Plunking Pierzynski
The tone of last night's game was set right away in the 2nd inning last night when Vicente Padilla drilled AJ Pierzynski for the first time.
I thought it was a bad call by home plate umpire Phil Cuzzi to issue a warning after Padilla hit AJ again in the 4th. No one from the Rangers had been hit. I thought he was trying to cover himself more than he was trying to protect the players. I guess he didn't want a little scuffle out there.
None of their guys left their feet all night while our guy got hit twice. That's not right.
Hawk
Comments
Hawk, can you comment on what happened with Sean Tracey? Seems as though he was sent to the mound with orders from Ozzie to retaliate against Hank Blaylock. Getting pulled and screamed at after managing to get the out seemed pretty odd... Any thoughts? Is manager-mandated retaliation ever a good idea? Did Tracey do the right thing by going against Ozzie's wishes (even if it means he's getting sent back to Charlotte)?
Posted by: Kerry | June 15, 2006 2:31 PM
Dear Hawk I remember several years ago when Bert Campaneris was thrown at by a Detroit pitcher. He threw the bat, over the pitcher's head. Bert was, if I remember correctly was knee-high to a grasshopper in size. I also remember the damage done, of course unintentionally, with the Tony Canigliero incident.(pardon the spelling) I don't understand why occasionally a batter's bat doesn't accidentally slip out of hitters hand a couple of swings after he's just been thrown at by a pitcher. Sure it could cause damage, but I believe it would be a just as easy to dodge a bat coming at you from 50 feet away then dodging a fastball coming at your head at 90 mile an hour.
you and D.J's thoughts
Posted by: kevin Jonesborough TN. | June 17, 2006 3:56 PM
You know, I think AJ's head is on all the right way. Its hard to see that this is the same guy fans would think twice about talking to, for that matter the media. I think all AJ needed was a great manager in Ozzie, a great coaching staff, and terrific teamates to talk to and bond with. I see AJ staying here in the Chi for quite some years to come. Welcome home AJ!
Posted by: Stewart | June 17, 2006 5:04 PM
i think AJ has been givin a bad wrap... everyone boo's him and tries to hit him and all he wants to do is go to work and do the best he can do at his job.. which means play ball and win.. why is that so wrong.. like u said the other day Hawk.. "if u dont like AJ, then your the one with the problem"...
Posted by: Melissa Brooks | June 18, 2006 10:01 AM