4/23 @ Baltimore

[a700hitter]

And Mookie will be the one to "pay" for this. He will get thrown at by some nobody on the O's staff at some point later this year. When that happens, benches need to empty and somebody needs to make a beeline straight to Showalter and pound the snot out of him.

I would love to see Showalter get the snot pounded out of him.

[Station 13]

This entire situation should be over if both EdRod or Barnes has any control over where their pitches go. Unfortunately it has to be drag out more.

[S5Dewey]

I would love to see Showalter get the snot pounded out of him.

 

I'd pay to see that!!

[a700hitter]

I'd pay to see that!!

I will have to DVR the next Orioles series to preserve the event if it happens.

[Maxbialystock]

Boy, we're going to disagree on this - on both counts!

 

I've watched that replay a dozen times and I'm still not convinced that Machado's front foot even touched the bag - and if it did it wasn't enough contact to alter the path of the leg. If one is going to believe that then they have to believe that Machado was trying to hit the very top edge of the bag - which is something a runner never does. Instead they aim for the front of the bag and use the leg to cushion their momentum upon contact. Machado's slide was calculated to take him across the bag to where Pedey was on the back side of that bag. The front side was completely open for Machado to approach it at either side and instead he chose to go for the spot that was directly in line with Pedey's leg and would take him over the bag. I thought it was a cheap shot at the time and I still do.

 

In addition, I refuse to believe that Barnes was deliberately throwing at Machado's head. If you watch his arm it looks like he was trying to come inside to hit Machado but he lost his release point and the ball got away from him and went up.

 

I'm quite sure Machado was trying to miss the bag because it was intended to be a late slide, which means he would arrive at 2B a lot sooner and with a lot more momentum than usual. I think his intent was simply to overslide 2B as he in fact did. I do not think he wanted to get Pedroia, however, and he certainly acted as though he did not--and that's the way Pedroia took it. He was looking for speed to 2B to beat the throw and not to nail Pedroia.

 

As for Barnes, I have no problem agreeing it was simply a terrible pitch, but, however, with serious intent to hit Machado.

 

FWIW, my initial interpretation of that slide was the same as yours and I in fact compared it to something Ty Cobb would have done--come in with spikes high.

 

Two things changed my mind. First, Machado's actions after the slide when he grabbed Pedroia who was going down. This suggested that spiking was not his intent. Second, Pedroia's reaction, which was that it was part of the game and not malicious.

Edited April 24, 2017 by Maxbialystock

[mvp 78]

Machado is a baby who once complained he was tagged too hard, so he threw his bat at Donaldson. f*** that guy. If it was almost anyone else, the slide would've bothered me less.

[Emp9]

Joe Torre's ruling that it wasn't a late slide hasn't helped things either. It all started from Machado's clearly, late slide injuring Pedroia, whether intentional or not. Some closure needed to start with Torre and he failed us, and he failed MLB on a whole. If you go back to when the neighborhood play ended and that slide rule was implemented, that's undoubtedly a late slide and it's two outs. Has nothing to do with intent.

[a700hitter]

Joe Torre's ruling that it wasn't a late slide hasn't helped things either. It all started from Machado's clearly, late slide injuring Pedroia, whether intentional or not. Some closure needed to start with Torre and he failed us, and he failed MLB on a whole. If you go back to when the neighborhood play ended and that slide rule was implemented, that's undoubtedly a late slide and it's two outs. Has nothing to do with intent.

Joe Torre is senile and shouldn't be ruling on anything. It's time to put him out to pasture.

[Kimmi]

I think he was trying to hit him, in no way do I believe he was aiming for the head.

 

I agree with this. Maybe I'm just being naive, but I don't think there's a pitcher in MLB who would intentionally try to hit someone in the head. I would hope they all have more common sense and decency than that.

 

I read somewhere that Barnes was 'uncomfortable' with throwing at Machado. I also read that the FB he threw was much slower than the ones he usually throws. I'm guessing that altering his delivery to not throw as hard would mess up your release point.

[Kimmi]

Machado's foot was up and he stuck it right in Pedey's calf......... this isn't even questionable......

 

You can't take that kind of abuse so early in the season...... you either put up now or you get run over all year........

 

it would look a lot more foolish if they did nothing.......

 

I'm glad Farrell is angry....... he should be..... none of this is questionable.... if Balt wants to play that way the Sox need to answer in kind. We see them a lot in the next few months.

 

I'm glad no one got hurt, but I think we sent an appropriate message. That message being Barnes is a Psycho....

 

LOL

 

I don't know if there was any intent behind Machado's slide other than breaking up the DP, but it was a late slide, which is a no no. The Red Sox needed to send a message. If nothing else, to get Machado to think twice before sliding late like that again.

 

I am still upset with Pedroia for not having his team's back when all of this was done to cover his back.

[a700hitter]

I am still upset with Pedroia for not having his team's back when all of this was done to cover his back.

I agree. He is really throwing his pitchers and managers under the bus. He acted like a jerk.

[mvp 78]

It's interesting seeing you all turn on Pedroia! Traitors!

[Spudboy]

It's interesting seeing you all turn on Pedroia! Traitors!

 

Yeah I think he should be traded now.

[a700hitter]

It's interesting seeing you all turn on Pedroia! Traitors!

I still think that he is the spark for the team, but I think that he put his foot in his mouth in this instance.

[Wade Boggs]

I still think that he is the spark for the team, but I think that he put his foot in his mouth in this instance.

 

Barnes just got a 4 game suspension. WEEI.com

[cp176]

It's interesting seeing you all turn on Pedroia! Traitors!

 

I call ******** here- yes that's right bull s*** -

 

he really pissed me off.

 

What i really mean is that if this team had a snot's worth of toughness this would not be an issue. in whose universe in professional athletics is your toughest guy a 5'5" second baseman? This could have been handled later on in any number of ways. You can have all of the talent in the world but if this is what your idea of team is you might not quite get it. It is very strange for sure but something is missing here. is this going to be a team for the "millennial" or for the ages (as in 100 wins) as some of you think. Barnes gone for 4 games- Pedroia basically kissing Machado's ass- a team that needs to grow up!

[Maxbialystock]

Looks like I agree with Pedroia and the senile guy who is my age, 76.

[Bellhorn04]

There's no need to freak out about this. We're 11-8, which isn't terrible, and we've got 143 games of baseball left. Yesterday was a good win other than the ********.

[cp176]

Looks like I agree with Pedroia and the senile guy who is my age, 76.

 

wait - who? - what -76?

 

My guess - Pedroia ain't that tough. If he was, he would have just shut his mouth. Let it go. talk really is cheap. Your team is your team. I really am anxious to hear more about this.

[Wade Boggs]

It's interesting seeing you all turn on Pedroia! Traitors!

 

Not me. Just trying the perspective route on all of this. It's called liking the player but disagree on how he reacted.

[Maxbialystock]

There's no need to freak out about this. We're 11-8, which isn't terrible, and we've got 143 games of baseball left. Yesterday was a good win other than the ********.

 

Completely agree. Plus that win was thanks to Kimmi. Betts' 3 run dinger was incidental. But of course I hope he does it a lot more.

[cp176]

Completely agree. Plus that win was thanks to Kimmi. Betts' 3 run dinger was incidental. But of course I hope he does it a lot more.

 

calling real ******** on this post lol

[mvp 78]

Yeah I think he should be traded now.

 

One day, you will all be believers!

[Kimmi]

Completely agree. Plus that win was thanks to Kimmi. Betts' 3 run dinger was incidental. But of course I hope he does it a lot more.

 

It really is all about me.

[Northern Star]

It really is all about me.

 

Kimmi Power!!!

[Northern Star]

Should I try to sell my soul in exchange for a sweep of the Yankees, do you think?

[Spudboy]

Why is seebeachfred back on the board?

[cp176]

Why is seebeachfred back on the board?

 

I'm beginning to think that I might be him!

[S5Dewey]

It's interesting seeing you all turn on Pedroia! Traitors!

 

Man... I walk away from this board for a few hours and when I come back I find that...... nearly everyone has the same thought about how Pedey handled this that I do!

 

Look, I like the guy (as much as you can 'like' someone you've never met). I like his grit and his guts. But I have a real problem with the fact that during the actual moments while his teammates were supporting him he was busy throwing them under the bus.

 

If someone on that team didn't have the balls to confront him about this then I'm disappointed in the lot of them. (but I know we'll never know if anyone did).

 

JMO!

[S5Dewey]

This whole discussion about Pedey and how he handled the situation would have been more appropriate in the SOB Thread. Whether you think Barnes threw at Machado's head or not you have to admit that Barnes had the stones to throw at him.