ChiSox rookie refuses to hit Blalock

[Graphik]

Re: ChiSox rookie refuses to hit Blalock

Ditto. Ozzie Guillen and Ken Williams make it VERY easy to hate the White Sox.

Laughable.

What the hell did these 2 fellas do besides bring in a championship?

[Beantown]

Re: ChiSox rookie refuses to hit Blalock

Cam first pitch was pretty close...and there was another one inside that almost hit him.

[snepp]

Re: ChiSox rookie refuses to hit Blalock

Laughable.

What the hell did these 2 fellas do besides bring in a championship?

What's laughable? They're both loudmouths (love them or hate them for it) so it can make it easy.

I'm an equal opportunity White Sox ***** myself, doesn't matter who's there.

[Graphik]

Re: ChiSox rookie refuses to hit Blalock

If I am a rookie pitcher and know the history with AJ...I am not going to defend him even if he's on my team. There was a poll out like last month I believe that was voted among players or something like that and it was "If you could plunk anyone in the league who would it be?" half the votes was for AJ. I would rather take a out than have my pitcher hit another batter when losing as bad as they were, because all your asking for is for everything to get out of hand, because of Ozzie Guillen being a little childish.

This is'nt childish. Baseball mamnagers are like the Capos in organized crime.

[Graphik]

Re: ChiSox rookie refuses to hit Blalock

What's laughable? They're both loudmouths (love them or hate them for it) so it can make it easy.

I'm an equal opportunity White Sox ***** myself, doesn't matter who's there.

I understand all that but how in the bloody hell can you hate a GM and a manager? People hate Steinbrener(sp?) but why? Cause he wants to win it all?

Its laughable because these 2 guys were absolutely nothing last year in the notoriety books. Now they're hated? I just think its natural to hate whomever is on top. Phil Jackson as well as Joe Torre gets a ton of hate and for what? Cause they're winners? There is simply to much hate flying around here. Unwarranted hate at that.

[BGarrett7]

Re: ChiSox rookie refuses to hit Blalock

I don't agree with it, I don't think it's right... But it's baseball. And I hate to agree with a White Sox fan about anything, but it is a big trust and will issue. I absolutely hate the whole "defending your teammates honor by hitting someone on the opposing team" code of honor in MLB, but it isn't something that is going to suddenly disappear. It's just the way it is, and it's the way it is always going to be. Players know it, and accept it. I'm sure if he had hit Blalock, all would have been forgotten and everyone would have moved on. That being said, if your manager ask you to go in the game and hit the first batter up after one of your teammates has been hit twice, you go out and do it. You don't have to agree with it, and you are only setting yourself up for a bad reputation amongst your own clubhouse by not doing it. The fraternal order in a MLB clubhouse is thick, doing something like this is a very easy way to hurt your chances with your teammates and coaches. This kid will be very lucky to make it back to the show with the Sox.

[Beantown]

Re: ChiSox rookie refuses to hit Blalock

Graphik, I don't think people hate them because they're on top...they hate Ozzie and kenny because when they're not doing their jobs...they're running their mouth on camera, or in the newspaper.

It's pretty much the same reaosn people hate a guy like Schilling. He speaks his mind, people don't agree with it, etc.

[Vince]

Re: ChiSox rookie refuses to hit Blalock

I understand all that but how in the bloody hell can you hate a GM and a manager? People hate Steinbrener(sp?) but why? Cause he wants to win it all?

Its laughable because these 2 guys were absolutely nothing last year in the notoriety books. Now they're hated? I just think its natural to hate whomever is on top. Phil Jackson as well as Joe Torre gets a ton of hate and for what? Cause they're winners? There is simply to much hate flying around here. Unwarranted hate at that.

I hate Kenny Williams because of the Mike Sirotka fiasco of a few years back. Trading damaged goods to the Jays.

[Skerik]

Re: ChiSox rookie refuses to hit Blalock

I don't agree with it, I don't think it's right... But it's baseball. And I hate to agree with a White Sox fan about anything, but it is a big trust and will issue. I absolutely hate the whole "defending your teammates honor by hitting someone on the opposing team" code of honor in MLB, but it isn't something that is going to suddenly disappear. It's just the way it is, and it's the way it is always going to be. Players know it, and accept it.

It's not an honor issue, it's a built-in check against pitchers coming inside and hitting players with impunity. Players don't like to be hit. It's not pleasant. Without the threat of retaliation, pitchers could hit members of the other team as they chose. Now, doing so will result in someone from their own team being hit, if not the pitcher himself (NL only).

That's why people hate the DL rule - because it lets pitchers work inside without any personal accountability for their actions.

[BGarrett7]

Re: ChiSox rookie refuses to hit Blalock

Players don't like to be hit. It's not pleasant.

Of course they don't, who would? But it is still an accepted practice. Peter Gammons was on Dan Patrick's radio show just a short while ago talking about this situation, and said essentially the same thing that I said. He followed up with a couple anecdotes about players getting hit, expecting it, and then being gracious to the pitcher for hitting them in rather, um, padded areas, if you catch my drift. If a pitcher knows how to properly hit someone -- back, butt, legs -- and not go for the head, then there shouldn't be an issue at all. Nine times out of ten when something like this develops into a brawl or at least a heated argument, it's when the pitcher breaks the code and throws at or hits a player from the shoulders up.

[ExtremeGamer]

Re: ChiSox rookie refuses to hit Blalock

I understand all that but how in the bloody hell can you hate a GM and a manager? People hate Steinbrener(sp?) but why? Cause he wants to win it all?

Its laughable because these 2 guys were absolutely nothing last year in the notoriety books. Now they're hated? I just think its natural to hate whomever is on top. Phil Jackson as well as Joe Torre gets a ton of hate and for what? Cause they're winners? There is simply to much hate flying around here. Unwarranted hate at that.

I hate Guillen because I think he's dirty. I hate the Yankees as a team, but don't hate Torre. I just don't like Guillen at all.

I agree with what someone said earlier, If I'm a rookie, I'm not defending AJ either on my team or not. That guy is the most hated player in the league among players, I was jumping for joy when Barrett knocked him silly.

[Psyblast]

Re: ChiSox rookie refuses to hit Blalock

Graphik, I don't think people hate them because they're on top...they hate Ozzie and kenny because when they're not doing their jobs...they're running their mouth on camera, or in the newspaper.

It's pretty much the same reaosn people hate a guy like Schilling. He speaks his mind, people don't agree with it, etc.

Exactly. When you've got loud mouths like Ozzie Guillen, Ken Williams and A.J. Pierzynski on your team, don't be shocked when people dislike your team.

[rubisco43]

Re: ChiSox rookie refuses to hit Blalock

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.

Pedro got that rep b/c he would routinely throw inside, not as a retaliation, but as a way to psyche out the hitter. And it worked. Rarely did you see a hitter lean in, and it worked in Pedro's favor as he became one of the dominant pitchers in our era. Being a head hunter is NOT a bad rep. Clemens was one. Bob Gibson was one. Pedro is one. Nolan Ryan was one.

[rubisco43]

Re: ChiSox rookie refuses to hit Blalock

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.

Kid was chewed out because he did NOT follow orders. Just that simple. I bet he'd still be in the majors, easily paying that fine off if he'd hit Blalock. What's better/worse? Not follow orders and sent down the next day or follow orders, maybe get fined/suspended, but have the respect of his manager and fellow players and still be in the show?

[Skerik]

Re: ChiSox rookie refuses to hit Blalock

Of course they don't, who would? But it is still an accepted practice. Peter Gammons was on Dan Patrick's radio show just a short while ago talking about this situation, and said essentially the same thing that I said. He followed up with a couple anecdotes about players getting hit, expecting it, and then being gracious to the pitcher for hitting them in rather, um, padded areas, if you catch my drift. If a pitcher knows how to properly hit someone -- back, butt, legs -- and not go for the head, then there shouldn't be an issue at all. Nine times out of ten when something like this develops into a brawl or at least a heated argument, it's when the pitcher breaks the code and throws at or hits a player from the shoulders up.

True, but we're speaking to different points. I highly, highly doubt that Ozzie told this kid to try to hit Blalock in the head. There's no place for that in the game. But like you said, retaliatory plunks to meaty areas are part of the game and will be as long as baseball is played. Nothin' wrong with that....