That pitch was surely intentional. Pete, why don't you blog as much anymore? Your blog is usually the most entertaining part of the baseball season. I had a little bit of hope this year to be honest, but our 3 offensive pickups are all busts (Reynolds, Lee and Guerrero) which is incredible as it all happened at once and Reynolds isn't even 30.

Anyway, don't be a stranger Pete. We need some entertainment as we await the football season.

Pete seriously how can you condone this behavior. I suppose just like old times you must remember the Orioles get beat by the Yanks and we throw at guys. They win, we still lose and we lose in disgrace. The thing that makes any move credible is winning at the actual objective of the struggle not to inflict damage points are the Yankees 12th or 13th best player. I think the Yankees love beating the Orioles are watching our players have mental meltdowns while they sike out. Throwing at someone's head doesn't justify this. Further please talk about why Rupe is even in the game at that point.

You didn't take that stance with the classless Armando Benitez when he pullled that crap.

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Pete's reply: I didn't have a blog then, but I'll answer that this way. Armando Benitez threw at guys out of frustration and put his own guys in danger. Rupe's back shot, whether intentional or not, could have the same effect, but it didn't because the Yankees understand how the game is played. When you hit a bunch of homers, the opposing pitchers are probably going to try and knock you off the plate. Maybe he went inside too far on purpose or just missed. We'll never really know. But it was within the bounds of old-school baseball so it didn't lead to a brawl.

I'd love to see today's guys who use exagerrated hot dog stances (like Kevin Youkilis or Craig Counsell) come up to bat against Bob Gibson, Don Drysdale, Nolan Ryan, or even Jim Palmer.

First time they went into their batting contortions facing one of those pitchers, they'd get their ribs cracked real quick by an inside fastball that would leave no doubt in their minds that they needed to re-evaluate their approach to batting.

there you are---so you do monitor these posts---after a while.

Sir... Thanks for your recollection of the 1980 game in which Patek hit three homers. I attended that game and sat on the left field line just 100 feet from the Green Monster. My recollection (correct me if I'm wrong) is that Patek actually had a double in that game as well, and that with a little extra oomph it might have been home run Number 4. Perhaps my mind is playing tricks after 31 years... Also, I recall a Mets-Dodgers game I attended that same year in which Mets pitcher Pat Zachry gave up two consecutive homers to Dusty Baker and Steve Garvey. Zachry plunked the next batter (Ron Cey) right on the back. Cey became very upset, and I will never forget the look on Zachry's face. (I had great seats on the first base line close enough to see.) The look on Zachry's face, a combination of anger and determination, said in very clear terms: "What the hell did you expect?" (The Mets went on to win, and it seemed to me that the energy imparted from that incident went entirely in the Mets' favor.) Baseball has definitely changed since. Thanks for what you do. Take care.

Who is the a-hole at the Sun who put the picture of some A-hole former state senator wearing yankee crap in the home page of baltimoresun.com?! This is Baltimore you morons. Get to know your audience!

Bear the Birdfan,

Yes, money has ruined the game, as Brooks Robinson has said. Today's player is viewed as an assett on a balnce sheet by himself and his agent, and anything that threatens the bottom line will not be tolerated. Don Drysdale drilled Frank Robinson on the numbers on a regular basis and there were no staredowns or mound charges. When Don Baylor used to get drilled, he would take it out on the middle infielders. Now a mere inside pitch to a Robert Andino type light hitting untility man results in at least stare down at the pitcher.Most hit batsmen these days are escorted halfway to first by the home plate umpire to discourage them from a left turn towards the mound. Pitching inside is part of the game and the hitters hang over the plate more than ever now trying to get their arms extended.

Some pitchers were good enough not to have to hit people, just move them off the plate. Jim Palmer and Mike Mussina come to mind. As a matter of fact, I believe that Frank Thomas enjoyed such great success against Mussina because he would glare at Mike every time a pitch came a little inside, so Mike didn't go there. Conversely, Roger Clemens was a notorious headhunter for most of his career.

Pete,
According to the bounds of old-school baseball, the Yankees pitcher would whistle one inside at the Orioles. Gardnetr hitting the HR might have taken the impetus from them, but if they did, it would be fine by me.

If the shoe was on the other foot, Oriole fans whould be crying murder.

http://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/BOS/BOS198006200.shtml

Pete, you should check out the new CD from "The Baseball Project" the first song, "Chin Music" echos your admiration for the old days. "Buckner's Bolero" is great too.

Mike Littwin knew an a******* every time he looked in the mirror. He was the absolute worst in Baltimore sports history. And, yes, that even includes Bob Irsay.

As for old school, tell the batters they can't wear arm pads, instep pads, helmets, gloves or anything else that isn't part of their actual uniform, and tell the pitchers they will get their chance to do the Pascual Perez dance in the batter's box.

My all-time-favorite hit-by-pitch story involved Ben McDonald, who hit Jose Canseco with a curve ball in the first inning of a game. Canseco thought it was intentional and was ticked off about it. After the game, someone asked McDonald about it and his priceless quote was: "If was going to hit someone on purpose, I wouldn't do it with a curve ball"

y'know, Benitez was a tempermental fool throwing at people--please pardon my recollection if the names aren't right, but it's been a while--I remember a real ugly one with the Yanks---can't remember who hit the bomb off of Benitez, but I think he drilled the next batter, Tino Martinez, in the back prompting bench emptying, and Darryl Strawberry sucker punching Benitez and then running to the dugout. Now, here's the part I'm very sure about--camera view from left field looking down into the 3rd base (Yankees) dugout, and entering from the far end of the dugout was Alan Mills, who proceeded unimpeded with a helluva right hand landing squarely on Strawberry's unaware-until-the-last-possible-second jaw. Hate to say it, but I enjoyed the hell out of that---Mills had a mean streak on the mound, which we could sorely use now---just don't be afraid to pitch inside...