Updated: Jun 19, 2006, 12:16 PM

Vote: Is baseball's unwritten rule broken?

Talk about a rough day at the office.

With the Chicago White Sox trailing 6-0 in the seventh inning, manager Ozzie Guillen appeared intent on settling another score after A.J. Pierzynski had been hit twice by Texas starter Vicente Padilla. Enter rookie pitcher Sean Tracey, who had thrown just over four innings in his two previous appearances in the majors.

Tracey threw way inside on the first two pitches but Texas batter Hank Blalock had little trouble avoiding the pitches and eventually grounded out. Guillen then pulled the pitcher and could be seen yelling at him in the dugout. While Guillen denied telling Tracey to hit Blalock, the White Sox returned Tracey to the minors after the game.

And it wasn't just Guillen and the White Sox on Wednesday, as New York's Randy Johnson was ejected, and subsequently suspended, for throwing at Cleveland's Eduardo Perez.

So what's your take on the "unwritten rule" about hitting batters, SportsNation? Is a pitcher ever justified in intentionally hitting a batter? Has baseball made things worse by taking some control away from the players on the field?

You must be signed in to post a comment

You are fully responsible for the content you post. Content that includes profanity, personal attacks or antisocial behavior (such as "spamming" or "trolling"), or other inappropriate content or material will be removed. We reserve the right to block any user who violates our terms of use, including removing all content posted by that user.

ESPN

Vote: Is baseball's unwritten rule broken?

1) Do you feel a pitcher is ever justified in intentionally hitting a batter in retaliation for one of the pitcher's teammates getting hit by a pitch?

2) Who should make the call on whether or not to retaliate?

3) Do you feel a pitcher is ever justified in intentionally hitting a batter in retaliation for a batter showboating at the plate?

4) Do you feel a pitcher is ever justified in intentionally hitting a batter to set a tone for the game or fire up his teammates?

5) Which method do you feel is best for dealing with this issue?

6) Should a player receive an automatic suspension if he is ejected for intentionally throwing at a batter?

7) Do you think White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen expressly ordered rookie pitcher Sean Tracey to hit Hank Blalock in Wednesday's game?

8) If Guillen did want the batter hit, was it fair for him to send in a rookie to do it?

9) Do you think the White Sox would still have sent Tracey to the minors after the game if he had hit Blalock?

10) Do you have a problem with Guillen berating Tracy in the dugout immediately after pulling him from the game?

11) What's your take on players taking things into their own hands in baseball and hockey?

12) What do you think of the decision to suspend Randy Johnson for five games (essentially one start) for throwing at, but not hitting, Cleveland's Eduardo Perez on Wednesday?

13) Who do you think made the decision to throw at Perez?

14) What do you think of the decision to suspend Joe Torre for one game for Johnson throwing at Perez?

You must be signed in to post a comment

SportsNation on Facebook

THIS WEEK'S CHATS

ESPN

Vote: Is baseball's unwritten rule broken?

1) Do you feel a pitcher is ever justified in intentionally hitting a batter in retaliation for one of the pitcher's teammates getting hit by a pitch?

2) Who should make the call on whether or not to retaliate?

3) Do you feel a pitcher is ever justified in intentionally hitting a batter in retaliation for a batter showboating at the plate?

4) Do you feel a pitcher is ever justified in intentionally hitting a batter to set a tone for the game or fire up his teammates?

5) Which method do you feel is best for dealing with this issue?

6) Should a player receive an automatic suspension if he is ejected for intentionally throwing at a batter?

7) Do you think White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen expressly ordered rookie pitcher Sean Tracey to hit Hank Blalock in Wednesday's game?

8) If Guillen did want the batter hit, was it fair for him to send in a rookie to do it?

9) Do you think the White Sox would still have sent Tracey to the minors after the game if he had hit Blalock?

10) Do you have a problem with Guillen berating Tracy in the dugout immediately after pulling him from the game?

11) What's your take on players taking things into their own hands in baseball and hockey?

12) What do you think of the decision to suspend Randy Johnson for five games (essentially one start) for throwing at, but not hitting, Cleveland's Eduardo Perez on Wednesday?

13) Who do you think made the decision to throw at Perez?

14) What do you think of the decision to suspend Joe Torre for one game for Johnson throwing at Perez?

You must be signed in to post a comment

Need an account?

Already have an account?

SportsNation on Facebook

THIS WEEK'S CHATS