Front Page: "Unwritten Rule" Gets Max Kepler Hit By A Pitch

[Platoon]

Every sport has unwritten rules and in every sport they boil down to 'respect your opponent and 'respect the game.'

And since respecting opponent and game are part of the game then Cave should have showed his respect and taken that pitch, as he would have in almost every other AB he has ever taken as a pro. He ain't the kind of hitter who gets a green light. But since that's turned into an intractable discussion, I yeild the rest of my time.

[Steve Lein]

 

It must have been an unwritten rule. The evidence?

 

1) Dick Bremer first in a state of shock, and then joined by Roy Smalley were both having the vapors at the unseemly specter of anyone actually swinging at a 3-0 pitch in that situation.

 

2) The first base coach instead of congratulating Cave, quickly upbraided him upon his arrival at first.

 

3) In reaction to being scolded, Cave looked like a six-year-old who had just been caught stealing the last cookie from his Mama's cookie jar as he profusely apologized to the pitcher in question.

 

4) Kepler, though from baseball-free Europe, knowingly waited out the next 3 pitches in nervous trepidation, until he was unceremoniously, but surgically, plunked on what would have been ball four.

 

5) The home plate umpire feigned ignorance of the entire proceedings- in what was an obvious display of Baseball Kabuki Theater- wherein, because of unwritten (and unauthored) rules, the beautiful sport of Base Ball. magically instills "restorative justice" simultaneously as it curiously descends from the sublime to the ridiculous.

 

My opinion, is consider the situation, and is mainly why I think this in particular is BS.

 

What does a walk do at that point? Absolutely nothing. Should be throwing strikes and letting them swing at everything to get the game over with.

 

My favorite opinion I saw anywhere on this was from Todd Van Steensel:

 

 

He's exactly right.

Edited August 19, 2019 by Steve Lein

[goulik]

I’m in the minority obviously but I don’t mind the unwritten rules. You’re up 13-5 in the 9th with a 3-0 count? Doesn’t matter what level your at, you take the pitch. Chances of a walk, 50%. Chance of a hit is in the 30s %. As a professional you should know to take the pitch.

 

I also agree that with his being corrected immediately by his coach and apology, that should have been enough.

[yarnivek1972]

Anyone see the irony of breaking a WRITTEN rule to “enforce” an unwritten rule?

 

INTENTIONALLY PITCHING AT THE BATTER

Official Baseball Rule 8.02(d) provides that the pitcher shall not intentionally pitch at the batter.