Harold Kasselman's Blog - Posts Tagged "bean-ball"
The Kindle Book Review
5.0 out of 5 stars Justice vs. Vengeance, January 23, 2013
By The Kindle Book Review (Indianapolis, IN) - See all my reviewsThis review is from: A Pitch for Justice (Kindle Edition)
Author Harold Kasselman has given us a uniquely realistic story of the ramifications that could result from a baseball pitch hitting a batter in the head and ultimately resulting in the death of the batter. Is this a situation that should be handled by the Commissioner of Baseball or is it one that should be treated as a crime and brought before a Grand Jury?
The rivalry between the Phillies and the Mets is palpable and retaliation is the name of the game. Rookie pitcher Tim Charles is embroiled in a conspiracy endorsed by manager Buck Sawyer to throw a pitch to intimidate and hit second baseman for the Mets Kenny Leyton. The pitch hits Leyton in the head and he drops to the ground. He suffers a concussion and against doctor's orders goes home to rest. The next day he is having great difficulty and is rushed to the emergency room where he subsequently dies from his injuries. Leyton's Widow Theresa masks her grief behind anger and vengeance and is determined to get justice for her husband's death no matter what the cost.
This book brings to the surface the competitive nature of baseball and the lengths that players are expected to go to in order to be competitive and support the players on their team. Does the fact that this type of retaliation has always been part of the game make it acceptable?
This is not just a book about baseball; it is also about the morals and values of those in the game and the inner workings of the legal system in their quest for justice. The process of the Grand Jury deciding to prosecute and the inner workings of this process as well as the trial that ensues are riveting and informative. You have a glimpse into the inner workings of the legal system and the compromises and deals that are made before a case gets to trial.
The characters of Tim Charles the pitcher, Buck Sawyer the team manager and Jamie Brooks the prosecutor and an avid baseball fan are extremely well-developed. They successfully draw you into their lives as the drama and intensity of the legal issues bring them together.
This is a very realistic story written with knowledge and depth. The Author's background as an attorney is evident as he leads the reader through the court system with intelligence and ease. The style of writing is easy to follow, filled with interesting characters and portrays the inner working of the legal system with great fascination.
By: Marilou George The Kindle Book Review
By The Kindle Book Review (Indianapolis, IN) - See all my reviewsThis review is from: A Pitch for Justice (Kindle Edition)
Author Harold Kasselman has given us a uniquely realistic story of the ramifications that could result from a baseball pitch hitting a batter in the head and ultimately resulting in the death of the batter. Is this a situation that should be handled by the Commissioner of Baseball or is it one that should be treated as a crime and brought before a Grand Jury?
The rivalry between the Phillies and the Mets is palpable and retaliation is the name of the game. Rookie pitcher Tim Charles is embroiled in a conspiracy endorsed by manager Buck Sawyer to throw a pitch to intimidate and hit second baseman for the Mets Kenny Leyton. The pitch hits Leyton in the head and he drops to the ground. He suffers a concussion and against doctor's orders goes home to rest. The next day he is having great difficulty and is rushed to the emergency room where he subsequently dies from his injuries. Leyton's Widow Theresa masks her grief behind anger and vengeance and is determined to get justice for her husband's death no matter what the cost.
This book brings to the surface the competitive nature of baseball and the lengths that players are expected to go to in order to be competitive and support the players on their team. Does the fact that this type of retaliation has always been part of the game make it acceptable?
This is not just a book about baseball; it is also about the morals and values of those in the game and the inner workings of the legal system in their quest for justice. The process of the Grand Jury deciding to prosecute and the inner workings of this process as well as the trial that ensues are riveting and informative. You have a glimpse into the inner workings of the legal system and the compromises and deals that are made before a case gets to trial.
The characters of Tim Charles the pitcher, Buck Sawyer the team manager and Jamie Brooks the prosecutor and an avid baseball fan are extremely well-developed. They successfully draw you into their lives as the drama and intensity of the legal issues bring them together.
This is a very realistic story written with knowledge and depth. The Author's background as an attorney is evident as he leads the reader through the court system with intelligence and ease. The style of writing is easy to follow, filled with interesting characters and portrays the inner working of the legal system with great fascination.
By: Marilou George The Kindle Book Review
Is violence a necessary part of sports?
The Dodgers found themselves in yet another baseball scrum last night; this time it was the divisional leading Arizona Diamondbacks. And yes Zach Greinke was front and center once again
It started when the Dodgers' star rookie, Yasiel Puig, was hit in the face by a pitch in the sixth, which led to the Dodgers and pitcher Zack Greinke to retaliate in the seventh by hitting Miguel Montero. But when Ian Kennedy sent one toward Greinke's head in the seventh, all hell broke lose with a benches-clearing brawl, and Puig was right in the middle of it.
The problem, with the attitude that this is just boys playing out the tradition of the unwritten rules of baseball, is that someone will be seriously hurt or a career will be ended.
The exception to the unwritten code of retaliation is that "purpose pitches" are not to be thrown at the neck or above. In this game Puig was hit in the face and Greinke was hit in the head.
Someone needs to grow up and realize that a baseball can be a deadly weapon even if it is not intentionally thrown at the head with a purpose to hit the head. Just trying to intimidate can lead to a recklessly caused injury.
Two lesser things came out of last night's game. One the Dodgers won. Secondly with Mattingly going all out for his players yesterday by mixing it up with Alan Trammel, he has probably saved his job for the rest of the year.
If you would like to read a novel that depicts how far escalation can go in an MLB game, read A PITCH FOR JUSTICE. The criminal justice system gets involved to make a pitcher accountable for a tragedy on the field.
http://www.amazon.com/A-Pitch-for-Jus...
Also read the below well argued dilemma for sports fans on whether violence is just an acceptable part of the game.
http://www.cortezjournal.com/article/...-
It started when the Dodgers' star rookie, Yasiel Puig, was hit in the face by a pitch in the sixth, which led to the Dodgers and pitcher Zack Greinke to retaliate in the seventh by hitting Miguel Montero. But when Ian Kennedy sent one toward Greinke's head in the seventh, all hell broke lose with a benches-clearing brawl, and Puig was right in the middle of it.
The problem, with the attitude that this is just boys playing out the tradition of the unwritten rules of baseball, is that someone will be seriously hurt or a career will be ended.
The exception to the unwritten code of retaliation is that "purpose pitches" are not to be thrown at the neck or above. In this game Puig was hit in the face and Greinke was hit in the head.
Someone needs to grow up and realize that a baseball can be a deadly weapon even if it is not intentionally thrown at the head with a purpose to hit the head. Just trying to intimidate can lead to a recklessly caused injury.
Two lesser things came out of last night's game. One the Dodgers won. Secondly with Mattingly going all out for his players yesterday by mixing it up with Alan Trammel, he has probably saved his job for the rest of the year.
If you would like to read a novel that depicts how far escalation can go in an MLB game, read A PITCH FOR JUSTICE. The criminal justice system gets involved to make a pitcher accountable for a tragedy on the field.
http://www.amazon.com/A-Pitch-for-Jus...
Also read the below well argued dilemma for sports fans on whether violence is just an acceptable part of the game.
http://www.cortezjournal.com/article/...-
A-Rod targeted
In Saturday's Astros game against the Yankees, Astros pitcher Brett Oberholtzer
gave up six runs in one and 1/3rd innings. He gave up two home runs including a grand slam to Brian McCann.
In the second inning, after serving up a home run to the leadoff batter, Oberholtzer threw at the mid-section of Alex Rodriguez. Umpire Rob Drake, promptly ejected the Astros starter on the grounds that it was a clear purpose pitch intended to hit Rodriguez because of the pounding Oberholtzer was taking.
After the game, to add insult to injury, the Astros pitcher was demoted and sent down to Triple A. In explaining the demotion, the Astros skipper A.J. Hinch said,
"We don't operate that way; we won't operate that way,". REALLY? managers don't expect pitchers to move batters back or even throw at them to make them uncomfortable at the plate? Ask Billy Martin, Dallas Green, Bob Gibson, Randy Johnson, Don Drysdale, Pedro Martinez,and scores of other players and managers who have regularly done so in similar situations. In fact, it's often expected by batters as well. So what's this all about? If he truly doesn't operate that way, he truly is an original. It seems to me the pitcher was demoted because he can't throw strikes and doesn't know how to pitch to big leaguers. If Hinch is serious, he may be breaking an unwritten rule of baseball. Let's see if he can live by his words.
If you would enjoy a novel about when a baseball custom such as a purpose pitch crosses the line to criminality, please check out my novel a Pitch For Justice on Amazon. http://www.amazon.com/Pitch-Justice-L...
gave up six runs in one and 1/3rd innings. He gave up two home runs including a grand slam to Brian McCann.
In the second inning, after serving up a home run to the leadoff batter, Oberholtzer threw at the mid-section of Alex Rodriguez. Umpire Rob Drake, promptly ejected the Astros starter on the grounds that it was a clear purpose pitch intended to hit Rodriguez because of the pounding Oberholtzer was taking.
After the game, to add insult to injury, the Astros pitcher was demoted and sent down to Triple A. In explaining the demotion, the Astros skipper A.J. Hinch said,
"We don't operate that way; we won't operate that way,". REALLY? managers don't expect pitchers to move batters back or even throw at them to make them uncomfortable at the plate? Ask Billy Martin, Dallas Green, Bob Gibson, Randy Johnson, Don Drysdale, Pedro Martinez,and scores of other players and managers who have regularly done so in similar situations. In fact, it's often expected by batters as well. So what's this all about? If he truly doesn't operate that way, he truly is an original. It seems to me the pitcher was demoted because he can't throw strikes and doesn't know how to pitch to big leaguers. If Hinch is serious, he may be breaking an unwritten rule of baseball. Let's see if he can live by his words.
If you would enjoy a novel about when a baseball custom such as a purpose pitch crosses the line to criminality, please check out my novel a Pitch For Justice on Amazon. http://www.amazon.com/Pitch-Justice-L...
