david@fisher.UUCP (David Rubin) (08/13/84)
[duck!]
This was a bit too much folks.
Pascal Perez hit the first batter (Wiggins) in yesterday's Brave-Padre
game in Atlanta. From the replay that I saw, I'd say it was on that
just got away (besides, who wants to put Wiggins on to start the
game?). However, the Padres were unable to see things that way.
Each of FOUR times Perez came to bat he was knocked down. To say this
was retaliation is ridiculous; an accidental HBP does not require any
chin music, never mind a four movement symphony.
The Padres were evidently sure they were in a beanball battle long
before the Braves found out (Atlanta did not retaliate in kind until
late in the game). As such, I feel the league ought to treat this as
an institution's problem rather than an individual's one. I therefore
think it would be fair to leavy a fine on San Diego as a team rather
than on the individual pitchers. A just amount might be the receipts
from well attended weekend game, say $250,000.
This was not your typical beanball incident, born out of high emotion
and chance. This was a deliberate attempt on the part of a first-place
team to deprive its rather distant challenger of the use of its top
starter, by either intimidation or injury.
David Rubin
{allegra|astrovax|princeton}!fisher!davidfhb@hou2f.UUCP (F.BUTLER) (08/13/84)
Unbelievable! The umpires do throw the pitcher and manager (interim manager) out in a beanball war. When its obvious that the whole team is into it, as San Diego was in this case, do the umpires have the power to call the game? Throwing at a guys head four times in a row is a little much. Tim (Its only Frank's login)
hlb@loral.UUCP () (08/15/84)
The umpiers have the right to forfeit the game. In this instance I believe it would have gone to Atlanta only because they were ahead not because they were innocent victims. They were not. Secondly, John McSherry did not realize the rule was he colud call the game. So much was happening they just wanted to prevent a fan riot!
marc@bmcg.UUCP (08/15/84)
Something everyone seems to have missed regarding the forfeiting of the Braves-Padres game is this: McSherry stated after the game that he DID consider a forfeit, but that it would have been the BRAVES who would have forfeited. Another point -- the thing that started the whole mess, the pitch by Perez, was not an accident. The Braves were obviously getting back at Wiggins for "showing them up" (in their eyes) by bunting for singles and stealing bases in the previous game. This happened to Ricky Henderson during his record-setting season, which is something I've never understood -- if the guy's good enough to steal on your team, more power to him -- who cares what the score is?