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0 Subject: Jose Urena

Posted by: filthy
- [45320290] Mon, Aug 20, 2018, 05:07

Hot topic lately!
I feel like the Harper/Votto scenario was much worse, but the Acuna incident gets all the press. Both seem like standard 'intentional' bean balls from my perspective.

Although, I just watched a slideshow of all Urena's first pitches this year, and I'm starting to wonder if he just really has bad command.

Only ten of 24 first pitches that I saw were close to the catcher's target. (Only a handful seemed set up inside, so I don't know what Mattingly's watching?!) The second start of the year against Boston/Nunez was very similar. About 8 inches difference from the Acuna pitch. Also 97MPH. First time against Braves, vs Albies, threw the exact same pitch he threw to Acuna. Luckily Albies is a lefty.

On the other hand, Acuna had taken a bases loaded walk against the Marlins in the 9th inning when ahead by a 10-1 score three weeks earlier. I have to imagine Urena made a little note to self about that one. Or perhaps he was under orders. Either way, I think things played out fine. Mattingly needs to let Snitker know about that unwritten rule though because the message did not seem to be received well. Guys really should be swinging away, and swinging early in the count in a blowout. If you don't want to develop bad habits, you should probably be benching your stars late in a blowout. Or at least nudging them to swing away.

And last thought for now, Chipper Jones is way off base with his comment. He probably doesn't realize that sitting at #32 on the all time list for most hit batsmen is his former teammate and widely considered greatest control pitcher of modern era, Mr. Greg Maddux. If Maddux can 'lose one' once in a while, then I don't see how we could hold any other pitcher to a higher standard than that!
1loki
      ID: 453362410
      Mon, Aug 20, 2018, 13:21
It was absolutely intentional and Mattingly instructed Urena do do it. Acuna hit a leadoff HR in 3 consecutive games and was the hottest hitter in MLB as well as being one of its most exciting prospects.
The injury was only a bone bruise, but could have just as easily ended Acuna's season.
MLB should put an end to this archaic tradition and protect its players and future stars.
I think that a 20 game suspension for both Urena and Mattingly would have been appropriate.
2filthy
      ID: 45320290
      Mon, Aug 20, 2018, 18:26
Feels like pressure for a change is stronger than ever!
Plate collisions and take out slides are gone, so this would be next down the list.

Just banishing unwritten rules would go a long way, but Mattingly always seems to come up with another one that surprises me.

I think we'd see another strike before we see penalties stiffen to a 20 game suspension. How to prove intent? I'd venture to guess that over 100 of the HBP that Greg Maddux threw were intentional. Do you get a free pass for being cunning? Maybe you should? All the power to you if they think it truly 'got away' from you.

Also do batters that are turning into a pitch on purpose start to get suspended? The slope starts to get slippery, but I do agree that something needs to be done.

Encourage every star player go to the plate dressed like Barry Bonds? Punish pitchers regardless of intent? Really gotta decide how bad you wanna pitch inside if you can't have confidence in your command? A lot of interesting thoughts come to me from both sides.

Deep down, I may be jaded in my opinion due to reading "Nice Guys Finish Last" a couple weeks back! Leo has some good insights on this, but they are quite archaic point of views, touchee!
3Ref
      ID: 5857210
      Sun, Sep 02, 2018, 12:03
Agreed. If the players feel this strongly then they will put in the CBA more substantial suspensions for this type of stuff.
4GO
      ID: 565491620
      Thu, Sep 20, 2018, 21:32
Puig?
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