Is throwing at hitters (as Manny deserves) a part of pitching?

Question

If so or if not, explain why it should or shouldn't be.

I'll expand on my opinion when I select best answer.

Some of you totally missed the spirit of the question, others of you have it spot on.

The question is about the psychology of pitching. Should that be a tool a pitcher is allowed to use without fear of league interference?

Answer 1

As a former pitcher I'd have to say YES.This usually only happens after the other team shows up your team, or doesn't respect what your doing on the field.Pitchers have to pitch inside to be effective.I'm from the Ole School as Manny deserves to be brushed back if not Drilled in the ribs.It won't happen until the game is decided one way or another as the Tribe don't want to wake up the Bosox.To go further its a part of the GAME,and the pitcher gets to carry out the process.

Answer 2

Yes, it is. Or should be, more.

Baseball is all about a balance between pitching and hitting and for too long, hitters have been allowed to get too comfortable at the plate. When batter can dig in firmly right on top of the plate it doesn't leave the pitcher much room to pitch. Even an inside strike could get a warning from the Umpire. As much as people like to see home runs, it is important to allow pitchers a chance to get people out, too.

Part of keeping a hitter off balance involves an occasional purpose pitch to back a batter off the plate. No throwing at the head but an inside pitch at the chest is fair.

As far as hitting a player who shows up the pitcher by show-boating - there is no legitimate competitive reason to do that but a punitive action is okay from a traditional standpoint. Again, not at the head. And in this case, the Indians should not do it in this series and risk allowing the Sox to get back into the thing.

But, the first time the Indians face Manny next season, I would be dissapointed if he doesn't get drilled in the thigh.


BTW, I heard Michael Wilbon say that he thought Manny just forgot which team he was playing for and that he was back on the Indians and had just hit a grand slam to put his team up 7-3, lol.

Answer 3

throwing at hitters is a part of the game, yes. It is generally expected that if a pitcher hits a batter than there will be retaliation or if you show up the other team there will be retaliation, through hitting a batter with a pitch.
Example: Manny showboating would generally result in a Cleveland pitcher coming out and plunking him in the next inning. However, they did not in that situation because it was more important to win the game, not put Manny on base and ignite the passion of Sox players.
However, take a regular season game. If Wakefield hit Travis Hafner with a pitch, especially if it appeared deliberate, then you can bet that the Cleveland pitcher is going to hit a Boston batter the next time up. That is part of baseball.

Answer 4

Yes, it's part of pitching. There are various reasons I think for plunking a batter, whether he showed up the pitcher at his last at-bat, you're retaliating for one of your guys getting hit, or because it's Barry Bonds. Speaking of which, I went to see the Astros when the Giants were in town last year and Bonds was on his hunt for the HR record. Russ Springer was on the mound and as Bonds approached the plate, the entire crowd began chanting "hit him! hit him!" and.... so he did. Fantastic. Anyway, I digress. If you ARE going to throw at a hitter, the only (unwritten) rule I think the pitcher should abide by is keeping it below the neck. I never, ever think it's appropriate to throw at someone's head. Throwing at a batter is a way to make a point; to send a message, not to kill them. But it's as much a part of pitching as is a fastball and a windup.

Answer 5

You don't do that in the playoffs. Too much is on the line. It's part of the game know doubt but thowing at Manny is a bad idea. Beckett can throw 98. Payback would be an Indian with a brused a$$. Not something you want when your looking at the World Series.

Answer 6

I know this is not directly on point - but while Manny has strong skills - did all of the Cleveland fans forget that he made some bone-head plays when he was on the Indians, too. Skills, yes; intelligence - uh - no.

That said, brush back - okay, and I guess retaliaton - maybe; but do not ruin a chance for a win by being egged on to a stupid move.
An uncle used to joke that if he coached basketball and the other team had a "hot dog" center, he would put his scrub center in and have him belt their center on the opening jump ball. ;o)

Answer 7

If a pitcher throws at a hitter's head and kills him, or injures him so he never plays again, will he look back on it and justify it by saying "well, he hit a home run and hot dogged and showed up my pitcher".
Is that a valid reason??

The best way to get back is continued success.

Now, should the Red Sox pitchers take Manny aside and say "hey, if they did that to me, this is the way I would have felt", sure.

However, how can we really give athletes any credit for being people when they rarely demonstrate it.

Answer 8

Yes, throwing at hitters is part of the game and sometimes a crucial part of pitching and being a good teammate. I'm not advocating head hunting - thats dangerous - but when someone shows you up or intentionally hits one of your teammates it is the pitchers responsibilty to retaliate in kind. Like I said, throwing at their head is going to far, but a well placed fastball right between the shoulder blades is necessary sometimes.

Answer 9

A knuckleballer throwing at a hitter - now there's a concept.

Kinda like, in the immortal words of Lou Pinella, getting bit by a stuffed panda.

The Indians probably should be more focused on ending this series, as opposed to drumming up any rhyme or reason to invigorate a group of dead men walking in any real way.

Answer 10

The Indians wont respond that way, and the reason is not fear of getting kicked out. They dont want ESPN to turn them into the bad guys. As soon as it happened all the ESPN talking heads hit the air waves with the same crap. Its just Manny being Manny. The Indians are not giving anyone ammunition. We are just playing the game the way its suppose to be played. We love proving the Talking Heads wrong. GO TRIBE !!!