Souhan on Hunter

[gunnarthor]

I know a few don't care at all for Souhan but I thought his piece on Hunter's ejection was pretty spot on.

 

"In a 162-game season, sometimes things happen that mean nothing or close to nothing. This was probably one of those moments.

 

It wasn't leadership. It wasn't irresponsibility. It was just a guy getting frustrated and angry and doing the kinds of things that baseball players and managers have been doing for more than 100 years.

 

I grew up watching Earl Weaver. He was one of the smartest managers in baseball history. He also turned his cap backward so he could scream in umpires' faces. He also kicked dirt on home plate. He was brilliant and he acted immaturely at times and in baseball those are not contradictory behaviour patterns.

 

We react so quickly to any vivid moment these days. I believe in judging a person's body of work. Hunter has thrown a few tantrums in his career. He also rose from poverty in Arkansas and spent most of a decade bouncing around the minors to turn himself into an All-Star player and, yes, a true leader.

 

His teammates love him. Every organization that has employed him has revered him."

 

Edit: Also, I'm not sure why I put it in the more baseball section.  

[Dman]

Surprisingly I agree with Souhan.  In the course of a season I am not sure that this means very much.  I hate corner nipping or wide outside strike 3 calls for either team.  A called strike three should be a solid no doubt about it strike IMO. 

 

This felt like one of those umpire power struggles where the impartial umpire took things personal and decided to ignore doing his job and be a jerk.  Kind of glad Hunter let him have it and would hope but doubt the umpire would have to answer for that call and his behavior.

 

Hunter shouldn't have said anything during the at bat as that most always seems to work against you.  Bad calls typically even themselves out over the course of the game and season.  They didn't lose that game because of the ump they lost because they didn't play well as a team.

[nicksaviking]

I liked it, not sure if it was great leadership, but I'd bet it fired up the few young guys on the roster.

 

And from the angle of the Twins only signing Hunter to put fans in the seats, that show probably sold more tickets than any of the other sad experiences that took place on that field over the previous 26 innings.

[HitInAPinch]

 

 

I grew up watching Earl Weaver. He was one of the smartest managers in baseball history. He also turned his cap backward so he could scream in umpires' faces.
 

 

Well, yes and no.  Weaver turned his cap around so the bill of the cap wouldn't hit the umpire.  Touching an umpire gets you a big suspension.  Which makes the move even more Brilliant!

[Otto von Ballpark]

 

I hate corner nipping or wide outside strike 3 calls for either team.  A called strike three should be a solid no doubt about it strike IMO.

But that's squeezing the pitcher, and it will just shift your frustration to the other side of the ball.  I have no problem with a consistent zone, and last night's was, judging by the strike zone map:

 

http://www.brooksbaseball.net/pfxVB/zoneTrack.php?month=6&day=10&year=2015&game=gid_2015_06_10_kcamlb_minmlb_1%2F&prevDate=0610

 

[Otto von Ballpark]

 

I liked it, not sure if it was great leadership, but I'd bet it fired up the few young guys on the roster.

 

And from the angle of the Twins only signing Hunter to put fans in the seats, that show probably sold more tickets than any of the other sad experiences that took place on that field over the previous 26 innings.

I am sure the young guys are on Torii's side of the issue, but I'm not sure if it was really a "getting fired up" moment.  It was more complaining (something which I know well ) than a display of passion.

 

As a fan, I appreciate these kind of memorable moments, especially in otherwise forgettable games, but they won't make me more likely to buy tickets either.

[Hrbowski]

 

But that's squeezing the pitcher, and it will just shift your frustration to the other side of the ball.  I have no problem with a consistent zone, and last night's was, judging by the strike zone map:

 

http://www.brooksbaseball.net/pfxVB/zoneTrack.php?month=6&day=10&year=2015&game=gid_2015_06_10_kcamlb_minmlb_1%2F&prevDate=0610

I have a problem with a consistently bad zone, which last night's was.

[Pius Jefferson]

What I don't want to hear is if the Twins beat Texas this weekend that Hunter fired up the team, because it will be ignored if they get swept.

[jimbo92107]

I just hope taking off his clothes isn't an early indicator of Torii Hunter's next career. ;-)

[nicksaviking]

What I don't want to hear is if the Twins beat Texas this weekend that Hunter fired up the team, because it will be ignored if they get swept.

I'd turn the sound down if you plan on watching the games on TV. Vegas has the over/under on Dick/Bert mentioning the Hunter ejection at 3.5 per game.

[gunnarthor]

 

What I don't want to hear is if the Twins beat Texas this weekend that Hunter fired up the team, because it will be ignored if they get swept.

Oh, I'm pretty sure it won't be ignored if the Twins get swept.

[D. Hocking]

 

I'd turn the sound down if you plan on watching the games on TV. Vegas has the over/under on Dick/Bert mentioning the Hunter ejection at 3.5 per game.

 

That is an easy "over".  

 

Hopefully Bert will not have any stories about where he removed his clothing.

[Pius Jefferson]

 

Oh, I'm pretty sure it won't be ignored if the Twins get swept.

 

Ignored by the broadcasters.

[Wookiee of the Year]

I agree that this piece is probably the right way to view things, but I could've told you from 3 seconds after Hunter threw his shirt that Souhan was going to write a piece downplaying the incident or defending him.

 

It's probably silly of me to roll my eyes about a column when I agree with the underlying sentiment, but it's just so predictable.