Harold Kasselman's Blog - Posts Tagged "unwritten-rules-of-baseball"
Pete Rose and the "unwritten rules of baseball" Hypocritical?
This is a from an article published April 6th 2013by Ricky Doyle of NESN
http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/story/pe...
In the article,
Rose calls the unwritten rules of baseball"stupid".
“I used to get screwed when we had a seven- or eight-run lead, because I couldn’t bunt for a single or I’m ‘showing up the opposition,’ ” Rose told Grantland.
Rose referenced an example when the Reds led J.R. Richard of Houston by 7-1.Rose singled but took second base on the play.Extending the single with a big lead offended the so called "sacred rules of baseball and Richard threw at the next two Reds' batters.
Ricky Doyle the author of the article says about Pete, "Leave it to Charlie Hustle to tell it like it is".
There's only one problem.Charlie hustle was and apparently still is a bit of a hypocrite. The unwritten rules suited him just fine when it was in his best interests.It was 1978 and Rose had a 44 game consecutive hitting streak; the best in NL history.
Many of you, as did I, may have seen Rose's last at bat against the Atlanta Braves on August 1st, 1978 against the very fine relief pitcher Gene "Gino" Garber.It is important to note that the Braves were winning 16-4. When Garber got Rose out on off speed pitches, Rose glared at Garber and yelled at him for throwing junk balls to end his streak.
Rose was greatly upset by the Braves pitchers and blasted them in the press for not challenging him with any fastballs. He argued that the unwritten rules of baseball called for Garber to throw their best pitch to challenge him since he was in the midst of a landmark streak.The facts though, Pete, are that Garber's best pitch was the change-up. What was Garber supposed to do Pete? Was he supposed to throw his lesser effective pitch so you could extend your streak?
Rose was quoted as saying" those guys were pitching like it was the 7th game of the world series". Does that sound like the same guy who denounced the unwritten rule when he took second base on a single in the Houston-Reds game?
Well Mr. Doyle, maybe you forgot August 1st 1978.Charlie Hustle didn't always tell it like it is.
If you'd like to read more about the unwritten rules of baseball, I'd offer my novel A PITCH FOR JUSTICE http://www.amazon.com/A-Pitch-for-Jus... as a read on when the unwritten rules can go too far with tragic consequences.
http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/story/pe...
In the article,
Rose calls the unwritten rules of baseball"stupid".
“I used to get screwed when we had a seven- or eight-run lead, because I couldn’t bunt for a single or I’m ‘showing up the opposition,’ ” Rose told Grantland.
Rose referenced an example when the Reds led J.R. Richard of Houston by 7-1.Rose singled but took second base on the play.Extending the single with a big lead offended the so called "sacred rules of baseball and Richard threw at the next two Reds' batters.
Ricky Doyle the author of the article says about Pete, "Leave it to Charlie Hustle to tell it like it is".
There's only one problem.Charlie hustle was and apparently still is a bit of a hypocrite. The unwritten rules suited him just fine when it was in his best interests.It was 1978 and Rose had a 44 game consecutive hitting streak; the best in NL history.
Many of you, as did I, may have seen Rose's last at bat against the Atlanta Braves on August 1st, 1978 against the very fine relief pitcher Gene "Gino" Garber.It is important to note that the Braves were winning 16-4. When Garber got Rose out on off speed pitches, Rose glared at Garber and yelled at him for throwing junk balls to end his streak.
Rose was greatly upset by the Braves pitchers and blasted them in the press for not challenging him with any fastballs. He argued that the unwritten rules of baseball called for Garber to throw their best pitch to challenge him since he was in the midst of a landmark streak.The facts though, Pete, are that Garber's best pitch was the change-up. What was Garber supposed to do Pete? Was he supposed to throw his lesser effective pitch so you could extend your streak?
Rose was quoted as saying" those guys were pitching like it was the 7th game of the world series". Does that sound like the same guy who denounced the unwritten rule when he took second base on a single in the Houston-Reds game?
Well Mr. Doyle, maybe you forgot August 1st 1978.Charlie Hustle didn't always tell it like it is.
If you'd like to read more about the unwritten rules of baseball, I'd offer my novel A PITCH FOR JUSTICE http://www.amazon.com/A-Pitch-for-Jus... as a read on when the unwritten rules can go too far with tragic consequences.
Can we expect another escalation between the Dodgers and padres next week?
Escalating retaliation in Baseball-Dodgers and San Diego
By harold kasselman
Zach Greinke is lost for possibly 8 weeks during a fight on the field.
Last night San Diego pitcher Jason Marquis threw a pitch over the head of LA center fielder Matt Kemp which shook up the Dodgers MVP. Apparently, some observers presumed that the Dodgers or LA pitching great Zach Greinke took exception to that "purpose pitch". Then with a 1 run differential, Greinke hit the Padres lead off batter Carlos Quentin in the shoulder.
It does not seem logical, or as Don Mattingly later said, "stupid", that Greinke deliberately tried to retaliate and hit Quentin in a one run game in the 6th inning by walking the leadoff hitter.
Nevertheless, Quentin apparently thought it was deliberate(the two players have a history)or took exception that Greinke said to him after the pitch.
Quentin charged the mound like a raging bull(he is built like one).Quentin barreled into Greinke and in the fray, Grienke's collar bone was broken.He signed a 147 million dollar contract in the off season. Meanwhile Kemp, joined in the fray because of the ball thrown over his head by Jason Marquis.
This was the third time Greinke had hit Quentin and the latter admitted that played a role in his charging the mound.(IT must be pointed out that Quentin leans into the ball and stands close to the plate)
After the game, Kemp and Quentin found themselves in the exit corridors at Safeco Park and had to be separated. Fortunately the Dodgers didn't lose another heavyweight (in terms of money and impact to the team.) The teams meet next week in LA and there is already talk by some pundits about the need to retaliate.
If you would enjoy a fictional account of how retaliation, the unwritten rules of baseball, and the societal laws could be impacted from such cascading events, please read my novel. It is called A Pitch For Justice and it is available as an e-book on Amazon etc. for just $2.99 or download it for your IPAD
http://www.amazon.com/A-Pitch-for-Jus...
By harold kasselman
Zach Greinke is lost for possibly 8 weeks during a fight on the field.
Last night San Diego pitcher Jason Marquis threw a pitch over the head of LA center fielder Matt Kemp which shook up the Dodgers MVP. Apparently, some observers presumed that the Dodgers or LA pitching great Zach Greinke took exception to that "purpose pitch". Then with a 1 run differential, Greinke hit the Padres lead off batter Carlos Quentin in the shoulder.
It does not seem logical, or as Don Mattingly later said, "stupid", that Greinke deliberately tried to retaliate and hit Quentin in a one run game in the 6th inning by walking the leadoff hitter.
Nevertheless, Quentin apparently thought it was deliberate(the two players have a history)or took exception that Greinke said to him after the pitch.
Quentin charged the mound like a raging bull(he is built like one).Quentin barreled into Greinke and in the fray, Grienke's collar bone was broken.He signed a 147 million dollar contract in the off season. Meanwhile Kemp, joined in the fray because of the ball thrown over his head by Jason Marquis.
This was the third time Greinke had hit Quentin and the latter admitted that played a role in his charging the mound.(IT must be pointed out that Quentin leans into the ball and stands close to the plate)
After the game, Kemp and Quentin found themselves in the exit corridors at Safeco Park and had to be separated. Fortunately the Dodgers didn't lose another heavyweight (in terms of money and impact to the team.) The teams meet next week in LA and there is already talk by some pundits about the need to retaliate.
If you would enjoy a fictional account of how retaliation, the unwritten rules of baseball, and the societal laws could be impacted from such cascading events, please read my novel. It is called A Pitch For Justice and it is available as an e-book on Amazon etc. for just $2.99 or download it for your IPAD
http://www.amazon.com/A-Pitch-for-Jus...
Former Pitcher Dirk Hayhurst and the potential criminality of unwritten baseball customs
Dirk Hayhurst is a former major league pitcher(mediocre) but also a noted author, and a broadcaster and commentator. A few days ago he wrote an excellent article about the absurdity, inconsistency, and arbitrariness of the baseball custom known as the unwritten rules of baseball. He was responding to an article written by Tim Kurkjian's earlier piece on the same subject that claimed to have compiled an exhaustive and intelligible list of the customs. Hayhurst exclaimed, "instead what I got was what more of the same: piles of oblivious, hypocritical, contradictory bullshit."
Among other arguments, Hayhurst argues that the unwritten rules are a poor example for our youth who are exploring a possible career in the game. For me the most interesting and salient point was his labeling of some of the customs as pure criminal in behavior.
Naturally, since my novel was written with that as its theme, I felt compelled to provide the link to this well written story.http://deadspin.com/a-major-league-pi... Then I invite you to check out my novel here on Goodreads or Amazon
http://www.amazon.com/Pitch-Justice-H...
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1...
Among other arguments, Hayhurst argues that the unwritten rules are a poor example for our youth who are exploring a possible career in the game. For me the most interesting and salient point was his labeling of some of the customs as pure criminal in behavior.
Naturally, since my novel was written with that as its theme, I felt compelled to provide the link to this well written story.http://deadspin.com/a-major-league-pi... Then I invite you to check out my novel here on Goodreads or Amazon
http://www.amazon.com/Pitch-Justice-H...
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1...
Yet another escalation in retaliation for baseball
It seems that every few weeks baseball's unwritten rule of retaliation rears it's ugly head. Yesterday it happened in Phoenix at a game between the Diamondbacks and Pirates. The recipient of the pay back pitch was the Pirates best player, last years' MVP and current All-Star Andrew McCutchen. He was hit in the spine with a fast ball from Arizona"s reliever Randall Delgado in the ninth inning with the Pirates leading by four runs with one out in the ninth.
Why was McCutchen so sure the pitch was a deliberate attempt to hit and injure him? It just so happens that Arizona's arguably best player Paul Goldschmidt was hit in his left hand a day earlier by a Pirates reliever. The result was a fractured bone which led the Diamondback power hitting first sacker to the disabled list for a stint. Now the Arizona team is not exactly playoff bound but who knows whether a hand fracture will heal correctly and how much hand strength will Goldy lose as a result of the fracture? How long will it take for him to recover to full strength and will it affect even next season. The point is that Goldy is a big part of the Arizona franchise's future.
No doubt Delgado remembered the public scalding that Arizona's GM Kevin Towers gave the team's pitching staff last season for not protecting their hitters and failing to retaliate. Recall that Arizona had an infamous and ugly incident with the Dodgers and Zach Greinke last year over a similar retaliation escalation. So there was little doubt in anyone's mind, least of all McCutheon, that Delgado threw a deliberate purpose pitch. Of course Kirk Gibson Diamondbacks' skipper chalked it up to the usual "the ball just got away from him" defense".
And what's next? Well Clint Hurdle the Pirates manager observed that "the game takes care of itself". That is diplomatic double talk that means we will take care of our players too and there's more to come whether today or the next time the teams meet.
But I'm always left wondering when somebody will come down so hard on these tit for tat unwritten customs that pitchers will be loathe to hurt someone because they will suffer a 50 game suspension. Or as Dirk Hayhurst suggested a few months ago, law enforcement may have to step in and prosecute one of these guys for assault and battery to end the cycle of violence.
And to take the point one step further, you may enjoy A Pitch for Justice my novel that imagines a criminal prosecution for murder after a retaliatory pitch
http://www.amazon.com/Pitch-Justice-H...
Why was McCutchen so sure the pitch was a deliberate attempt to hit and injure him? It just so happens that Arizona's arguably best player Paul Goldschmidt was hit in his left hand a day earlier by a Pirates reliever. The result was a fractured bone which led the Diamondback power hitting first sacker to the disabled list for a stint. Now the Arizona team is not exactly playoff bound but who knows whether a hand fracture will heal correctly and how much hand strength will Goldy lose as a result of the fracture? How long will it take for him to recover to full strength and will it affect even next season. The point is that Goldy is a big part of the Arizona franchise's future.
No doubt Delgado remembered the public scalding that Arizona's GM Kevin Towers gave the team's pitching staff last season for not protecting their hitters and failing to retaliate. Recall that Arizona had an infamous and ugly incident with the Dodgers and Zach Greinke last year over a similar retaliation escalation. So there was little doubt in anyone's mind, least of all McCutheon, that Delgado threw a deliberate purpose pitch. Of course Kirk Gibson Diamondbacks' skipper chalked it up to the usual "the ball just got away from him" defense".
And what's next? Well Clint Hurdle the Pirates manager observed that "the game takes care of itself". That is diplomatic double talk that means we will take care of our players too and there's more to come whether today or the next time the teams meet.
But I'm always left wondering when somebody will come down so hard on these tit for tat unwritten customs that pitchers will be loathe to hurt someone because they will suffer a 50 game suspension. Or as Dirk Hayhurst suggested a few months ago, law enforcement may have to step in and prosecute one of these guys for assault and battery to end the cycle of violence.
And to take the point one step further, you may enjoy A Pitch for Justice my novel that imagines a criminal prosecution for murder after a retaliatory pitch
http://www.amazon.com/Pitch-Justice-H...
