posted on October 05, 2009 19:38
In light of a recent beanball-fest between the Tigers and Twins and the very interesting blowup by Delmon Young AT HIS OWN PITCHER, I thought it appropriate to delve into the nuances of hitting a batter on purpose. At the big league level, the likelihood of a batter being hit with a fastball and it being unintentional is about 15-20 percent. Anyone can explain why a batter who hit a homerun and trotted was hit in his next at bat, but what about the other instances? By the same token, what are your responsibilities as a pitcher and what really goes into hitting a batter?
Let’s analyze the chronology that led up to Delmon Young’s beaning. Marcus Thames and Denard Span are hit by pitches, effectively leaving the teams even. With the game virtually out of reach (8-1), Jose Mijares inexplicably throws behind Adam Everett, causing every Minnesotan to collectively shout the overused cliché about sleeping dogs. The following inning, Jeremy Bonderman hits Delmon Young and Young rightfully goes ballistic at…Mijares. Why? Simply put, because Mijares violated the cardinal rule of hitting a batter: when you’re even, you’re done.
The second most common reason for a player to be hit (behind showboating) is because of his team piling on a lopsided score. If a player bunts during a blowout, watch what happens next. Any pitcher worth his salt will stick one in the ribs of the next batter. The same applies for stealing bases, sliding hard to break up a double play or running over a catcher. These are all big no-nos if you’re on the winning side of a lopsided game.
We’ve discussed reasons why batters get hit. Now let’s look at the pitcher’s role and the consequences/results of his actions. It is important to note that I am not referencing headhunters and idiots like Vicente Padilla, who was waived because his teammates kept getting the Delmon Young treatment as a result of his actions, but rather those pitchers in a retaliatory role or the perception of one. As mentioned in a previous column, there is no better or faster way to endear you to teammates than to light up a batter after something has happened to one of them. If you want a team to play behind you, you MUST hit batters when the situation calls for it.
There is a right way and a wrong way to go about hitting a batter on purpose. While it seems easy to a layman, one must realize that you’re aiming for a target that is a) smaller than the strike zone and b) air. Taking the second point further, the only way a batter will be hit is to throw slightly behind him, understanding that the natural reaction of a batter is to back up, not go forward. It goes without saying that you don’t want to be a headhunter, but by the same token, hitting a batter on the foot doesn’t exactly make things even. Ideally, a player will be hit somewhere between his mid-back and his rear end. The key is to maintain your mechanics, not squeeze the ball and understand where you’re trying to throw the pitch, just like any other.
The separation, in my opinion, between baseball and all other sports is the many nuances and unwritten rules of the game. You never bunt to break up a no hitter, never steal up a bunch of runs, and never pass on the opportunity to light up a batter who (directly or indirectly) deserves it.
(Editor’s Note: While it is a necessity at the professional level, The Prep Baseball Report does not condone throwing at batters in high school athletics. Furthermore, the Prep Baseball Report does not condone any antics that may theoretically warrant pitchers throwing at batters.)