Comments on: There’s no excuse for Cole Hamels intentionally throwing at Bryce Harper

By: whlskey

whlskey — Tue, 08 May 2012 17:17:30 +0000

The only way this could have been any better at getting people all riled up, is if Bryce Harper would have winked at Hamels right before the pitch.. That would have been legendary.

By: gsrider911

gsrider911 — Tue, 08 May 2012 16:00:48 +0000

what about when a base runner intentionally lets the ball hit them! I saw Elvis Andrus spear his head toward a thrown ball trying to get hit in the head in a run down this season!
What do we do about that! oh my! the sky is falling…

Did you know that baseball players are being HIT by baseballs?? What gives?

this is being blown out of proportion. Getting hit is part of the game. You just shouldn’t be dumb enough to think that you can admit doing it on purpose.

By: gsrider911

gsrider911 — Tue, 08 May 2012 15:46:29 +0000

Thank you, summed it up perfectly.

I was concerned about the “Natitude” crap as well. Seems like they are trying to get fans into fights in the stands. This isn’t football, but I guess the Nats are trying to make up for several forgettable seasons by being bullies?

Hamels got suspended to shut the ‘criminal charges’ blowhards up. Since he doesn’t really miss a start it doesn’t really have any teeth (thank goodness). If I were an MLB pitcher and Harper was in my Division, I would have vowed to plunk that little punk after seeing him blow kisses at a pitcher in the Minors last season.
If we want to split hairs over who is more ‘old school’ or ‘proper’ about the way they go about their game, you have to consider that Harper has a questionable recent past.

By: Utley's Hair

Utley's Hair — Tue, 08 May 2012 15:38:15 +0000

If he does plunk a Phillies batter, he should be ejected immediately, suspended and fined, as should Johnson. Same goes for the Phils if they retaliate.

By: Utley's Hair

Utley's Hair — Tue, 08 May 2012 14:51:06 +0000

There is an inherent risk of injury every time a player steps into the batter’s box. That’s why you hafta sign those little legal mumbo jumbo type thingies called waivers in order to play. Sorry you got hit, but you’ve had half a century to get over it. I think it’s time you do.

By: bownut1754

bownut1754 — Tue, 08 May 2012 13:56:35 +0000

Bs it was over when Hamels got hit. Until he admitted he hit him on purpose.

By: bownut1754

bownut1754 — Tue, 08 May 2012 13:54:36 +0000

Here’s the deal it was over with after hamels was hit but his comment about hitting him on purpose opened up more. Like Kruk said on bbtn last night old school was just looking at the reporter when asked if you hit them on purpose not admitting it. Now phillies batters have to worry about taking a 100 mph fast ball from Strasbourg.

By: JP

JP — Tue, 08 May 2012 01:46:09 +0000

I agree that Hamels really had no reason to hit Harper.

I will say, however, that I actually sort of respect how he handled everything. We’re talking about an NL pitcher, who obviously knows he has to bat against the other team, admitting to intentionally plunking the guy. He didn’t go after Harper’s head. He knows the implications. I kind of like the old school move.

I certainly respect it more than an AL pitcher (Ubaldo Jimenez-Troy Tulowitski) doing it and then pretending it was an accident. At least he was man enough to admit it, knowing that he’ll have to face Washington pitchers.

By: stuckonwords

stuckonwords — Tue, 08 May 2012 00:27:59 +0000

Just out of curiosity…isn’t “clarifying in advance” the same thing as writing it clearly the first time, thus leaving nothing to clarify?

By: protius

protius — Mon, 07 May 2012 23:32:28 +0000

Blah, blah, blah, “as opposed to you, who is just a hemorrhoid…?”, yada, yada, yada, as opposed to you who likes to suck hemorrhoids yada, yada, yada.

By: pjmarn6

pjmarn6 — Mon, 07 May 2012 21:59:05 +0000

All it takes is one example to be made and throwing with intent to intimidate and hurt stops. Plenty of players have been hurt by being thrown at and you have no idea what psychological damage is done by having a pitch miss your head or a vital organ. You also forget that if a player is hurt, and cannot play, his salary and future is gone! Reason enough for a civil lawsuit and millions of dollars in damages. All it takes is one legal case and this crap stops.

By: pjmarn6

pjmarn6 — Mon, 07 May 2012 21:52:00 +0000

With megafan81′s comments, I more than ever believe when a player deliberately attempts to hurt another player that it be considered a crime that should lead to being arrested. One views baseball for the skills shown not for the infliction of pain and suffering.
Another thing, don’t let anyone tell you that being thrown at doesn’t affect you psychologically. It is always in your mind. It is always sitting there and you are thinking when the next close pitch comes, what should you do. IT IS CALLED SELF PRESERVATION!

By: pjmarn6

pjmarn6 — Mon, 07 May 2012 21:42:57 +0000

The 19 of you who oppose Hamels being brought up on legal charges would not file suit if someone threw a rock at you and caused you physical damage or threw an object at your child and caused them to be brought to the emergency room in a hospital for a serious injury. How juvenile. When a person goes out of their way to harm another person they should be held legally responsible.
I see where most of you applauded the use of performance enhancing drugs even though it destroyed Cooperstown, the hall of fame and all the records. Players used it to get MONEY and fool your knotheads into believing that they had special physical abilities.
Now you agree that it is completely proper to throw a very hard object at the body of another person with the intent to intimidate and injure. Gee…..I wonder why all the people were bothered when Mariano Rivera hurt his leg? Isn’t that also part of the game? A few inches this way or that way and a broken bone, crushed eye socket, blindness or a disabled elbow deliberately caused by a madman is okay for your guys. You are all crazy!

By: Utley's Hair

Utley's Hair — Mon, 07 May 2012 21:35:12 +0000

As opposed to you, who is just a hemorrhoid…?

By: sdbunting

sdbunting — Mon, 07 May 2012 20:42:31 +0000

“Steve, you are so funny!”

I assumed he was joking. Was he not?

By: protius

protius — Mon, 07 May 2012 20:37:43 +0000

The Nats should throw at Hamels every time he comes to bat, because he’s an occasional knuckle walker who likes to pull his hemorrhoids and lick his fingers.

By: protius

protius — Mon, 07 May 2012 20:31:20 +0000

Ahahahaha………….ahahahahaha………ahahahaha

By: protius

protius — Mon, 07 May 2012 20:29:05 +0000

Tiddly-Winks, is a much more violent game than baseball.

In 1949, Elizabeth Taylor almost lost her left tiddly to an enraged Agnes Moorehead during a heated match in Acapulco. Apparently, Agnes didn’t like the way Liz’s Tiddly winked at her.

By: thecapedbandito

thecapedbandito — Mon, 07 May 2012 20:09:58 +0000

Again, I’m not agreeing with throwing at someone intentionally ever. But what is frustrating about this topic (other than turning this into a child abuse issue when the “child” is 19 years old and is “abused” in front of a nationally televised audience within the confines of a professional sporting event) is that this will happen 100 more times this year, maybe even to Harper again. Yet we are going to blow this case 1000x out of proportion due to the fact that Hamels didn’t make up some bs excuse and at least was honest about it. There will be countless intentional beanings this year that won’t have a sentence written about it in these blogs. And assuming some of the people getting beaned are 21 or younger, that’s a handful of child abusers who are going to get away with it.

By: Utley's Hair

Utley's Hair — Mon, 07 May 2012 20:09:49 +0000

No, but the fact that he is infinitely better than both his predecessor and any other options available is an indication that the president will be reelected.

By: Utley's Hair

Utley's Hair — Mon, 07 May 2012 20:05:58 +0000

Well, you obviously missed the part of the story where it says he was hit by Zimmerman’s retaliatory pitch already.

If anybody carries this mess forward, they need to be ejected, suspended and fined immediately, even if it means Johnson.

By: thecapedbandito

thecapedbandito — Mon, 07 May 2012 20:00:45 +0000

If I was Bryce Harper’s dad and I was that concerned about him potentially being hit by a pitch, intentionally or unintentionally (it is bound to happen many times during his career), I would not have let him play baseball as an 8 year old and beyond. Otherwise, I’d be a bit naive for allowing my son to play baseball and not expect him to be at risk for taking a few fastballs to the ribs, and then running down on to the field and telling Cole Hamels that “Now you answer to me!!” when it does happen. At some point in a kid’s life he’s no longer a kid and does not have his daddy there to back him up if something goes wrong in his chosen profession. I think the big leagues qualifies as one of these points in someone’s life. The thing is, Bryce Harper would probably take offense to all of this nonsense making a big deal out of him getting hit with a pitch. You think he wants special treatment and didn’t stop and think “hey there might be a chance a big mean, 29 year old GROWN UP throws at me once in awhile.” Come on.

By: delawarephilliesfan

delawarephilliesfan — Mon, 07 May 2012 19:56:20 +0000

Wait – just so everyone is clear – I was directing my “How do you really feel” comment at Stevem7

By: wpjohnson

wpjohnson — Mon, 07 May 2012 19:53:11 +0000

Some of these posts are unbelievable. Obviously, they were written by those who never played real baseball. Sadly, it is probably an indication that a little fellow who throws a baseball with a bit of a feminine flair will be reelected president.

By: jlee999

jlee999 — Mon, 07 May 2012 19:45:38 +0000

Good Lord Craig Calcaterra, what is your problem? Have you not ever played the game of baseball?

Pitchers throwing at hitters is a reality. If it upsets you and sends you on a moral cringe, then you don’t need to be watching the game, much less writing about it.

Why don’t you go watch a tiddy-winks competition?

By: edpeters101

edpeters101 — Mon, 07 May 2012 19:41:32 +0000

OK MLB; time to grow-up and put an end to this insanity! Who cares what happened 50 years ago, or 5 years ago for that matter. Throwing a baseball at somebody (be it a batter or a base runner) is just plain stupid and should be outlawed by issuing a suspension that has meaning.. This is not a game for boys, it is a business for men and they should start acting like it. YMMV

By: malum13

malum13 — Mon, 07 May 2012 19:29:09 +0000

Neither of them deserve suspensions. Players are so pampered nowadays its insane. Nolan Ryan had to laugh when he heard Cole’s response along with countless other old school pitchers. He didn’t do this to hurt Harper. Cole has amazing control of his fastball when he throws it full speed, although the author would like you to believe it was a 92MPH fastball, watching it on television they only had it at like 87-88 I think. And that is with their radar which is usually off. He put it between his Thigh and his lower back. Everyone knows thats the softest most padded spot on any person, it absorbs most of the impact. Did it hurt year, was Bryce ever in danger of getting hurt no. Pitchers lose command when they over pitch or force something. Cole was laid back and just hit the kid. Zimmerman did exactly what he was supposed to by hitting Cole. Cole didn’t bark at him, Zimmerman didn’t say anything they both just moved on. Thats baseball. Thats how the game is supposed to be played. You knock the rookie down a peg or two. haven’t you ever seen Field of Dreams. I bet you found it comical when that pitcher played some viscious chin music. Its old school and although the author doesn’t think their is a spot for this tradation in baseball, he is wrong. Pitchers need to protect that inside corner by putting a little fear and modesty in their opponents, thats all Cole did.

By: pjmarn6

pjmarn6 — Mon, 07 May 2012 19:12:16 +0000

I was hit by a baseball when I was 11 and suffered ligament damage which to this day, 50 years later, occasionally acts up and causes pain. I wasn’t hit by a 92 mph fastball.
Deliberately throwing a baseball at another person is a 100% illegal act. Someone should file criminal charges against Hamels, have him brought to the police station and face charges of assault, attempted murder or whatnot and this nonsense would immediately end.

By: eknirb

eknirb — Mon, 07 May 2012 19:05:56 +0000

nah, the ‘code’ requires retaliation. Harper didn’t do anything to warrant getting plunked. Once he got it, the Nats P had no choice but to plunk someone. just mid-speed to the hip or the thigh or the butt. Nothing above the waist.

By: custer392

custer392 — Mon, 07 May 2012 18:57:04 +0000

Next time Hamels faces the Nats, someone should bean Hamels. It is after all an “unwritten rule of baseball”. You intentionally bean our guy we’ll bean yours.