ChiSox rookie refuses to hit Blalock

[Skerik]

Now this is an interesting story....

Report: Rookie to be demoted for missing Blalock
ESPN.com news services

White Sox rookie pitcher Sean Tracey got into hot water with his manager Ozzie Guillen -- for getting an out.

Tracey was summoned to start the seventh inning and got Hank Blalock to ground out, but getting an out might not have been the reason Tracey was brought into the game. White Sox catcher A.J. Pierzynski was hit by two pitches in the game and a source told the Chicago Sun-Times that Tracey was told to hit Blalock as retaliation. Tracey threw two inside pitches to Blalock before getting him to ground out.

After getting the out, Tracey was removed from the game. Guillen slammed a water bottle to the ground when Blalock grounded out and the manager then brought Agustin Montero into pitch. Guillen was then seen in the dugout barking at Tracey, who pulled the collar of his jersey over his head.

Guillen didn't address why he screamed at Tracey and had a different explanation why he took the rookie out of the game.

"I tried to get Montero ready [to face Blalock] and wasn't able to. It was a little late," Guillen explained. "It was my mistake. I didn't get him up quick enough. I didn't want Tracey in that situation."

Tracey refused comment.

A source told the Sun-Times that Tracey was informed he was being demoted to Triple-A after the game. "Ozzie went nuts,'' one source told the newspaper.

Pierzynski was hit by pitches his first two at-bats, prompting home plate umpire Phil Cuzzi to issue warnings to both benches in the fourth.

"I don't know what the deal was. He had pretty good control and then he runs two first pitches in on me," Pierzynski said. `Why did he do it? You're going to have to ask him. I faced him maybe two times in the National League."

Vicente Padilla didn't comment after the game.

I have mixed opinions on this one. On one hand, it's pretty bush league of Guillen to call upon a pitcher he cares nothing about and use him essentially as an expendable hit man. But if you're a rookie pitcher and your manager gives you an order, you'd better obey it if you want to stick around very long.

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=2485365

[Beantown]

Re: ChiSox rookie refuses to hit Blalock

I saw this on SC yesterday...my God did ozzie tear him a new one once he got back to the dugout. Just...damn.

[ExtremeGamer]

Re: ChiSox rookie refuses to hit Blalock

I hate Ozzie Guillen.

[MagicBucsWsoxFan]

Re: ChiSox rookie refuses to hit Blalock

Im a die hard white sox fan, and I love Ozzie's motivation and commitment, but after watching the game and highlights last night and reading this story, I definatly dont agree with him. I can see the possible retaliation, but to demote him and chew him out in the dugout was uncalled for. If he allowed a homerun or something maybe it would be a different story, but for god sake he brushed him off the plate twice and got him out.

[Jetsfan119]

Re: ChiSox rookie refuses to hit Blalock

Im so split on this one, I dont think it was bush league for ozzie to bring in somebody to bean blalock because this happens in almost 90% of the games that are played in a given year, pitchers are told to throw at batters, guillen isnt the first one to come up with this and why would you waste a proven good RP on throwing at a guy when you know he'll get suspended. On the other hand I dont agree with him screaming and flipping out at this young pitcher, its not smart and whats even more stupid is that they sent him down, this no doubt will mess with this kids head. hopefully he can rebound and realize that ozzie is just a crazy guy and im almost sure that ozzie has already apologized.

ps i think that he was trying his best to hit blalock, he just knew it was coming, those pitches were tough to get out of the way of.

[Dice]

Re: ChiSox rookie refuses to hit Blalock

Tracey had no buisness defying the managers orders. If he says plunk him then you plunk him. Otherwise, you need to find another team to play for.

As for the Rangers and Padilla, I thought it was bush-league for them to plunk Pierzynski in this first place. Padilla knew that if this was the National League he would have thought twice about it. Because he's be coming to bat and he'd definately been beaned. Instead, he decides to put his other team mates in danger because if Tracey would have followed orders Blaylock could have been injured because of Padilla's foolishness.

Be real interested to see what's going to happen tonight.

[SPTO]

Re: ChiSox rookie refuses to hit Blalock

I think that was kinda Bush League of Guillen to do. I mean, if you want to hit Blalock then use a veteran pitcher because a kid is not going to have the stones to do that in his first cup of coffee in the big leagues.

I thought the purpose of the pitcher is to, you know, GET OUTS.

I commend Tracey for not obeying his manager in this instance. For better or for worse the idea of beaning someone in retaliation is no longer a valid part of baseball. You can pitch guys inside all you want but to purposely bean a batter just isn't proper these days.

[aukevin]

Re: ChiSox rookie refuses to hit Blalock

That rook was in a tough situation. I don't know what I would have done. I guess you gotta credit the pitcher for not doing something he didn't agree with, but unfortunately he's gonna have to pay for it now. If he got sent down because he didn't want to plunk someone, that is just wrong. I realize he didn't follow his manager's orders, but it isn't like he pitched to someone when the manager told him to walk him intentionally. The rook seems to have standards against plunking batters which is understandable. I don't think Guillen or anyone else has the authority to tell someone to throw a ball at someone. If a player feels like he owes his team some kind of retaliation that is his choice. You shouldn't be told to do something like that.

[MassNole]

Re: ChiSox rookie refuses to hit Blalock

Once you are called up you become eligible for the MLBPA right? This kid needs to file a grievance with the Players' Union, this is ridiculous.

[rubisco43]

Re: ChiSox rookie refuses to hit Blalock

This is pretty simple. Manager tells you to do something within the confines of the game, do it. You'll get the respect of the manager and his teammates. No one would've batted an eyelash if he hit Blalock b/c it was expected. And when you throw at someone, you hit him in the backside. It's not like Oz told him to plunk him in the face.

[Misfit]

Re: ChiSox rookie refuses to hit Blalock

I don't agree with putting a rookie in that situation. He has enough things to worry about as is plus he creates a reputation for himself with the umps if he does bean the guy. No one wants to start their career with a suspension and fine. And as a manager, you shouldn't chew the guy out for something like that in the dugout, do it in the clubhouse because it is an issue you do not want to draw attention to.

[Skerik]

Re: ChiSox rookie refuses to hit Blalock

This is pretty simple. Manager tells you to do something within the confines of the game, do it. You'll get the respect of the manager and his teammates. No one would've batted an eyelash if he hit Blalock b/c it was expected. And when you throw at someone, you hit him in the backside. It's not like Oz told him to plunk him in the face.

This pretty much hits the nail on the head for me. It's not like Ozzie told him to go bust Blalock inside and break his fingers or something and I can't recall someone being hurt by a retaliatory purpose pitch. It's a tough position for him to put a rookie in, but it's fully within his rights as a manager and within the ethical confines of the game. And once that decision is made, it's up to the player to follow through on the order.

[Stu]

Re: ChiSox rookie refuses to hit Blalock

This pretty much hits the nail on the head for me. It's not like Ozzie told him to go bust Blalock inside and break his fingers or something and I can't recall someone being hurt by a retaliatory purpose pitch. It's a tough position for him to put a rookie in, but it's fully within his rights as a manager and within the ethical confines of the game. And once that decision is made, it's up to the player to follow through on the order.

But both teams had already been warned. At that point you're asking him to take a suspension, fine and probably start a brawl. He shouldn't be putting a rookie pitcher in that position and definitely shouldn't be chewing him out in the dugout.

[SPTO]

Re: ChiSox rookie refuses to hit Blalock

This pretty much hits the nail on the head for me. It's not like Ozzie told him to go bust Blalock inside and break his fingers or something and I can't recall someone being hurt by a retaliatory purpose pitch. It's a tough position for him to put a rookie in, but it's fully within his rights as a manager and within the ethical confines of the game. And once that decision is made, it's up to the player to follow through on the order.

Let's put you in the situation, you're a young guy hoping to make a good impression in the big leagues and you're told to bean Blalock. Are you really going to do that at the risk of getting a reputation?

Remember Pedro Martinez had a reputation for YEARS as a head hunter. It has only now dissipated slightly. I'd hate for any kid to be given that kind of rep.

Now if Blalock had hit a HR i'd understand Guillen reaction but Blalock grounded out besides, sometimes putting someone on base like that can come back to haunt you. I think Matt Clement did that to the Jays earlier this year and in that same inning a HR was hit that gave the Jays the lead.

[mjb2124]

Re: ChiSox rookie refuses to hit Blalock

I hate Ozzie Guillen.

So do I. He's a b*tch IMO.

However, the rook should've plunked the guy. He lost the respect of his manager by not doing so and more importantly, lost the respect of his teammates. This story will follow him for a while and his teammates are always going to wonder if he's got their back(s).

Of course, Guillen should NEVER ask a rookie to do that job. That's a BS move on his part. I'm not surprised though. He also shouldn't have chewed the guy out in the dugout. Show some self control (which Ozzie obviously has none of) and wait until after the game. Call the rookie into the office and talk to him. No need to embarrass the kid on TV and in front of his teammates.