Posted on 05/09/2012 9:53:05 AM PDT by TBP
If there's anyone who should be familiar with the kind of throwback, old-school baseball Cole Hamels discussed after intentionally hitting Nationals rookie Bryce Harper with a pitch Sunday night, it's Tigers manager Jim Leyland.
Leyland, a baseball lifer, has managed in 3,203 games since 1986 -- when Hamels was just 3. But even Leyland's joining the chorus of critics displeased by Hamels' actions.
During his regular pregame radio show Monday night, he characterized Hamels' five-game suspension as being "way too light," and, according to MLB.com, suggested 15 games would have been more appropriate.
(Excerpt) Read more at csnphilly.com ...
Leyland got tossed out of a game last night. He’s a no nonsense old school manager who is probably as beloved by Tiger fans as Sparky was.
A few years back an ump gave Magglio Ordonez a shove which is a major no no. Leyland was mad that the ump didn’t get the same suspension any player would get for the same.
A Five-Game Suspension on a starting pitcher is nothing. They pitch every fifth day anyways. He should miss 5 starts which is about 30 games.
A solution in search of a problem?
I don’t recall hearing of anyone being seriously injured from an intentional beanball. A little headhunting in baseball never hurt anyone. Keeps the hitters honest.
SnakeDoc
I wonder if there’s any bounty money involved here.
Hammel, rhymes with, needs to get that arm under control!
There are many, Don Zimmer is one of them.
Ever hear of Tony Conigliaro?
Ray Chapman died after being beaned.
Several players' careers have been impaired or derailed after being struck with a beanball. Hall of Famer Mickey Cochrane was knocked unconscious for ten days in 1937, and never played another game. In 1941, Dodgers outfielder Pete Reiser was hospitalized for a month, one of numerous injuries which shortened his career. Lou Boudreau played only sporadically after being beaned in 1951, and retired the following season. Tony Conigliaro missed over a year after being hit in the eye, and his vision later deteriorated. Dickie Thon returned from a gruesome beaning in 1984, but never matched his earlier success. On September 28, 1995, Kirby Puckett, the superstar outfielder of the Minnesota Twins, was struck in the cheek by a Dennis Martínez fastball, breaking his jaw and loosening two teeth. It would be his last game; during spring training the following year he developed glaucoma, which ended his career. In 2005, the Cubs' Adam Greenberg was hit in the head with the first, and thus far, the only pitch that he faced in his major league career. Ron Santo, who thought he'd lost an eye when his cheekbone was broken by a pitch in 1966, rushed back to the lineup. He described his attitude: "It was like, 'Here, hit me again.' I didn't have any fear. I just went on. When you get older, maybe fear does set in. Nobody will admit that, but it does happen." Don Zimmer, who was nearly killed by a beanball in 1953 and had four metal buttons surgically implanted in his skull, recounted, "It's not a case of being tougher than anybody else... You never know how you're going to react until you come back and play again."
It would have been one thing if Harper had come into the league acting like his reputation would imply. But he has been a model first year player: respectful, hard working, not a prima donna, and, by all accounts, a great teammate. The kind of player the league should want. Intentionally hitting him was completely uncalled for, and, as you said, classless.
Hamel sent a message alright. He sent a message that Hamel is stupid (by admitting what he did), a chicken*** (as Rizzo called him), and has no understanding of what old school baseball was about. Harper’s response was classic — stealing home plate on a pickoff attempt at first. Later getting a double to shortstop(!!) was just icing on the cake.
Hamels didn’t throw a beanball.
Hamels got suspended for telling the truth about what goes on in baseball.
Hamels didn’t do anything out of the ordinary, except tell the truth.
Especially in the National League where he has to bat.
Austin Jackson missed a few early games last season after taking a fastball to the head. I think it was due to a concussion.
I am aware that people have been hurt by beanballs ... I remember Dickie Thon in Houston. I said I don’t recall anyone being seriously injured by an INTENTIONAL beanball.
Intentional hit batsmen tend to be hit in the back or the thigh. I don’t recall anyone being hit in the head or face with an intentional beanball or brushback. A beanball in the back or thigh will smart, leave a bruise, give you a ten minute limp ... and a little time to think twice about showboating on your HR trot.
SnakeDoc
It was more of the chicken-s crap like when the pitcher plunks the next batter after giving up a home run.
With the 5-game suspension, they’ll delay his start a day and he doesn’t even miss one.
Kidding? Beanball implies the Bean. The head. Not so harmless.
Does the name Rico Petrocelli ring a bell? Not saying it was intentional but he sure as hell WAS seriously injured.
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