DBacks- dirty play against McCutchen

[ooo-ribay]

Originally Posted by nolemmings

Really? What's that? Anything constructive to offer, or do you just like to run your mouth?

Buck Showalter
Fraudulent fan base
MLB (i.e. Bud Selig) co-signing a loan to let them buy the 2001 WS
Tony LaRussa

Signed,
Giants' fan

[nolemmings]

Thanks Dave. Not that it matters much, but Gibson had been tossed from the game more than 6 innings before McCutchen was hbp. It is surely possible he still pulled the strings from the clubhouse two hours later and he would man up and take responsibility either way, but I doubt he gave Delgado any direct orders. I would bet that more than one guy in that dugout wanted some retribution– maybe Aaron Hill, who last year during Pittsburgh’s only trip to AZ also had his hand broken by a Pirate reliever and missed three months of the season. As you noted (and did I), Pirates pitchers are almost in a league of their own when it comes to hitting opponents.

Also FWIW, I heard on one of the non-local broadcasts or maybe read it on a national sports website that the action taken against McCutchen was consistent with the philosophy that Tony LaRussa maintains about protecting his players. I don’t know if I believe it simply because I never gave it much thought, but if you google “Larussa bean ball” I think you’ll find some interesting quotes and accusations over the years. So for those who consistently praise Saint Anthony– now in charge of Diamondback baseball operations–as a baseball savant, and who bash Gibby as a rogue brute, you may find that their approaches on this issue are one and the same.

[nolemmings]

Buck Showalter
Fraudulent fan base
MLB (i.e. Bud Selig) co-signing a loan to let them buy the 2001 WS
Tony LaRussa

Signed,
Giants' fan

Your remarks are indicative of your allegiance and your level of intelligence is duly noted.

[Mountaineer1999]

The McCutchen hbp in the 9th inning was uncalled for. Hit him early. Don't throw a 1-0 slider in the 9th then bean the guy on the next pitch. In this case the DBacks were just wrong.

[nolemmings]

Deleted. Feel like the AFLAC duck with Yogi sitting in the barber chair.

[clydepepper]

Originally Posted by nolemmings

Your remarks are indicative of your allegiance and your level of intelligence is duly noted.

"Can't we all just get along?" - Rodney King

"Don't sweat the petty stuff & don't pet the sweaty stuff." - George Carlin

[nolemmings]

What do you mean? I complimented him on his love for his team and feigned to understand what the hell he was talking about.

[chaddurbin]

todd,

i'm sure you're aware of all those kevin towers' talk last offseason about wanting his pitchers to hit more batters etc in retaliation and supposedly firing charles nagy because of it. they basically dumped upton and bauer because they didn't fit gibson's grittiness style. i'm guessing you're a d-backs fan but towers et al have become a national punchline and i'm still amazed he has a job....him and amaro in philly.

[nolemmings]

Hi Quan, it's been along time. I hear family life keeps you busy--I hope all is well. You should know that your constant chiding about my affinity for the black and white sets led me to finally buy some colorful lithographic cards. Hey, they're not bad. Still can't get me to bite on the shiny stuff or the autographs though.

Towers has been on his way out for at l east two months now, which makes any notion that someone is following his orders even more ridiculous. As I said (or hinted at) above, however, I would not expect things to change under a LaRussa led regime, and although I'm no fan, he has had his share of success.

Upton was traded because he was seen as aloof, more interested in self than team and known to disappear when needed most. Towers blew it in not getting more for him, but most Dback fans were not upset to see him go (while at the same time wishing him well, as he is not a bad guy). Bauer was considered a head case--someone who refused coaching and insisted that his own training and preparation regimen must be followed. Time will tell and again, my beef is more that they got not much in return. Eaton was widely disliked in the clubhouse. I will concede that Towers showed little patience before making moves on some of these, and that his moves have not been good, but again, he's out the door. {He is also incapable of assembling a major league outfield}

The focus on them being dirty though is ridiculously overblown, as I have set out above. I have no major issue going at McCutchen after Goldy went down for the year (he would have pushed 60 doubles this season), and again point out all of the injuries due to HBP and all the beanballs and ask you to show me how Arizona is any kind of major culprit compared to everyone else. They hit Braun and McCutchen, and of course we could get into that incident last year in LA. What else ya got?

[D. Bergin]

Originally Posted by nolemmings

Thanks Dave. Not that it matters much, but Gibson had been tossed from the game more than 6 innings before McCutchen was hbp. It is surely possible he still pulled the strings from the clubhouse two hours later and he would man up and take responsibility either way, but I doubt he gave Delgado any direct orders. I would bet that more than one guy in that dugout wanted some retribution– maybe Aaron Hill, who last year during Pittsburgh’s only trip to AZ also had his hand broken by a Pirate reliever and missed three months of the season. As you noted (and did I), Pirates pitchers are almost in a league of their own when it comes to hitting opponents.

Also FWIW, I heard on one of the non-local broadcasts or maybe read it on a national sports website that the action taken against McCutchen was consistent with the philosophy that Tony LaRussa maintains about protecting his players. I don’t know if I believe it simply because I never gave it much thought, but if you google “Larussa bean ball” I think you’ll find some interesting quotes and accusations over the years. So for those who consistently praise Saint Anthony– now in charge of Diamondback baseball operations–as a baseball savant, and who bash Gibby as a rogue brute, you may find that their approaches on this issue are one and the same.

It's kind of funny. There was a huge hit-piece on Grantland.com about this. The author of the piece destroyed Kirk Gibson and Kevin Towers, while Tony Larussa's name was not brought up a single time.