Votto shushing the crowd?

[westofyou]

The unwritten rules get broken by the paticipaters all the time.

If they don't care, why should we?

All the time! As in every day, every game?

Methinks you're exaggerating

[Raisor]

Let's look at this one more time.

Admiring a home run is against the "unwritten" rules of baseball.

The punishment of which is for the pitcher to break a written rule of baseball by intentially hitting someone.

Doesn't this seem to be a little weird?

[Raisor]

All the time! As in every day, every game?

Methinks you're exaggerating

Guys showboat in nearly every game, so yes?

[cincrazy]

You can throw at somebody without hurting them. How many beanings result in injury? Not many. I'm sorry, but I don't believe throwing a ball at someone's butt is "assault." I don't believe that most beanings are on purpose. The vast majority of them are pitchers simply trying to own the inside part of the plate. I don't care for guys intentionally throwing at batters, but it happens. Tony LaRussa was a big-time believer in this. I can't stand LaRussa, but he's one of the most successful managers of all time. Coincidence? His team possessed a swagger and confidence that was evident every time they took the field. Part of that had to do with the other team knowing they'd retaliate if necessary.

[edabbs44]

Let's look at this one more time.

Admiring a home run is against the "unwritten" rules of baseball.

The punishment of which is for the pitcher to break a written rule of baseball by intentially hitting someone.

Doesn't this seem to be a little weird?

I think there is a difference between admiring a home run and showing up the other team/pitcher.

[Raisor]

I think there is a difference between admiring a home run and showing up the other team/pitcher.

Fine.

Showing up a pitcher is against the unwritten rules.

The punishment of showing up a pitcher is to intentionally hit a batter, which is against the written rules.

So the punishment of breaking an unwritten rule is to break a written rule?

Just want to make sure we're clear.

[RadfordVA]

Fine.

Showing up a pitcher is against the unwritten rules.

The punishment of showing up a pitcher is to intentionally hit a batter, which is against the written rules.

So the punishment of breaking an unwritten rule is to break a written rule?

Just want to make sure we're clear.

There is however already built in punishments for breaking a written rule though. Hitter gets 1st base, possible ejections, fines, suspensions. So that kind of takes care of itself. Is punished automatically.

[TSJ55]

Fine.

Showing up a pitcher is against the unwritten rules.

The punishment of showing up a pitcher is to intentionally hit a batter, which is against the written rules.

So the punishment of breaking an unwritten rule is to break a written rule?

Just want to make sure we're clear.

Nah...let me "muddy it up" a little more. All message pitches don't hit the batter or were even meant to.

[RollyInRaleigh]

It's interesting how kids progressively start dropping out of baseball after T-ball and coach pitch when the kids start pitching, and people start getting hit by pitches. Then it happens again when the pitching gets faster and harder. I think some of that might be getting carried over into this debate.

Next thing you know, folks will be clamoring that a pitcher should automatically be removed from the game for hitting, err, assaulting a batter with a pitch. Maybe just use pitching machines so that people don't get hit.

Getting hit by pitches is something that is not going to change in the game of baseball. Deal with it.

[RollyInRaleigh]

"That one just slipped," is always going to be around.

[Roy Tucker]

MLB could cram the rulebook full of NFL-like rules against end zone celebrations, taunting, throat slash gestures, etc etc. Perhaps we could the put a stopwatch on how long a batter can pause at home plate? Or number of players at home plate after a walk-off. Or acceptable hanshakes.

I'd just love that.

[Raisor]

Nah...let me "muddy it up" a little more. All message pitches don't hit the batter or were even meant to.

I'm not really concerned with pitches that don't hit the batter.

I'm not concered with pitches that hit the batter by accident.

I'm concered with the idea that it's ok to hit someone on purpose.

[RedFanAlways1966]

I'm concered with the idea that it's ok to hit someone on purpose.

I'm concerned with people who seem to read minds or make circumstantial judgments. So I lean on the side of "act like a professional and no need to worry about getting drilled on purpose". Kind of cures it all. Do not act like a jack-"wagon" and you do not get drilled. Why is this so hard to understand? I like that players police their own. We do not need Bob Watson types for every action on the field. The players get away with a lot more these days than days of old, but they all know how far they can go w/out getting retaliation. Those who do not know are stupid. I have no sympathy for cockiness nor stupidty.

[Raisor]

I'm concerned with people who seem to read minds or make circumstantial judgments. So I lean on the side of "act like a professional and no need to worry about getting drilled on purpose". Kind of cures it all. Do not act like a jack-"wagon" and you do not get drilled. Why is this so hard to understand? I like that players police their own. We do not need Bob Watson types for every action on the field. The players get away with a lot more these days than days of old, but they all know how far they can go w/out getting retaliation. Those who do not know are stupid. I have no sympathy for cockiness nor stupidty.

I would call it stupidty to plunk a guy because he "showed you up".

[RollyInRaleigh]

I would call it stupidty to plunk a guy because he "showed you up".

Say that to Bob Gibson. I'd pay to watch that.