The only major pitch hit I've experienced was in the side of the head, so I was spared the immediate jolt and pain by simply having my next conscious moment on the ground.
Also, it was probably going 50mph or something relatively low compared to what this talks about.
Completely as an aside, I thought it was going to be about a sales pitch.
Something I'd note is that the major league pitchers are pretty amazing, but I've gone to a few minor league games. In the minors (perhaps depending on the league), a pitcher rarely lasts for an entire game, and their accuracy goes to hell as their arm turns to rubber. Their last one or two pitches before being relieved could go practically anywhere.
The hitters also seem aware of this, and become more wary as a pitcher gets worn down.
There's still an idea of wearing the pitcher out in the majors. Of course, if you're an ace throwing no-nos then you can routinely go 110+ pitches per game. Most pitchers go about 60-70. The bullpen is stacked with varying arms and pitch types to throw off hitters their 3rd+ time through.
Someone more familiar with baseball than me - could you explain the "rules" behind retributive "hitting the batter" with pitches? I've heard rumblings that pitchers will intentionally return the favor when their own teammates get hit. Anyone have any insight into this?
It broadly falls into two categories. The first, rarer case is trading beanballs (pitches that hit the batter). Pitchers routinely pitch inside, or close to the batter, to get him to back away from the plate (making it harder to hit pitches that are on the side of the plate opposite the batter). Sometimes, though, the pitcher's command isn't as good as he thinks it is, and he hits the batter when he tries this. If this happens a few times (once or twice can be an accident; more is seen as reckless/intentional), the other team's pitcher might throw near or at a batter on the first pitcher's team. Sometimes, in this case or the second version, the pitcher who throws at someone is the person targeted for retaliation, but this is complicated by the fact that, in one of the two divisions that compose Major League Baseball, pitchers do not have to hit, which means you can't directly target the person who is targeting your teammates.
The second, and more common, is a perceived violation of baseball's unwritten rules. There are a lot of these, but they mostly boil down to "don't have too much fun" and are exceedingly stupid. Things that are seen as violations of these unwritten rules include:
- Hitting a home run and watching it go over the wall
- Taking too long to run around the bases after hitting a home run
- Taking too long to go to first base after drawing a walk
- Flipping your bat after a hit
- Stealing a base while you're up by a lot or down by a lot
- Bunting for a hit (trying to tap the ball with your bat rather than really hit it) to break up a no-hitter (a game where a pitcher has not surrendered any hits, a very rare occurrence)
Basically, pitchers are sensitive babies and they will throw a 95 MPH projectile at you if you hurt their feelings by being better than them. Sometimes breaking these rules will result in an exchange of hit-by-pitch events (you hit my guy, whether arbitrarily "justified" or not, so I hit you/your guy). Bizarrely, this is tolerated, but if the hitter decides he wants retaliation in an equally violent way (say, by walking up to the pitcher and punching him), this is considered completely unacceptable. I love baseball, but it's a really dumb sport in some ways.
The likelihood of retaliation is more or less proportional to talent level of the player you hit. Retaliation is much more likely if you hit the cleanup hitter vs 8th or 9th man in the lineup. The reason for this is to protect good hitters from constantly being pitched inside with reckless abandon.
If the umpire thinks it's intentional then the pitcher will be ejected. Or if only the batter thinks it was intentional then you might have a brawl https://youtu.be/4APOqlpyseM
I'm sure entire books have been written on this, but yes, it happens all the time. There's all kinds of unwritten rules about how you should do it, when, and to whom.
Years ago, a badly adjusted pitching machine put a batting-cage ball off my left thumb. It was probably set for 60 mph, for I doubt I could have hit anything faster. But batting-cage balls are made for durability, to hold up under constant hitting by aluminum bats. In other words, they are damn hard. I did not enjoy it.
Could the guy at bat who gets hit charge the pitcher and wack him with the bat? If the pitcher can use the ball to try and kill you why would the league punish you for trying to use the bat to hit the pitcher?
Not using a bat as a weapon seems to be some unwritten rule of baseball. And rightfully so IMO, a bat could end someone's career, and falls squarely into 'criminal assault' territory.
Consider it a MAD strategy if you will - if YOU use a bat, then that opens the doors to someone using it against you(r team) someday.
[+] [-] eximius|8 years ago|reply
Also, it was probably going 50mph or something relatively low compared to what this talks about.
[+] [-] specializeded|8 years ago|reply
[+] [-] analog31|8 years ago|reply
Something I'd note is that the major league pitchers are pretty amazing, but I've gone to a few minor league games. In the minors (perhaps depending on the league), a pitcher rarely lasts for an entire game, and their accuracy goes to hell as their arm turns to rubber. Their last one or two pitches before being relieved could go practically anywhere.
The hitters also seem aware of this, and become more wary as a pitcher gets worn down.
[+] [-] thatwebdude|8 years ago|reply
[+] [-] sharkweek|8 years ago|reply
[+] [-] trowawee|8 years ago|reply
The second, and more common, is a perceived violation of baseball's unwritten rules. There are a lot of these, but they mostly boil down to "don't have too much fun" and are exceedingly stupid. Things that are seen as violations of these unwritten rules include:
- Hitting a home run and watching it go over the wall
- Taking too long to run around the bases after hitting a home run
- Taking too long to go to first base after drawing a walk
- Flipping your bat after a hit
- Stealing a base while you're up by a lot or down by a lot
- Bunting for a hit (trying to tap the ball with your bat rather than really hit it) to break up a no-hitter (a game where a pitcher has not surrendered any hits, a very rare occurrence)
Basically, pitchers are sensitive babies and they will throw a 95 MPH projectile at you if you hurt their feelings by being better than them. Sometimes breaking these rules will result in an exchange of hit-by-pitch events (you hit my guy, whether arbitrarily "justified" or not, so I hit you/your guy). Bizarrely, this is tolerated, but if the hitter decides he wants retaliation in an equally violent way (say, by walking up to the pitcher and punching him), this is considered completely unacceptable. I love baseball, but it's a really dumb sport in some ways.
[+] [-] blackflame7000|8 years ago|reply
[+] [-] boogiewoogie|8 years ago|reply
[+] [-] Erik816|8 years ago|reply
[+] [-] imperialdrive|8 years ago|reply
to this day i likely hold the league record hitting, and getting hit haha (always body shots, no aiming high of course)
[+] [-] erik_landerholm|8 years ago|reply
[+] [-] cafard|8 years ago|reply
[+] [-] BrandoElFollito|8 years ago|reply
I am not a native speaker and cannot find out whether this is a real statement or sarcasm/humor.
[+] [-] coolgeek|8 years ago|reply
[+] [-] hourislate|8 years ago|reply
[+] [-] gameshot911|8 years ago|reply
Consider it a MAD strategy if you will - if YOU use a bat, then that opens the doors to someone using it against you(r team) someday.
[+] [-] dafty4|8 years ago|reply