Contributed by Auggie
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As you may have discerned from earlier posts, the topic of psychological behavior among professional athletes both interests and baffles me. Here is the latest. The other night, Josh Beckett of the Boston Red Sox had a no hitter going against Detroit until he lost it with two outs in the seventh inning. In the sixth inning the Tiger's catcher tried unsuccessfully to bunt for a base hit. A smart move in my opinion. You're facing a dominating pitcher with good stuff so why not try something different to get on base and possibly start a rally? The next time he came up Beckett plugged him.
Now maybe it was simply a wild pitch, but to listen to the game analysts it was clearly an intentional act to send a message to the hitter for . . . you know, that bunting thing. WHAT?!?!?! Now you can't try to bunt for a hit? Since when? Beckett has never said that's what happened so he deserves the benefit of the doubt. But if that was "retaliation" for attempting to break up his no hitter with a bunt then baseball has taken a commanding lead in the race to see which professional sports league has the biggest babies.
But he only hit him on the hip-- all is well-- you can let this one go. You are right, but take a deep breath, go to your happy place, and let it go. If it was 8-0 in the 8th, I would hit him harder...maybe in the upper back.JD
ReplyDeleteThis blog was becoming irrelevant, but then came the post about Kung Fu... For anyone over 40 the word Grasshopper evokes a thought that is much more than just a little green bug that hops. Kudos to WWDS for posting breaking news that is relevant. Now, if you could only get Auggie to ........ (stay tuned for my next comment)
ReplyDeleteWhoa, whoa, whoa. To become irrelevant, don't you need to first be relevant?
ReplyDeleteNo need to let it go - its not exactly keeping me awake at night. But since you would have 'hit him harder' in an 8-0 game, perhaps you can shed some light on the psyche. I think I get the whole 'pitchers use intimidation and if the opposing batter is worried then the pitcher has the edge blah blah blah', but I'm still struggling with the bunting scenario. (A side note: when the slowest player on the opposing team is trying to bunt his way on the pitcher should be elated). Anyway, why would you have hit him?
ReplyDeleteIts simply in the baseball "book", with other gems such as "you hit my left fielder, I hit your leftfielder"
ReplyDelete"You don't keep stealing bases when your up 8-0 in a game." And you don't sit with someone and talk to them, or ever mention, a no-hitter during the game. In regards to bunting, I've seen some of the media question anyone bunting in a no-hitter- I firmly disagree with that if its a close game and you need baserunners. But c'mon-- if its 8-0 and effectively over, man up and try to hit the ball. Don't try to pussyfoot your way to first base because the 3rd baseman is playing back. JD