part of the diamond away? But the fact is that a fair ball is a fair ball, whether it's 420 feet or 42 inches away. 

The opponents job is to try and get on, and if the defense that's being played along with the pitching stipulates that bunting is the best opportunity to get on base, then the hitter not only has the right, he has the responsibility to do so.

Here's a little factoid for the world. There is no such thing as an unwritten rule.

Writing them down is what makes them rules.

There's even a book of written rules. if you don't believe me, you can read them here. You see those things are actual rules, and the umps have enough time just keeping track of those. 

So don't go throwing hissy fits over the opposing team having the unmitigated gall to actually try. That's what they're supposed to do. 

Look, this isn't even the unwritten rules of sportsmanship kind of thing like a player stealing second with a 10-run lead or something. 

A player tried to get on base when his team was down. That's called baseball. If you don't like it, here's another unwritten rule for you provided by the great Tom Hanks.

There's no crying in baseball.