MARCO'S BASEBALL BLOG-O-ROONIE 2017: BEANBALLS AND HAMSTRINGS

MARCO'S BASEBALL BLOG-O-ROONIE 2017: BEANBALLS AND HAMSTRINGS

1/BEANBALLS:

It started early in April when Phillies pitcher Edubray Ramos threw a bullet just over and behind the head of Asdrubal Cabrera of the Mets. This was a leftover revenge killing from last year when Asdrubal hit a game winner off Ramos and not so politely threw his bat at the Phillies dugout before throwing his hands up triumphantly as he rounded the bases in celebratory fashion. This was just a bit much and I don't blame Ramos for wanting to punish him for his insolence. Cabrera had it coming.

But Cabrera didn't deserve to be killed for bat flipping.

Any “purpose pitch” thrown above the shoulders should be outlawed and especially one thrown behind a batter's head. A batter is trained to fall back from an inside pitch, but if that pitch keeps on going inside the batter is actually putting his head in its way.

Too many players have been seriously injured by pitches exactly like this. One was killed...Ray Chapman in 1920. Don Zimmer was in a coma for 13 days after a beaning. Hall of Fame catcher Mickey Cochrane never recovered from a beaning in mid-career. Tony Conigliaro, one of the best young power hitters in baseball, never really got over a ball to the face. Paul Blair, centerfielder for the Orioles, never was the same after a beanball. The Astro's Dickie Thon was one of the most promising shortstops of all time before he took one to the face. Giancarlo Stanton and Jason Heyward of the Cubs took balls to the face. I could go on, but these were just a few of the players who suffered from a dangerous pitch up high.

I realize that mistakes happen and balls get away from pitchers. That can't be helped. But any pitch that the powers that be think was an intentional purpose pitch up high should result in a severe suspension and fine...at least a month and a maximum fine. If the player hit is injured, the pitcher should have to stay out as long as the guy he hit and pay the medical bill.

And yet I'm not saying Ramos shouldn't have thrown at Cabrera.

But what he should have done is put that -Drubal in his Ass.

Almost at the same time as the Ramos incident we had Buster Posey beaned by Taijuan Walker of the Diamondbacks. It took Buster a week to shake it off. This apparently was not intentional...they just tried to pitch Posey high and tight. Still, the next time Goldschmidt...the Snakes best hitter...came to the plate, Samardzija nailed him in the posterior. Goldy was expecting it and never even looked at Samardzija. He just set his bat down carefully and ran to first. As far as I know, that was the end of the incident.

Now that's how to remind the other team that they better be careful or they can expect retaliation. Message received...play ball.

And pitchers...JUST HIT 'EM IN THE ASS!

The Boston Red Sox, on the other hand, went completely batshit about Baltimore's Manny Machado oversliding and accidently spiking Pedroia. Yes, his foot was high, but Pedroia knew he wasn't trying to intentionally hurt anybody and said so. Machado tried to help Pedey up even. But 2 games later, Matt Barnes decided to be the enforcer all on his own and threw one behind Manny's head. This set off a long running controversy that Pedroia disowned right away. If he was okay with Machado, why the hell was Barnes making trouble...especially with a killing pitch?

Shouldn't that have ended the flak? Especially since Machado and Pedroia seemed to be good and had expressed sentiments of mutual respect? Nah...let's have a war!

So Dylan Bundy, (That's Dylan, not serial killer Ted Bundy you Boston over-reactors!)clinging to a 2 run lead late in the next game throws an inside fastball on a 2-1 count that hits Mookie Betts in the hip. Not sure that's an ideal time to revenge hit somebody. Isn't winning the game kind of the best revenge? Anyway, it certainly wasn't clear that that was a purpose pitch since Betts is a “diver” and with the quickest hands in the league you have to keep it tight inside to keep him from turning on it and hitting it fair off or over the wall.

Well no matter. Just in case, the Sox started up the war again when Sales threw behind Machado's legs soon after. That was definitely a purpose pitch even though manager Farrell lied through his teeth about it “getting away” from Sale, who has impeccable control. That ball was 4 feet inside!

Eventually Machado got sick of the static and took a few extra minutes touring the bases of Fenway after a big payback home run off Sale. (He also made about 4 terrific fielding plays so you can see how intimidated he was.)

Meanwhile, some Boston fans turned Neanderthal and started making racial attacks on Adam Jones out in center field. Oh yeah, that is so classy you stupid jerks! Whatever, man...get over it Boston!

Next game in the second inning Baltimore's Gausman throws a curve ball that bounces off Bogaert's leg at about 60 mph and the brain dead umpire throws him out of the game! Idiocy all around in this series!

Now they have to play another game and Torre has called the owners and managers and told them cease and desist. I hope somebody on one of these teams exhibits some basic baseball sportsmanship real soon to remind everybody that this is a more beautiful game when fellow millionaires aren't trying to kill each other.

2/HAMSTRINGS (and other injured body parts):

For all of you who, like me, enjoy making predictions about the future and who will win what and who will absolutely for sure make the playoffs, you might as well forget it.

Ball players are too damn fragile to count on anything.

This year it seems like big stars essential to their team's fortunes are going down like turkeys on Thanksgiving.

The Mets have been totally discombobulated by early season injuries. Cespedes pulled his latest hamstring so he's out. And of course he is their one essential hitter. Their one essential pitcher, Noah Syndergaard, is lat torn and probably out til after the All Star game, if even by then he heals. Duda and Matz are both out.

The Mets have lost a lot of games with their special offensive philosophy: put together a lineup of all or nothing home run hitters, make sure everybody has a terrible on base percentage so all those homers are solo jobs and then put them in a ball park that hates home runs. Voila! Second worst offense in baseball!

And just for fun...have a terrible defense!

They won 2 games from the Nationals to show some life and then gave up 23 runs in a defeat. Last place in a division with rebuilders like Philly and Atlanta!

The aforementioned Nationals lost Adam Eaton for the season on an ankle turn at first base that tore his knee up as well. So much for trading your entire minor league pitcher A-list for him.

But the Nationals look great because their lineup has gotten hot all at once...Trea Turner, Harper, Murphy, Zimmerman...and Rendon came up with a 6 for 6 10rbi gem of a game. Zimmerman has been resurrected, revived, reincarnated...some kind of Magic Mojo. The guy is hitting .430 or something!

The Diamondbacks and Dodgers had all the injuries last year. This year it's the Giants who felt the pain when Madison Bumgarner checked his brain back at the hotel and went joy riding on his dirt bike. Thud! Have a nice little shoulder injury that could easily have been career ending Madbum! You just killed your team's slim playoff hopes. (Unless they overcome like the Dodgers did with Kershaw's injury last year). Cueto and an improved Matt Cain are hoping to take up slack. The Gigantes also lost Aaron Hill, Denard Span and Brandon Crawford for various amounts of time.

The Diamondbacks did lose Shelby Miller for the season, but he was pitching so badly this season and last that he was actually doing them a favor by removing himself from consideration. That sounds harsh I know and I wish him well....maybe he can get his thing together while recuperating.

The Dodgers have 10 guys on the DL, including starters Peterson, Forsyth, Riu, Kazmir and Rich Hill. S-N-A-F-U.

In the AL the Red Sox have suffered flu bugs and cold weather-type pulled knees and hammies as they limp to a .500 record. Panda out. Replacement at third Hernandez now also out. Steven Wright knee out (maybe for the season) Brock Holt out. Bradley Jr. out for awhile, now back. Latest big trade set-up stud Thornburg out with a bad shoulder, keeping up the tradition of hotshot new Red Sox relievers getting injured. They need David Price to come back strong if they are to salvage my prediction that they would win the East.

Baltimore lost their Number One starter when Tillman started the season hurt and Miracle Closer Zach Britton went down but they've kicked ass anyway.

Toronto? You already know that sad story but they aren't the same without Encarnacion and now Donaldson. For good measure Troy Tulowitzski and J. Happ are out. And their top pitcher Vasquez hasn't played because of a bad finger. (Badfinger!...“I remember finding out about Yoooouuuuu!”)

The Yankees have been the best story in the game so far, even though last year's phenom, catcher Gary Sanchez has been AWOL. But who needs him when you've got... Aaron Judge! On pace for 81 homers this year. Nice kid and fun to watch a big guy like that get a-holt of one (or twelve!) But he has yet to complete one circuit around the league. Pitchers aren't really dumb enough to keep throwing him fastballs in the zone. They'll eventually find a hole. (“He's Judge and Jury..and it's Judgement Day!” Non-Yankee fans just love John Sterling's radio rap, don't we?)

Anybody remember Shane Spencer? Stocky, baby-faced outfielder for the Yanks in '98? Hit 10 homers in a September call-up in only 67 at bats? 3 grand slams? Whatever happened to that guy? Well, he lasted as a role player for about three years. Enjoy it Aaron...it may not be a permanent condition.

Tigers: Miggy down for awhile...came back with a homer.

Indians lose Kluber to a back strain.

The Cardinals lost 4 pitchers and Jhonny Peralta for time.

The Los Angeles Angels have 8 pitchers on the DL!

The Rangers lost Cole Hamels with a 2 month hurt to his oblique. He joins Adrian Beltre who has barely played this year because of calf problems. The Strangers were already in trouble....Houston is even beating up on them.

Houston has 4 guys on the 10-day DL including pitcher Colin McHugh but they have been pretty healthy and are playing well.

Seattle's King Felix? Shoulder...out indefinitely. I hope he gets better because he's been one of the great gamers in this sport.

And who wins the Good Health Mojo Medal for having Nobody on the DL? The World Champs! Chicago Cubs! Keep glowing with health you Adorable Baby Bears!

Hasta La Vista!