Harper donnybrook

[jimmer]

 

And yet, only six games. Pathetic.

Absolutely pathetic.  Strickland is used sparingly, about one inning every 2.5 games or so. In fact, before his childish antics, he hadn't been used in like six games.

 

So wow, a six game suspension! Stop the presses, such a deterrent! I mean, the Giants are going to have to scramble to find someone else to throw one, maybe two, innings in a six game span.  In the meantime, Harper, a starting position player, will miss four full games.

[Squirrel]

Not every post on baseball brawls has to devolve into "he should have called the cops." It's ok to sit back and enjoy things that are silly and baseball brawls are silly.

Perhaps if you didn't continue to post the brawls to revel in them, even hope for them to occur, others who don't like them wouldn't post opinions to the contrary. That said, I really don't mind that you post these articles because it IS baseball news, and I do appreciate the articles you post on baseball in the other forums as well as here. However, I'm not sure what you expect people to do ... not post their opinions of an article in a public forum? I think there is a pretty even split in how posters here feel about these brawls and how they start; and whenever they get started by a pitcher who intentionally throws at a batter, and not even in the heat of the moment as was pointed out in subsequent articles that Strickland was 'out to get' Harper, I can guarantee this is how the thread is likely to go. I don't think that's silly. I also don't think potential serious, life-threatening or career-ending injury is silly, especially done with the intent Strickland showed. I don't think adult men playing a game resorting to violence is silly. Do I get why it happens? Yes, to some extent. Doesn't mean I think it should and will always hope there is a way to evolve without destroying the passion of the game.

[gunnarthor]

 

 I also don't think potential serious, life-threatening or career-ending injury is silly, especially done with the intent Strickland showed. I don't think adult men playing a game resorting to violence is silly. Do I get why it happens? Yes, to some extent. Doesn't mean I think it should and will always hope there is a way to evolve without destroying the passion of the game.

The bolded part is where I always roll my eyes. It doesn't happen.

 

Here's an old article from Bill Simmons on baseball brawls. It's worth a chuckle. http://proxy.espn.com/espn/page2/story?id=1239718

[Mike Sixel]

I see a player got a concussion, and is on the DL now.....totally worth it though!

[gunnarthor]

 

I see a player got a concussion, and is on the DL now.....totally worth it though!

I agree. I watch sports for the entertainment and, if occasionally, a player gets hurt, well, that's just part of the game.

[Mike Sixel]

 

I agree. I watch sports for the entertainment and, if occasionally, a player gets hurt, well, that's just part of the game.

 

And I know you know I was sarcastic. We don't agree, that's cool with me.

[Squirrel]

The bolded part is where I always roll my eyes. It doesn't happen.

 

Here's an old article from Bill Simmons on baseball brawls. It's worth a chuckle. http://proxy.espn.com/espn/page2/story?id=1239718

You should also highlight that I said 'potential' because I don't think we need to wait for something like that to happen with the increased power and velocity with which balls are now being thrown. That it hasn't is no reason to continue this trend of throwing balls at people with the intent to hit them and do nothing about it until someone is seriously injured. Yes, hbp happen without intent, and yes, there is danger in that, and yes, players take that risk because it happens. But aiming at a body or head with a ball going 100mph is not silly, it's downright stupid, and potentially criminal, imo.

[ashbury]

Absolutely pathetic.  Strickland is used sparingly, about one inning every 2.5 games or so. In fact, before his childish antics, he hadn't been used in like six games.

 

So wow, a six game suspension! Stop the presses, such a deterrent!

I think they are not paid their salaries during their suspension. Six games might be only a 3% salary reduction, give or take, but even for a minimum-MLB salary that's in 5 figures, enough to focus one's attention.

 

If the purpose of a suspension is to modify future behavior, hopefully this does the job for all parties.

 

In terms of the player's contribution to the team's results, maybe it's not sufficient, and a six-figure team fine should be added, to suitably focus the front office's attention as well.

[cmoss84]

Had Strickland thrown up high, the punishment would have been more severe. That's basically what it comes down to. 

[jimmer]

I think they are not paid their salaries during their suspension. Six games might be only a 3% salary reduction, give or take, but even for a minimum-MLB salary that's in 5 figures, enough to focus one's attention.

 

If the purpose of a suspension is to modify future behavior, hopefully this does the job for all parties.

 

In terms of the player's contribution to the team's results, maybe it's not sufficient, and a six-figure team fine should be added, to suitably focus the front office's attention as well.

i wonder what 4 games of harper salary is compared to 6 games of strickland salary? I imagine harpers punishment still heavily outweighs strickland's

[nicksaviking]

At what point is a player or former player going to force the issue? Or an insurance company? The NFL got a huge black eye and has had to change many protocols, rules and philosophies because former players sued them for being complicit in ignoring concussion problems.

 

If baseball doesn't get out in front of these pitchers who throw at batters, they are at the same risk of being found culpable. And considering there is probably no way to prevent the un-intentional HBP the sport risks losing EVERYTHING if a case ever goes through the legal system because they will never be able to prove they can arbitrarily determine the intent of a particular pitcher and enforce their own punitive action.

 

In today's age where we (rightfully) are doing more to protect people from unnecessary workplace dangers, this kind of BS could cripple the league. It needs to act now to deter these pitchers before a more powerful force acts for them. We see today how quickly public opinion can escalate and cause entities to change. It could happen at any moment.

 

And really, how hard is it for the stupid pitchers to at least feign being conciliatory about an errant pitch instead of acting like a school yard bully staring down the plunked batter? 

[TheBoofIsLoose]

 

I think that's probably unlikely. I suspect a lot of work places have the occasional push that everyone accepts. I suspect if you go to your gym or YMCA, you'll see normal adults pushing and shoving. And this idea that players should conduct themselves to the code of your work setting is silly and really not relevant. Not every post on baseball brawls has to devolve into "he should have called the cops." It's ok to sit back and enjoy things that are silly and baseball brawls are silly.

Again, comparing people at a YMCA to professional athletes is insane. Bryce Harper, as are most baseball players, is in a different class physically than the Average Joe. Jose Canseco taking a fly ball off his head is silly, all brawls are potentially dangerous. Just because nobody has gotten seriously hurt doesn't mean that it can't happen, sometimes being proactive instead of reactive is okay. 

[Mike Sixel]

 

Again, comparing people at a YMCA to professional athletes is insane. Bryce Harper, as are most baseball players, is in a different class physically than the Average Joe. Jose Canseco taking a fly ball off his head is silly, all brawls are potentially dangerous. Just because nobody has gotten seriously hurt doesn't mean that it can't happen, sometimes being proactive instead of reactive is okay. 

 

someone got a concussion in this "fight", so ya, someone is seriously hurt. 

[ashbury]

i wonder what 4 games of harper salary is compared to 6 games of strickland salary? I imagine harpers punishment still heavily outweighs strickland's

In absolute dollars Harper pays more. But Strickland's 3% loss dwarfs what the same percent would cost me; such comparisons don't get at the heart of it.

 

It's at a level that it will do the intended purpose. People work hard at normal jobs and in today's economy are pleased with a 3% raise. I can't imagine that a 3% reduction won't get any ballplayer's attention either.

[TheBoofIsLoose]

 

someone got a concussion in this "fight", so ya, someone is seriously hurt. 

That is a good point, our fan base knows full well the dangers of concussions.

[Mike Sixel]

Harper now only suspended 3 games. 

[SwainZag]

 

Again, comparing people at a YMCA to professional athletes is insane. Bryce Harper, as are most baseball players, is in a different class physically than the Average Joe. Jose Canseco taking a fly ball off his head is silly, all brawls are potentially dangerous. Just because nobody has gotten seriously hurt doesn't mean that it can't happen, sometimes being proactive instead of reactive is okay. 

 

When Strickland threw at Harper he had to know that it could start a fight.  When Harper decided to charge the mound he knew the consequences could be getting hurt and being suspended.  It is what it is.