I grew up in an era when ballplayers were men, real men. Pitchers were tough. Sal (the barber) Maglie threw at you, not because you pranced around the bases the last time you homered, but because he wanted you to fear him when you came to the plate. Bob Gibson, Don Drysdale and Early Wynn were also notorious head hunters, among others. It’s part of what made them successful, yet you didn’t hear players of that era whining about being thrown at.
As I watched the replays of Jordany Valdespin flipping his bat after homering Friday night, I chuckled. Ron Darling accurately called what would happen next. It’s an unwritten rule. And sure enough, the next time Jordany came to the plate, not even against the same pitcher, he got plunked. How is that fair? For one thing, Jordany’s act was not directed at the pitcher, and for another, it posed no risk to anyone on the field. It wasn’t as if he tossed his bat 50 feet in the air, where it could have hit a player or spectator on the way down.
Why is it that throwing at the “offending” hitter is an acceptable act of retaliation? Even if the pitch was not a 98 MPH heater, the player could get hurt. Throwing at a player is in no way a commensurate response to the perceived offense. If a player flips his bat before going into his trot, flip him the bird as he rounds the bases. That, at least, would meet a supposed act of disrespect with another act of disrespect. If you think he is trotting the bases inappropriately, call him a bleeping showboater or some other expletive, and put the incident behind you.
I want to tell you that if I had smacked a home run deep into the Pepsi Porch, I’d be doing cartwheels and back flips all the way round the bases. And it would have absolutely nothing to do with the opposing pitcher. Why do they make it all about them? Isn’t the hitter entitled to some celebration after a stellar achievement? When an outfielder makes a spectacular play, the pitcher often throws his arms up and applauds him. Is that an act of disrespect to the hitter? The pitcher pumps his fists vigorously, shouting “Yeah” after he gets a needed strikeout. Is that an act of disrespect to the hitter? It seems to me that those acts are as disrespectful as the bat flip or the slow trot, yet in baseball’s unwritten rules they are not codified. Major League Baseball, it is time for you to unrewrite the unwritten rules!
I totally disagree...
ReplyDeleteIt is poor sportsmanship. Anyone remember when Joba first came up and every time he got out of an inning, he'd start screaming and doing violent fist pumps in the air? Remember how nearly every team took issue with it? That's because as professional baseball players, you're supposed to act like you've done it before. You act respectful to your opponent.
I remember another occasion when Randy Johnson struck out Todd Zeile and then stared him down as he walked back to the dugout. Todd, never one to be intimidated, instantly stopped his walk and started yelling at Johnson. Todd wouldn't let anyone, let alone a future hall if famer, show him up.
Now here's Jordany, done nothing in this game other then piss people off, hitting a homer when his team is down over 5 runs in the ninth, and he decides its time for JV1 to put on a show. A show for? I guess himself, cause it certainly wasn't a dramatic moment in the game or a come from behind walk off. It was a meaningless run, only counting for any real worth on the back of his own baseball card.
Question: how many homers did Chipper hit against the Mets? A team that was always his biggest rival....Forthy five? Fifty? I probably watched about 30 of them and not once did he ever show boat around the bases or flip his bat while watching the ball land in the seats.
That's why he was respected. Just like Wright is respected. Because they have class....
It's got nothing to do with pitchers belong fragile or soft. It's one of the unwritten rules of the game. If you show up a pitcher, expect to get drilled. It's not a difficult theme to understand, yet it's just one of many unwritten rules that JV1 neglects to adhere to.
If its a game winner, then could get away with it. Unfortunately though for him, it wasn't. It was a pointless run that he treated like it was a game 7 clincher. Just ridiculous...
Assholes deserve to get plunked for no other reason than being an asshole. Assholes get plunked and their teammated shrug.
ReplyDeleteI can't comment about somebody I refuse to write about...
ReplyDeleteI respect the view of those who disagree with me, but I still think it is total bullshit to consider a flip of the bat or a slow trot as disrespect, or showing up the pitcher. Why isn't it a sign of disrespect to point to the heavens after getting a key hit, as if saying to the pitcher "See, God is on my side, not yours"? Or to pound your chest after getting a big strikeout? I could see taking offense if a hitter danced around the bases making jestures at the pitcher or verbally taunting him. But the small things they now take offense at seems like prima donna, cry baby bull shit.
ReplyDeleteRegarding Jordany, the kid may well be an asshole, but just being an asshole is not a reason to plunk him. How about spiking him when sliding into second base? Maybe he deserves that too. Perhaps Juan Marichal thought John Roseboro was an asshole and deserved to get his skull bashed in. I'm sorry, but I don't understand why being an asshole, or an immature kid warrants a fastball in the ribs. (or anywhere else)
Etiquette (pron.: /ˈɛtɨkɛt/ or /ˈɛtɨkɪt/, French: [e.ti.kɛt]) is a code of behavior that delineates expectations for social behavior according to contemporary conventional norms within a society, social class, or group. The French word étiquette, literally signifying a tag or label first appeared in English around 1750.[1]
ReplyDeletePrevious actions result in the etiquette applied to baseball. This has nothing to do with the jerk I won't write about and the Mets had no problem that he was plunked.
It's the "etiquette rule" amd you are entitled to your opinion, but it is NOT bullshit.
It is baseball.