Beaning and Baseball Etiquette

[PaloAltoCougar]

One of many fascinating things about baseball is the etiquette. There are a variety of things that must be done, or avoided, for the integrity of the game, like not showing up the opposing team. Last September, after Prince Fielder hit a walk-off homer against the Giants, when he reached home he struck a contrived and exultant pose and most of his teammates, who had gathered around home plate to welcome him, fell like bowling pins in apparent awe of his feat. Natural celebrations are part of the game, but staged parties are not.


And thus when the Giants faced Fielder for the first time since that event, more than five months later, Zito buried one in Fielder's backside. What I find particularly interesting, and unique to baseball, is that all parties agree that this was an appropriate, even necessary, response. Zito, of course, followed protocol by not declaring his revenge; rather, he said the ball got away from him (standard response). And Fielder didn't charge the mound, as he understood the penalty was just. "I hit the home run and they've got to hit me. That's what they've got to do."

It's nice baseball's back.

[Indy Coug]

The faux machismo of baseball is really hilarious.

[Shaka]

I think baseball's unwritten rules give the game part of its unique character. It was an interesting transition to go from youth baseball which doesn't recognize these unwritten rules to high school ball where the rules start to be applied. The funny thing is that in high school things that happened in other sports previously in the school year would sometimes carry into baseball. I remember an incident that happened during basketball that resulted in one of our pitchers beaning the offender when baseball season rolled around.

I plead the fifth on whether I called any beanballs as a catcher.

[I.J. Reilly]

I love the unwritten rules of baseball, all the stuff that happens that isn't directly apparent as part of the action (the positioning of the outfielders based on a certain batter, the battle between the pitcher and a speedy runner on first, the signals coming in and going around the field, etc.), and all of the history of the game. I think that it is these parts of the game that make it hardest for outsiders to appreciate the game and foreigners to adopt it. It's almost a culture you have to grow up around and be immersed in before you can truly appreciate it.

[Jarid in Cedar]

I think baseball's unwritten rules give the game part of its unique character. It was an interesting transition to go from youth baseball which doesn't recognize these unwritten rules to high school ball where the rules start to be applied. The funny thing is that in high school things that happened in other sports previously in the school year would sometimes carry into baseball. I remember an incident that happened during basketball that resulted in one of our pitchers beaning the offender when baseball season rolled around.

I plead the fifth on whether I called any beanballs as a catcher.

I won't plead the 5th. If a batter preened too much, they were hit in the side/rump the next at bat, and I would then tell them quietly that if they posed like that again, their head would be the next target.

[TripletDaddy]

I love the Code. I fully support it.

What I find puzzling is how a sport that is so overly laden with machismo can produce the worst fights, bar none, of the 4 major sports.

Is there anything more lame than a baseball "fight?" Literally 50-60 guys run onto the field and mostly nothing happens. And even if there is a fight, why are there so many guys on the field? The majority don't participate, anyway. The biggest joke is when you see all the losers running over from the bullpen, arriving about 20 seconds too late, huffing and puffing because they aren't used to running anywhere. I remember once watching a Dodgers/some other team dust-up and there was a shot of Fernando Valenzuela "running" from the bullpen at Dodger Stadium over to the mound when a "fight" broke out. I use the term "running" loosely, because if memory serves me well, I don't even think he made it past the edge of the infield. He kind of stopped running at that point and looked winded.

[MartyFunkhouser]

I love the Code. I fully support it.

What I find puzzling is how a sport that is so overly laden with machismo can produce the worst fights, bar none, of the 4 major sports.

Is there anything more lame than a baseball "fight?" Literally 50-60 guys run onto the field and mostly nothing happens. And even if there is a fight, why are there so many guys on the field? The majority don't participate, anyway. The biggest joke is when you see all the losers running over from the bullpen, arriving about 20 seconds too late, huffing and puffing because they aren't used to running anywhere. I remember once watching a Dodgers/some other team dust-up and there was a shot of Fernando Valenzuela "running" from the bullpen at Dodger Stadium over to the mound when a "fight" broke out. I use the term "running" loosely, because if memory serves me well, I don't even think he made it past the edge of the infield. He kind of stopped running at that point and looked winded.

Yes there is something much more lame, basketball fights are much worse. They generally devolve into sissy boy slap parties.

[DU Ute]

Yes there is something much more lame, basketball fights are much worse. They generally devolve into sissy boy slap parties.

Unless they spill into the stands, then the kid gloves come off!

[Solon]

Baseball fights are fake because, if someone throws a real punch or brings the bat to the mound, he's a deadman next time he steps in the batter's box.

I love baseball. As Pedro once said, "Wake up the bambino. Maybe I'll drill him in the ass."

[Indy Coug]

Nolan Ryan is famous for giving Robin Ventura a noogie of all things.

[MarkGrace]

Yes there is something much more lame, basketball fights are much worse. They generally devolve into sissy boy slap parties.

That's exactly what I thought as soon as I read DDD's comment.

[Solon]

Nolan Ryan is famous for giving Robin Ventura a noogie of all things.

This fight alone is why I can't consider Robin Ventura an all-timer. I know Nolan Ryan is elite HoF, but nobody should charge the mound and then get his ass handed to him that badly.

[Pheidippides]

This fight alone is why I can't consider Robin Ventura an all-timer. I know Nolan Ryan is elite HoF, but nobody should charge the mound and then get his ass handed to him that badly.

By a guy almost old enough to be his dad, no less.

[DU Ute]

This fight alone is why I can't consider Robin Ventura an all-timer. I know Nolan Ryan is elite HoF, but nobody should charge the mound and then get his ass handed to him that badly.

I've always felt a little sorry for Ventura. If you watch the incident there is a moment right before Ryan starts pummeling him where Ventura pauses. I get the feeling he suddenly realized that fighting a 40+ year old legend is a no-win scenario. Of course Nolan just took the opportunity to give him a power noogie.

[Surfah]

I remember listening to Tony Kornheiser's show after the whole Clemens and Piazza thing. Clemens was going to have to play them again and bat and they were discussing whether or not the pitcher had to throw at Clemens when he wasn't even with the Mets the year before when everything happened. Anyway, Tony's advice to Clemens was to bean the first batter with the first pitch so he'd get thrown out and not have to get plunked himself. And if he only got a warning he was to bean every batter until he got tossed. I thought it was brilliant. Too bad Clemens didn't take his advice.