Hitters get too much respect

[scooter]

Torii Hunter's little meltdown last night was a clear sign that hitters believe the game belongs to them. I'll tell you one thing, if Bob Gibson had thrown the ball at Hunter and Hunter reacted the same way he did last night, let's just say that we would be reading about Torii Hunter's memorial service in a few days.
Pitchers have as much of a right to the plate as these hitters do. But, for some reason the guys now days don't seem to feel that way. Names like Bonds, Sosa and Mo Vaughn come to mind right away. I was watching a game last night and Tony Gwynn said that pitchers need to learn to throw inside to show the hitters they will dictate how the at-bat will go. This is coming from one of the greatest pure hitters in the last 20 years. Something has to be done to stop these guys from diving over the plate. Yes, if you miss inside and leave it over the plate, it will be jacked most of the time. But, I'm willing to bet if more and more guys start coming inside, it will back some of these guys off.

[bryan_05]

Re: Hitters get too much respect

they need to outlaw that stupid football armor, break barry's arm and he want be over the plate anymore.

[tbuck]

Re: Hitters get too much respect

Scooter: If Bob Gibson had thrown at Hunter, and Hunter had charged the mound on him, Bob Gibson would have been wearing his *** for a hat. Hunter is all muscle, and without a baseball in his hands, Gibson would have been no match. Not even close.

I do agree that hitters take too many liberties (body armor, standing on top of the plate...etc.), but there are times when batters get hit and it's unjust. In those cases, i've got no problem with a hitter responding to the beaning. Hunter has been hit a lot recently, and Cleveland's pitchers have always taken liberties with Twins hitters. Hunter did the right thing in firing back. Players have charged the mound forever. Even in the "good old days". It's a part of the game, almost as much as batters being hit.

[BaseballGuru]

Re: Hitters get too much respect

I agree about the hitters thinking they deserve more respect from pitchers... look at Sammy Sosa, starting down people if he gets pitched inside. It's the game, it's the way it's always been played. Stand over the plate, you get plunked. Pitchers deserve the inside part of the strike zone as much as the hitters do.

[Will]

Re: Hitters get too much respect

So a pitcher can throw a baseball at a batter, but a batter can't throw that same baseball at the pitcher? Can you see the faulty logic in this?

[BaseballGuru]

Re: Hitters get too much respect

Who was the batter that threw his bat at the pitcher a few weeks ago? Now that I respected.

I don't have a big problem with guys that get hit, and hit often, retaliating. I just don't like it when a guy is on top of the plate and then acts like some sort of jackass because the pitcher had the nerve to throw inside on him. All is fair in love, war, and baseball.

[scooter]

Re: Hitters get too much respect

First off tbuck, you're a homer. Second you know nothing about baseball. Gibson was one of the most feared pitchers of his time. You try to show him up in any way, you would pay for it. By all means charge the mound, I would. Most of these pitchers today are soft. But ask Robin Ventura what it's like to charge the mound against the likes of Nolan Ryan. I remember the beat down Ryan put on him. But I'm sure you're too young to remember that. Gibson was as bad and as mean as they come, not one punk in today's game could hang with that guy.

Open your mind man, nobody likes a homer.

[BaseballGuru]

Re: Hitters get too much respect



Bad angle... what you don't see is Nolan's fist repeatedly smacking Ventura in the face. Best baseball fight I've ever seen. Even better than Otis Nixon's flying kick.

[Will]

Re: Hitters get too much respect

Some needs to quit sipping the Supieriority Juice.

Anyway, explain to me why it's acceptable for a pitcher to hit a batter, but not for the batter to take that same ball and hit the pitcher with it.

I agree hitters are taking certain liberties, but using Hunter as an example in your argument makes no sense.

[BaseballGuru]

Re: Hitters get too much respect

Where does one get Superiority Juice? I prefer Rocket Sauce, personally.

[bryan_05]

Re: Hitters get too much respect

Anyone remember the minor league fight last year where the batter kicked the catcher?

I love that video, I got it from kazaa.

[BaseballGuru]

Re: Hitters get too much respect

Yeah, I've got that movie too. Looks like something you'd see in a bad movie... love it.

[scooter]

Re: Hitters get too much respect

Fine, throw the ball back at the pitcher. If you miss you get to throw your helmet. If you miss with that you gat to throw your bat. What Hunter did was selfish and showed how immature he is. Let's say he gets suspended. Then the Twins lose all the games he's out. And, maybe they find a way to lose the didvision by 1 game. This is just a maybe. He has punished his own team. Good move Torii! But hey man, you proved your point, you won't let anybody push you around.
I'm not Picking on Hunter. I think what Sammy did was even worse. He slid with intent to injure. Major bush league move if you ask me. Let's say that pitcher had his back turned when the ball was thrown at him. What if that ball hits him in the back of the head? Then we're talking about kicking Hunter out of baseball. Remember Marty McSorley's hit a couple of years ago? People wanted him kicked out of hockey for good.

Let's not turn baseball into a high stakes game of dodge ball!!!

[tbuck]

Re: Hitters get too much respect

Scooter: I've forgotten more about baseball than you'll ever know. Why do you think Gibson was feared? Because he wouldn't think twice at beaning a hitter. Does that make him tough? Strong? No. It just makes him deadly with a baseball in his hand. If Hunter had charged him, i have no doubt in my mind that he would have handled him physically, with no problem. It's hypothetical, but that's my take.

As for me being a homer................whatever. I said i had no problem with what Hunter did. He's been hit a lot, and he got sick of it. He doesn't stand on top of the plate, and he doesn't show pitchers up, so it's not like "he's got it comin". I'd say the same thing if Paul Konerko or Derek Jeter did it.

You don't like the fact that the Twins are dominating, and Hunter is having a great year. It bothers you, so you lash out, even when it doesn't make sense. I'm looking at this issue objectively, but you're not because you hate the Twins and are angered by their success. A lot of people are jealous of Twins fans these days, so you're not alone.

[scooter]

Re: Hitters get too much respect

tnickle, where in any of my posts did I say or any way imply that I didn't like the Twins. In fact I'm glad that the Twins are doing well, same with the Expos. It's making the comisioner look stupid. I'm not another case of the man tryin to keep the Twins down, so chill dude.

As far as you forgetting more about baseball than I know. Good one...did you get that out of the book of witty comebacks? You can do better than that.

I still want to know what we do when one of these guys takes matters into his own hands and hits one of these pitchers in the head when they aren't looking. Getting hit is part of the game, deal with it. Remember a few years back, I think it was an Expo game, when the pitcher had a perfect game going in the later innings? He hit a batter and the knucklehead charged the mound as if the pitcher meant to hit him. Yeah, like he meant to hit him when he had a perfect game going. It just goes to show you how stupid some hitters are.