Former Major League All-Star charged in bat attack

Note to self, do not buzz Jose Offerman if he homers off of me. Seriously though, as terrible as this is, I never understood why pitchers had free reign to drill a batter without similiar consequences. I know, I know. You can't prove intent, but if you know anything about baseball, you know this happens intentionally. Also, I realize the opposing pitcher can go after the offending pitcher's teammates, but that just escalates the situation. Seems like all it would take would be for one pitcher to be charged, and this type of thing wouldn't happen again. I guess that would open too much of a Pandora's Box even though most people can tell the difference between an accidental hit batsman and an intentional beaning.

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I'm sure one of the lawyers on the site can give more technical explanation of this, but I think that there is basically an assumption of risk involved in playing the game. You can't sue for getting hit in the head with a fastball when it's basically part of the game you are playing. It's the same reason why if you are sitting in the stands and get knocked cold by a foul ball you can't sue.

 

those players have some balls for standing in with him. i dont care who it is, i am not fighting anyone who has a bat, i am running. bats are too devastating. bats are skull crushers.

 

Man, you're not kidding. The catcher is doing everything he can to keep him from swinging that bat, but you have to scratch your head about that pitcher. Dude is still on the mound! Like you said, once I saw him take one step towards me with that bat, I'm off to the clubhouse.

 

guy was one of the most overpaid baseball players just a few years ago. boston signed him for like 7 mill per year and he was a terrible SS though he could run. sounds like their current ss actually eh nootch?

eventually just became a lifetime utility player.

you cant prove intent plus it would ruin sports. Guys often get beaned because they are standing in the strike zone. biggio made a career of it.

certainly dont need another reason for pitchers to be scared of pitching from worrying about a lawsuit. you'd have 500 rick ankiels on the mound from then on.

 

Old habits do die hard.

 

You're right and I figured as much. But as a baseball guy, I'll be you can tell the difference between an honest mistake and intentional beaning. I realize a prosecutor can't, but I sympathize with a hitter who gets beaned just for hitting a home run. Maybe he was admiring it a little too long or dogging it around the bases, but still. Offerman knew the pitch that hit him was intentional and was retaliating, albeit in an extreme way. I don't condone bat attacks, but I don't condone intentional beanings either.

 

i do condone intentional beanings, as long as they are not aimed at the coconut. in fact i think they are an important and fun part of the game.

a baseball just isnt in the same league as a bat in terms of danger. for 200$ i would take a fastball to the hip. i dunno if i would take a well swung bat to anywhere for less than 50 grand. baseballs dont crunch bones the way bats do.

 

I'm a big fan of beanings too, and generally not at the head (Piazza excluded.) The intent is almost always obvious, but some batters/coaches/fans get confused sometimes.

Last week (I think), an Astros pitcher hit a guy on a 1-2 count with 2 outs. There's absolutely no way it was intentional, but the batter and fans got yappee about it.

I'm surprised the beanings haven't increased dramatically since so many guys like to lean into the strike zone, wear a ton of armor, and know their roid'ed up muscles can take a hit (yea you Biggio!)

 

I don't like it when guys get drilled intentionally. There's too much at stake and could be career if not life ending. But that's a far cry from a guy getting plunked for hanging over the plate. That's what is considered part of the game.