Posted on 07/30/2023 4:43:34 PM PDT by Hebrews 11:6
Taylor Ward of the Angels: facial fractures.
distinct from the pitcher head hunting
I believe that hitting a batter who is crowding the plate inadvertently is different than a “bean ball.” also young kids have far less control than the pitchers in the bigs.
Ryan Duren was the same 100+ fastball but had a difficult time throwing 3 strikes to th em batter. Some say he invented throwing warm-up pitches to the backstop to intimidate the upcoming batters.
In his day Drysdale was the maestro of chin music.
the worst is to throw behind the head because the batter’s natural move is to step back in order to not get hit.
I think the potential to get hit in the head by the pitch is why the players wear helmets? I suppose you could eliminate the pitcher and have a T the batter hits the ball from.
Dickie Thon’s career was ruined by a Mike Torres fastball to the eye socket
it is discretion by the umpire who has observed the pitcher pitching maybe many times and certainly in that game up to that point. Also circumstances. maybe the batter had words with the pitcher before or hit a tater off of him and the pitcher determines he need to get back at the batter. There may have been a bench-clearing incident. Prior. Some managers and teams expect the pitcher to be their enforcer or to provide paybacks. lastly a showboat batter can be knocked down to teach him how to act.
I would add re the new time limit rules, top athletes are adaptable to rule changes and to differences in styles of umpires and referees. Most just want consistency and they will figure it put like an umpire’s strike zone.
We’ll see if Taylor Ward recovers from his facial fractures from his beaning this weekend.
the rule long preceded Drysdale One night in LA drysdale had a record streak of scoreless innings on the line. Bases loaded against bth giants drysdale hits the batter forcing the runner in. End of record, Hold on dodger fans. Umpire wendelstedt rules the batter did not try to avoid the pitch as the rules allow, a very rare call in the bigs. The dodgers get out of the inning no run scored. Thus the drysdale rule but should have been named after the legendary umpire. after he soared to the bigs after only 4 years in the minors and after changing Mrs. O’Malleys flat tire one night in Vero Beach.
Didn’t know the flat tire tale.
I went to al somers umpire school in 69 and worked the Florida State and Midwest leagues, Class A. Harry W was on the staff as a young new major leaguer and told the story.
Three times in the 6 weeks he showed up with a different hot flight attendant on his arm. He was a fat husky guy with a large round face and great smile, always had time for people. But nit the handsomest guy. An example of where presence and personality attracted hot women and endeared him to men.
He walked to eat every night in VB and it was after dark when he saw her cadillac on the side of the road.
I believe his son is a major league umpire.
when I went to umpire school the average to the majors was 7 years Harry had made it in 4. Although he was always rated as one or the top umpires. So cause and effect is not certain. It was Harry who told the story on himself.
Hunter Wendlestedt.
thanx
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