Pedro vs Nationals vs Umpires

[tigers527]

I can remember the police itself baseball days. It rarely got way out of hand, with more the 4 or 5 guys getting hit. Everybody would get together in one of those usually lame baseball fights (unless Dave Rozema, or Kyle Fransworth is in the hizzy) and it would pass. The Umps giving out that warning after one plunked guy is weak. I've seen the Ump almost have no choice but throw out a pitcher trying to close a one run game and loose control of one pitch. As if any pitcher would do that on purpose in a one run game (maybe if it was Pedro & Jose? sure? I guess?).

For all you out there that might say what about the American league? How do the pitchers get there come upins in the American league (read last 2 senetences in a real whiny voice)? The batter just needs to run the pitcher over after dragging a bunt down the 1st baseline....Although, I guess everyone makes way to much money now to play that way anymore? Oh well.

[Erik Bedard]

Nah. It's part of the game, just like fighting is part of the game of hockey and end-zone dances are part of the game of football.

[Mike D.]

I think it's gone too far. I'm against beanball wars, but these days, pitchers get warned when a curveball get away from them and they knick a guy on the elbow.

If pitchers weren't afraid to pitch inside for fear of getting tossed, they could really PITCH...move the ball around, keep hitters off balance, and all that good stuff!

[1doug]

I agree, pitchers today are too scared to come inside because of wussy hitters that want to charge the mound on anything close. Umps need to stay out of it till it becomes a beanball war, then they could take action.

[Go Bravos!!!#1]

Yeah, Umps stay out. If they were involved in the 60's Gibson and Drysdale wouldn't have won 50 Games. They'd be getting thrown out in the 3rd inning.

[Mattingly]

My only problem is when one pitcher is allowed to hit 3 batters in the AL, but the minute the opposing pitcher hits one guy, both sides get warned. Where were the warnings when the 3 guys got hit?

Umps should at least count the number of HBPs, and if it's been done to only one side, then they should at least try warning after the 2nd. Otherwise, one team gets freebies on how they can hit their opponents, but the other side doesn't have a right to retaliate. The end result: we got 3 of yours, but you only got 1 of ours.

[bluezebra]

Don't blame the umpires. This was mandated by the MLB owners who don't want their overpaid, spoiled brats, injured.

Bob

[Bluesteve32]

Don't blame the umpires. This was mandated by the MLB owners who don't want their overpaid, spoiled brats, injured.

Bob

Come one Bob, we get blamed for anything that goes wrong! :grouchy

[Appling]

My only problem is when one pitcher is allowed to hit 3 batters in the AL, but the minute the opposing pitcher hits one guy, both sides get warned. Where were the warnings when the 3 guys got hit?


I agree this is a problem. It may in fact be sound strategy, when the opposing team has a pitcher known to come inside to keep the batter from "digging in". (Pitchers like Pedro or Roger Rocket?) If I hit your batter first, your pitcher will be warned if he then hits someone. So that takes away the opposing pitcher's ability to intimidate!

I don't like rules that tend to punish the wrong guy!