"It's not a tea party"
That's a quote I got some time ago from Dr. Bobby Brown, the former Yankee who became American League president. I was interviewing him after he ruled lightly on a beanball incident during the 1980s.
The reason I bring that up is because I'm getting some posts about last night's purpose pitch over the head of Phillies hitter Shane Victorino, which almost sparked a brawl during Game 3 of the National League Championship Series at Dodger Stadium.
There are always calls for a zero tolerance policy for that kind of incident, but Brown was pointing out that it's not practical, because of the intensity of the game and the fact that the purpose pitch might actually not be a purpose pitch. It is possible to accidentally throw a ball near someone's head. Just ask Daniel Cabrera.
But the players know which is which and there are going to be times when they handle the situation themselves, which sets up a check and balance system that -- believe it or not -- has worked pretty well over the years.
If the umpires threw every pitcher out who threw a suspicious pitch, it would change the nature of the game dramatically. If you want an example from another sport about the folly of that kind of over-officiating, just go back the Terrell Suggs, roughing call last week. It had a huge impact on the game, even though there was very little actual contact. I don't want the same kind of thing in baseball.
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Comments
Purpose pitch.....puhlease. Let's take a look at the facts. Manny was all bent out of shape because he felt that Myers "slip pitch" in Game 2 was intentional and he thought it deserved retailiation. Now, if Manny had a brain in his head, he would have realized that the pitch Myers threw came nowhere close to hitting him. It was not as if he had to dive forward to avoid getting hit. He would have had to have jumped back 20 feet to be hit by that pitch.
As for the August 10 pitch that nailed Manny in the helmet, if he had not moved, the ball would have hit him in the fleshy fat part of his torso. He ducked and the pitch hit him in the helmet.
Bottom line is this...in the NL the pitchers hit. In the AL you have a DH. Do away with the DH and make pitchers hit in both leagues. Change the "unwritten rule." Any time your pitcher drills our star hitter, we will retailiate against him. I have a feeling if Roger Clemens had been drilled with a couple of fastballs in his ribs when he was pitching, he would have not been so quick to throw at hitters the way he did.
Now, let's get out the hankies and cry for these overpriced babies.
Posted by: Scooter | October 13, 2008 12:01 PM
Pete,
Pitching inside and having "purpose" pitches are part of the game. Even Victorino pointedly stated, ok payback was in order, they picked me out just stay away from my head! That said, they didn't even hit the guy and think payback was achieved! Do you know who the most frequently hit Yankee is? ARod! Might as well pluck an expensive one as payback!
I actually thought the Umps did a fine job in handling the whole situation last night.
Posted by: Keith Rowe | October 13, 2008 6:57 PM
Ok. I personally think every time Manny Ramirez is at the plate, he should be plunked. Does not matter if it hits him in the rear, or in the head. I can't stand this prick. I love that players that have poisonous ego's that can destroy a teams chemistry when they don't have their way. Although, I believe the Phils did not do anything 'intentional', I do believe the Dodgers were trying to hit Victorino. That pitcher, all year, never had a pitch run up at someone's head. I believe this should be policed by officials with replay. They must have people who can determine what type of pitch was being released during a replay. If does not warrant the pitch 'elevating' towards someone's head, than you're gone pal. I don't care that you bean someone, but going at someone's head (except Manny's) is uncalled for. Some times, it is clearly a strategy when people are getting hit. It is part of the game. The umps have to walk a fine line with such judgements on the field, especially during a playoff game. That's why replay stuff like this should be allowed. Again...allow it, but not at the noggin'.
Posted by: Jami | October 15, 2008 4:55 PM