Baseball beanings and other "gentlemanly" unwritte

AntMoOAK · Post by **AntMoOAK** » Wed Aug 05, 2009 4:00 pm

http://www.nbcbayarea.com/news/sports/B ... 39607.html

I ABSOLUTELY LOVE baseball... but this is one aspect (along with the many other "unwritten rules" ) that I can't stand about the sport. Fielder has a right to be upset. The ritual of beaning an opposing teams player to compensate for that teams pitcher hitting someone (intentional or otherwise) is low and cowardly ( in urban parlance- b@#*$-made or in country circles- chicken-s&*#). To hurl a pitch upwards of 75 mph at someone that can potentially maim or kill them is inexcusable. When someone's career is ended or if a team loses a star down the playoff stretch I wonder what the Commish will do then.

Baseball players get offended at the most benign things (like- he stole a base with a two run lead, or he celebrated to much... oh my he bunted with a two run lead). Be a man and grow a pair. If you feel you being shown up or if you don't like what the batter did, confront HIM or better yet, work harder to get him out next time. You're supposed to be a professional. It's especially laughable that a pitcher gets a batter out AT LEAST 70 % of the time (usually 73 % of the time)- a batter celebrates because he got a hit off of you 1.5 times out of 4 that he faced you and you're upset ? Cowardly B-made chicken crap indeed !

Post by **retep** » Wed Aug 05, 2009 6:28 pm

Yeah, I agree with all of that. I mean, if you have to throw at the guy, hit them in the butt or something. It's gross.

Patrick_Says_Go_Sox · Post by **Patrick_Says_Go_Sox** » Mon Sep 07, 2009 1:30 am

I can't understand peoples' attitudes about being 'shown up.' As a Patriots fan all I heard a few seasons ago is that they were jackasses for 'running up the score.' Now what the hell does that mean? In essence it means we know we'll lose and you should have the decency to treat us like little kids and go easy on us as though we have no competitive fire at all and aren't planning on trying to come back to win this game. I don't care if its the ninth inning and the run deficit is seven runs -- you should always be trying! Both sides should be trying!

And yeah, beaning is terrible. To me its only valid if one team is clearly abusing the inside pitches. It's much worse in the American league, actually, since pitchers know they won't see bean balls coming their way if they've hit guys.

Post by **retep** » Mon Sep 07, 2009 10:44 am

AL WHIMPS!!

TheLegend · Post by **TheLegend** » Mon Sep 07, 2009 2:10 pm

Everyone knows that my competitive fires burn as hot as anyone else's, and yes, I'm well aware that (in baseball, at least) a comeback is always "possible". But statistically speaking (and literally speaking in most other sports) there is a point when you just don't have to worry about the score anymore.

I strongly believe that there is no need to humiliate a clearly overmatched opponent and also believe that leaving your starters in a game that you can't (or "can't") lose is, if not poor sportsmanship, then certainly poor coaching.

please

Post by **retep** » Mon Sep 07, 2009 3:43 pm

Of course there's a point, but often teams get pissed before that point is reached. a 9-2 lead in baseball? Keep grinding!

TheLegend · Post by **TheLegend** » Mon Sep 07, 2009 6:41 pm

The biggest come from behind victory in over 100 years of MLB is 12. The biggest come from behind victory in OPB history is 8.

To be fair, digging up what % of MLB games have a 7-run comeback is more challenging, but I feel that I can say with confidence that more than 99.9% of the time, a 7-run lead means you can go ahead and cool your jets.

Post by **retep** » Mon Sep 07, 2009 6:46 pm

So after a 7 run lead, you shouldn't try and extend that to 12?

TheLegend · Post by **TheLegend** » Mon Sep 07, 2009 7:11 pm

it depends on how you define try.

Up by 7 runs I will:
score from second on a single
advance on a fly ball to right
attempt to get on base on every plate appearance
attempt to make all plays on defense (including diving and difficult plays)

Up by 7 runs I will not:
Suicide squeeze
steal a base
attempt the hidden ball trick
intentionally walk barry bonds with the bases empty

Post by **retep** » Mon Sep 07, 2009 9:01 pm

TheLegend wrote:it depends on how you define try.

Up by 7 runs I will:
score from second on a single
advance on a fly ball to right
attempt to get on base on every plate appearance
attempt to make all plays on defense (including diving and difficult plays)

But not a fly ball from center or left?

TheLegend wrote: Up by 7 runs I will not:
Suicide squeeze
steal a base
attempt the hidden ball trick
intentionally walk barry bonds with the bases empty

I agree with all of those, except the steal. if its okay for Albert to hit his third homerun of the game--because that's what he does-- why can juan pierre get an extra stolen base?

There is a lot more to consider than the individual game. Depending on your lead, can you have one guy outta the bullpen finish the last three innings, or do you need to use a few guys? With a big enough lead, can you rest your older players? Adding on runs whenever is key. You never know, since this isn't football or soccer (or hockey) where you can run out the clock.

TheLegend · Post by **TheLegend** » Mon Sep 07, 2009 10:34 pm

That analogy is inaccurate. Hitting a home run is an incidental result of taking an at-bat... it's a lot more like advancing on a wild pitch than it is like stealing a base. Stealing a base, or bunting for a hit or anything else on offense that requires specific forethought or an unusual effort when a game is already won implies a desire to achieve something others than winning the game- which, to me, is bad sportsmanship

AntMoOAK · Post by **AntMoOAK** » Tue Sep 29, 2009 8:24 am

The 82 goal hockey match is a gross example of bad sportsmanship. Ken I like your breakdown of "can't help" scoring opportunities. I disagree that a stolen base is bad sportsman ship. A stolen base attempt is part of the game that not only serves to advance a runner but to keep the pitcher honest. A steal of third ? Over doing it. A steal of second ? Part of the game.

Post by **retep** » Tue Sep 29, 2009 1:53 pm

Yeah, I agree with your point on the stolen base differences.

Come and play, dude!