You’ve seen the highlight over and over again. Manny Ramirez, expecting retaliation from a Karim Garcia plunking, taking exception to a high fastball from the Rocket. Pedro Martinez throwing a charging 72-year-old Don Zimmer to the ground like an empty bottle of Preparation H.
When I turn on Sportscenter and see Stuart Scott and Dan Patrick making a spectacle of the latest bench clearing brawl, I sit up in anticipation of seeing all the action. I’ll admit it; I love watching brawls. They’re an intricate sideshow to an already intricate game, and of course, they’re hilarious too.
Once that ball makes contact with a batter’s body, adrenaline takes charge. In running to the mound, he has no idea what he’s going to do, but it will usually fall under three categories: There’s the running haymaker approach, which never works , because the pitcher always ducks, and the batter’s always tackled from behind by the catcher. Then there’s the helmet toss, which does very little because the helmet just doesn’t hurt. Finally there’s the open-field tackle, which often works effectively since the batter’s got all the momentum and he can get in a few swings once he takes the pitcher down.
But don’t underestimate the power of a pitcher. Remember the classic pummeling in 1993 that Robin Ventura took at the hands of Nolan Ryan? You think Robin’s ever gonna hear the end of that bloody beat down?
Here’s two no-no’s for charging batters-no bats and no sharp objects. The day a batter brings his bat to the mound is the day a pitcher runs a 4.4 40 from the mound to the outfield. Metal spikes on cleats, combined with flailing karate kicks could inflict some damage as well. Why do you think Ichiro only got hit six times this year?
There’s an unwritten rule in baseball brawls-every player in the dugout must step out onto the field as a sign of team unity. Pedro might have been the last man to step out of the dugout as the benches cleared in game three, but he knew it was his duty as a team player to step out there, and unfortunately Don Zimmer came at him like that.
When it comes to a brawl the catcher is a pitcher’s best friend. They abide by the catcher protection rule: Thine batter shall not hurt our pitcher, and thou catcher wilst do anything to prevent thine beating. It doesn’t hurt that they’re the only ones wearing protective gear either.
In every brawl, baseball players would be smart to look out for that one crazy relief pitcher charging from left field. Every team has one. He couldn’t hear the shouting taking place between dugouts, but you better be damn sure he’s charging from the bullpen, honing in on his target as he approaches the pack.
Often times a player knows he’s going to get plunked, and he steps into that batters box and cowboys up, knowing a 94-mph fastball is about to make contact with his body. For that he should be commended.
He has little choice in taking one for the team, but he can make the choice in deciding to charge the mound. He knows if he charges the mound his team will get his back. But why not try something new? Begin the walk to first base, reach over like your hurting from the sting of the baseball, drop your pants, and show him where the sun don’t shine.
