MLB 2012 Thread

[Bigwaved]

Originally Posted by jonumberone

Hamels threw at Harper to say "welcome to the big leagues"
Harper stole home after the fact.
I honestly have no issue with it, and don't think he deserved the suspension.
I even like the comments Hamels made afterwards, and agree with him.
Pitchers like Bob Gibson and Don Drysdale threw at guys all the time.
No one called them bush, and both are in the hall.
I think baseball would be served well if the pitchers are allowed to take back the plate.
I also believe there is a right way and a wrong way to hit someone.

Hamels is no Gibson or Drysdale. They did not need to run their mouth about where they threw the ball or why. That was the rub with this one. That was the "bush" part of it. The suspension was a direct response to his big mouth. His pie hole forced them to do it.

[jonumberone]

Originally Posted by Bigwaved

Hamels is no Gibson or Drysdale. They did not need to run their mouth about where they threw the ball or why. That was the rub with this one. That was the "bush" part of it. The suspension was a direct response to his big mouth. His pie hole forced them to do it.

While I agree Hamels is no Gibson or Drysdale, part of what made them so great was their ability to pitch inside and intimidate hitters.
That is a tool not available to today's pitchers.

They were mean, nasty, and fierce competitors.
Gibson once threw at Reggie Jackson in an old timers day.
And they always ran their mouth to the players they hit.

Here are some quotes

"I hated to bat against (Don) Drysdale. After he hit you he'd come around, look at the bruise on your arm and say, 'Do you want me to sign it?'" - Mickey Mantle

"My own little rule was two for one. If one of my teammates got knocked down, then I knocked down two on the other team." - Don Drysdale

I couldn't find any direct quotes from Gibson, but it was never a mystery as to what he did on the mound.
I think the big difference is today, Harper getting hit is a story, 50 years ago it would have only been a footnote.

I also don't see how fans aren't upset about the pitch, just what was said.
Iv'e always admired straight shooters and try not to waste my time with people who look me in the eye and lie to me.

[Bigwaved]

Originally Posted by jonumberone

While I agree Hamels is no Gibson or Drysdale, part of what made them so great was their ability to pitch inside and intimidate hitters.
That is a tool not available to today's pitchers.

They were mean, nasty, and fierce competitors.
Gibson once threw at Reggie Jackson in an old timers day.
And they always ran their mouth to the players they hit.

Here are some quotes

"I hated to bat against (Don) Drysdale. After he hit you he'd come around, look at the bruise on your arm and say, 'Do you want me to sign it?'" - Mickey Mantle

"My own little rule was two for one. If one of my teammates got knocked down, then I knocked down two on the other team." - Don Drysdale

I couldn't find any direct quotes from Gibson, but it was never a mystery as to what he did on the mound.
I think the big difference is today, Harper getting hit is a story, 50 years ago it would have only been a footnote.

I also don't see how fans aren't upset about the pitch, just what was said.
Iv'e always admired straight shooters and try not to waste my time with people who look me in the eye and lie to me.

As far as today's pitchers not being able to establish the inside of the plate goes, I agree. They are not allowed to do that anymore.

Hamels did not go to Harper and ask him if he wanted an autograph after the game. He was not trying to establish the inside of the plate either. This was not a story until he ran his mouth after the game to a reporter. Before that, it was over with. He beaned the kid. He was hit on his 1st plate appearance as payback. That should have been it.