After being hit by a pitch from Edwin Jackson (when he was with the Dbacks), Carpenter had this to say:

“I watched the replay,” Carpenter said. “The catcher is setting his glove up high. They’re trying to throw the ball up there, and there’s no need for it. I hit .100. It’s not like I can hit. Throw the ball down and away, throw a slider, whatever it is.”

So yeah… I’m a pitcher, don’t pitch me the way you would a real hitter.

Such a beautifully pure aspect of the professional game.

Yet once these guys reach the majors, they’re expected to hit. In the NL, anyway. And some interleague games.

I’m not terribly bothered by the difference in rules between leagues; it’s more of an annoyance. Each league has its gimmick – the AL has a guy on the lineup card who doesn’t need to bring a glove to the ballpark, while the NL puts a guy on the lineup card who isn’t a professional hitter. This stark difference creates different styles/strategy, which makes things interesting, along with the conversation/debate it sparks.

But back to AJ, to me this is just the latest example of how silly it is to stick a bat in pitchers’ hands & have them dicking around in the batter’s box. Whether it’s injuries in the box (including a guy like Chris Carpenter chastising an opposing pitcher for coming inside on him), injuries on the basepaths, or just the fact it’s a catalyst for giving away outs, I just find it a little absurd.

We don’t expect position players to pitch, but pitchers are supposed to hit. Cuz it’s tradition. And pure. And stuff.