Merrifield HBP, unloads on MLB pitching

[mnfireman]

A good read....

https://nypost.com/2024/09/04/sports/braves-whit-merrifield-livid-over-being-hit-with-pitches-its-bulls-t/

[Vanimal46]

I understand the frustration. There’s nothing worse than losing a star player on your favorite team from a pitcher that has no idea where the ball is going when it leaves his fingertips. 

These beanings are a symptom of a much larger issue… baseball is so hyper focused on how hard you can throw. Not if you can actually pitch. If the pitcher isn’t throwing 95 with high spin rates, they’re lost in the minors. 

Perhaps a solution is a more significant penalty. Award 2 bases for beaned batters instead of 1 base. Then maybe we’ll see pitchers locate better instead of what we’re seeing. 

[cmoss84]

Seems like Merrifield is a bit frustrated with his teammates as well for not retaliating...it was part of the game for how long, until recently. Some of these older guys are getting grandfathered into the new "no retaliation" rule. 

[mnfireman]

5 hours ago, cmoss84 said:

Seems like Merrifield is a bit frustrated with his teammates as well for not retaliating...it was part of the game for how long, until recently. Some of these older guys are getting grandfathered into the new "no retaliation" rule. 

I think he's more concerned about somebody getting seriously hurt, or worse, more than retaliation, but he's not wrong. As he said, he's out of the game but the pitcher gets to stay in the game. And the pitcher's teammates don't even have to worry about retaliation.

How about a new rule removing the pitcher from the game if the batter he hits has to be removed?

[Vanimal46]

15 minutes ago, mnfireman said:

I think he's more concerned about somebody getting seriously hurt, or worse, more than retaliation, but he's not wrong. As he said, he's out of the game but the pitcher gets to stay in the game. And the pitcher's teammates don't even have to worry about retaliation.

How about a new rule removing the pitcher from the game if the batter he hits has to be removed?

I believe in KBO or one of the leagues in Asia has a rule for an automatic ejection if a pitcher hits a batter in the head. That doesn’t really solve the issue of hitting batters on the hand/wrist but it’s a start. 

At the end of the day, there won’t be a solution that satisfies both the pitcher and batter. But something needs to change from the current rules. Because pitchers aren’t fazed giving up 1 base and knocking a player out for weeks/months at a time. 

[Vanimal46]

Also, it’s frustration spilling over for Merrifield. He’s seen 2 other teammates get beaned and injured in the last 2.5 weeks (Riley and Harris). It will be for the benefit of baseball finding a solution to this.

[Riverbrian]

19 hours ago, Vanimal46 said:

Perhaps a solution is a more significant penalty. Award 2 bases for beaned batters instead of 1 base. Then maybe we’ll see pitchers locate better instead of what we’re seeing. 

I've never thought of this but... thinking about it.

It's a fantastic idea. 

Major league pitchers have pretty good control but one problem is the value of pitching inside is to rewarding. 

The high inside fastball is real hard to catch up with. If you throw high and inside you'll plunk some guys. 

MLB wants more offense... this could create it. 

Good idea at first blush... I'm on board. 

[cmoss84]

Pitchers need to throw inside...it's too important to get rid of. Also, a lot of batters stand directly over the plate (AKA Rizzo). Can't give a batter 2nd base when he gets beaned near the strike zone. Maybe batters should be required to wear more protective gear? 

I am all for suspending pitchers for fastball head shots though. That ain't cool. 

[Trov]

Part of the issue is the hitters also stand right over the plate with all their pads on to protect from being hit. Look at all the pads he was wearing.  Huge elbow pad, huge hand/wrist pad.  I watched the pitch, it was clearly very wild and was not his intention to throw up there.  I agree, the pitchers care more about velo and spin than location right now, product of the game, but hitters crowd the plate with all their pads, so they are not worried about being hit, and then get mad when they do get hit.  I have seen some hitters be hit by pitches that barely miss the plate. 

I do think you could move toward some rule where if a pitcher hits x amount of batters they are ejected, and if x amount in a season leads to suspension or something.  This particular pitcher has hit a total of 11 hitters in his professional career over 300 innings.  It does not appear his is some head hunter out there, but sometimes a pitch gets away, and that one sure did.  Remember in all star game when Johnson let one over head of Kruk?  No way was Johnson trying to do anything there, it was all star game.  

I think Merrifield just was upset it hit him in head on a crazy wild pitch, but the kid pitching is not plunking guys left and right or anything. 

[nicksaviking]

So he wants to be able to crowd the plate, doesn't want pitchers to throw inside and wants pitchers to hit again solely so there's a hostage situation.

I don't want to see anyone get hurt and I'm up for any solutions, but his seem to be geared toward making it easier on him. How would he react if the solution was to move the batters box four inches further from the plate? 

[Parfigliano]

Here's a solution.  Go back to the way it used to be and players police the game in this situation.  Quit tossing pitchers for hitting a guy after one of their teammates gets hit.  Retaliation was a strong motivational tool and kept people in line. 

As it is now a team gets a free shot and is stupid not to take it.  Team A hits team B.  Both teams get warned which is stupid on steroids.

Team B pitcher is now leary of pitching inside for fear of hitting Team A and getting tossed.  Advantage Team A.  The TC should use this strategy come playoffs.  

 

[notoriousgod71]

On 9/5/2024 at 4:22 PM, Vanimal46 said:

I understand the frustration. There’s nothing worse than losing a star player on your favorite team from a pitcher that has no idea where the ball is going when it leaves his fingertips. 

These beanings are a symptom of a much larger issue… baseball is so hyper focused on how hard you can throw. Not if you can actually pitch. If the pitcher isn’t throwing 95 with high spin rates, they’re lost in the minors. 

Perhaps a solution is a more significant penalty. Award 2 bases for beaned batters instead of 1 base. Then maybe we’ll see pitchers locate better instead of what we’re seeing. 

Or more hitters putting on body armor and sticking their shoulder pads into pitches that are barely off the plate.

 

Edit: should have read the entire thread as I just reiterated what others have said days ago.