Wednesday, June 08, 2005
It just got away from me, I swear!
Hmmm. It seems we may have some hurt feelings today. Not to mention hurt arms, backs, and wrists. This was not quite the "clean game" we had Monday. Larry and Veritek may not be able to sit for a while, Grudzielanek and Youkilis will have very colorful bruises, but thankfully nothing serious.
During the game I was so mad. I thought the Sox were completely bush league. They were losing, pretty badly, for the second night in a row, and lashed out. I thought they were frustrated and acting like spoiled brats.
But thinking about it, I could make a case for the five HBPs to be mostly mistakes. Ok, Walker gets hit, it happens, he took his base. Veritek, well, maybe a bit of retaliation for Larry, but probably not. Why give the Sox a runner and a reason to get fired up-plus risk a warning and losing the ability to pitch inside? As for Grudzielanek's HBP, it was 96 mph, so unless Mantei is sadistic or stupid, or both, that could have been a mistake. Then Reyes hit Youkilis on the wrist. Well, Youkilis did kind of turn into the pitch, but it was high and tight. Tony's not going to order that so late in the count with Reyes pitching the way he was. He'd bring in someone else for one batter to do the job. It was probably going to be done, just not then.
Then I read Grudzielanek's quote saying Veritek thinks the Cards started it. Not the most diplomatic quote, but that's still bull. Walker gets hit three times in two games, and they started it? The Cards have made the Sox look foolish so far, but the Cards started it? Where exactly in the game did the Cards show them up before Walker was hit the first time? The only things I could think of was Nunez bunting Walker over after the first time he got hit or Taguchi's attempted squeeze in that same inning. Either someone was yapping in the field or Veritek is pissy about something from Monday. And he didn't answer questions after the game.
So what if they were all intentional? Walker gets hit for some reason. Veritek, being the captain, gets the retaliation. Fine, should be done. But, no, the Sox hit Grudz. Mantei couldn't help throwing to first to keep Grudz close. So, Mark stole second. Yes, it was a finger to Mantei. You hit someone with a 96 mph pitch, he's gonna get back at you. That makes the Red Sox mad, and after getting way up and in on Sanders, they hit Walker again. Well, that ain't right and the Cards get Youkilis.
I'm sure the truth is somewhere in the middle. Here's my theory. Veritek knows that Walker's first HBP wasn't intentional, so when he gets plunked, he thinks the Cardinals are overreacting, thus starting something. Mark gets intentionally drilled. Walker and Youkilis are both unintentional (but another Red Sox would have been hit).
I really hope there's none of this nonsense today. Everyone's been "protected." The best revenge is winning. Remember Zambrano's meltdown last July? Carpenter told Sosa to get his guy to calm down or someone was going to get hurt. I have my doubts about Wells, but Carp will be the consumate professional.
During the game I was so mad. I thought the Sox were completely bush league. They were losing, pretty badly, for the second night in a row, and lashed out. I thought they were frustrated and acting like spoiled brats.
But thinking about it, I could make a case for the five HBPs to be mostly mistakes. Ok, Walker gets hit, it happens, he took his base. Veritek, well, maybe a bit of retaliation for Larry, but probably not. Why give the Sox a runner and a reason to get fired up-plus risk a warning and losing the ability to pitch inside? As for Grudzielanek's HBP, it was 96 mph, so unless Mantei is sadistic or stupid, or both, that could have been a mistake. Then Reyes hit Youkilis on the wrist. Well, Youkilis did kind of turn into the pitch, but it was high and tight. Tony's not going to order that so late in the count with Reyes pitching the way he was. He'd bring in someone else for one batter to do the job. It was probably going to be done, just not then.
Then I read Grudzielanek's quote saying Veritek thinks the Cards started it. Not the most diplomatic quote, but that's still bull. Walker gets hit three times in two games, and they started it? The Cards have made the Sox look foolish so far, but the Cards started it? Where exactly in the game did the Cards show them up before Walker was hit the first time? The only things I could think of was Nunez bunting Walker over after the first time he got hit or Taguchi's attempted squeeze in that same inning. Either someone was yapping in the field or Veritek is pissy about something from Monday. And he didn't answer questions after the game.
So what if they were all intentional? Walker gets hit for some reason. Veritek, being the captain, gets the retaliation. Fine, should be done. But, no, the Sox hit Grudz. Mantei couldn't help throwing to first to keep Grudz close. So, Mark stole second. Yes, it was a finger to Mantei. You hit someone with a 96 mph pitch, he's gonna get back at you. That makes the Red Sox mad, and after getting way up and in on Sanders, they hit Walker again. Well, that ain't right and the Cards get Youkilis.
I'm sure the truth is somewhere in the middle. Here's my theory. Veritek knows that Walker's first HBP wasn't intentional, so when he gets plunked, he thinks the Cardinals are overreacting, thus starting something. Mark gets intentionally drilled. Walker and Youkilis are both unintentional (but another Red Sox would have been hit).
I really hope there's none of this nonsense today. Everyone's been "protected." The best revenge is winning. Remember Zambrano's meltdown last July? Carpenter told Sosa to get his guy to calm down or someone was going to get hurt. I have my doubts about Wells, but Carp will be the consumate professional.
