Today's Two Cents: Steve Phillips

August 5, 2009
Aug
5
Top 0Comments

You know, we're starting to think maybe hockey is on to something with its enforcers. We're raised as fans thinking baseball's unwritten code protects its players from pitcher malfeasance. Hit one of our players, and we hit one of yours (good thing Sean Connery never managed). But does retaliation actually produce more plunks than it saves?

We ask in the aftermath of Prince Fielder trying to find his way into the Dodgers clubhouse after getting hit late in Tuesday's blowout loss for the Brewers, ostensibly because Manny Ramirez had been hit earlier. Wouldn't this all work better if a manager just called in Rob Ray from the pen to face pinch hitter Donald Brashear? Let them drop the proverbial gloves before the first pitch and be done with it.

Matt M (Madison, WI)

Seems to me that Fielder and Macha overreacted to that HBP last night. Blowout game, Manny gets hit, I think it should have been expected.

Steve Phillips
Joe Morgan

I think Prince Fielder's frustrations [got the best of him], but a player should never go to the opposition's clubhouse. It's a recipe for disaster. I think a lot of people are thinking that Mota was the instigator, but remember, it seems that his HBP of Fielder was in response to some Dodgers hitters getting plunked. Ken Macha claimed that they weren't trying to hit anybody when they hit some of the Dodgers hitters, but in a 17-4 rout, you can't blame the Dodgers for thinking there was some intent when their hitters got plunked. One of the problems on MLB's policies on beanballs is that they tend to discipline retaliation while the instigators get away with it. Prince Fielder should probably be as upset with his own pitchers for hitting the Dodgers as he is at Mota for hitting him.

exit_here
“

Why is no one mentioning the fact that mota right after he threw the pitch jogged to the dugout? Prince had no CHANCE of keeping it on the field like some of you think. Also the ball didn't even touch many it skimmed his jersey. LA fans are idiots, terrible sports town.

” -- Exit_Here
bhawks71
“

Milwaukee fans you are pathetic. You bean a guy trailing 12-3 at that point the game was out of hand. It makes no difference what the score is or when you bean someone. Just know this if you bean your opponents best hitter expect payback. If it bothers you that Fielder got hit then his pitcher should not hit Manny.

” -- bhawks71

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