Probably cheesing of Ralkana... (and boring non-baseball fans)

[dlgood]

Darin Erstad's collision with Johnny Estrada in yesterday's game was dirty as hell.

I've played baseball and softball and such for a decent amount of time. Home plate collisions are part of the game - players want to score and catchers want to keep them from scoring. But... the plate was open and Erstad had plenty of room to slide. Actually, he had to go out of the baseline to hit the catcher. And he led with an elbow to the head, instead of putting his shoulder into the ball.

Erstad plays hard - and it's pretty often repeated that he played on a national championship college football team (Nebrasksa 1993). He plays hard and tough and that's great - but it doesn't give him an excuse to roll a catcher. (IMHO - I kind of think he was just looking for the opportunity to get a big hit, rather than actually trying to score - because hello Hook Slide) Blah, blah - baseball's unwritten rulebook. I wouldn't be entirely surprised if he gets thrown at, and I'm not entirely sure how much it bugs me.

Comments

[hjcallipygian.livejournal.com]

I didn't see that at all. Actually... I'm not sure what teams they play for, even.

But I used to pitch, and I tell you what -- if someone put an elbow into my catcher, he better wear fucking body armor to the plate.

[dlgood.livejournal.com]

Did not know you pitched. Cool. I wanted to pitch, but I couldn't throw strikes for crap.

[hjcallipygian.livejournal.com]

I had loads of control, but didn't throw very hard. So, if it was really me throwing, the batter probably would not need padding of any type even were I to hit him as hard as I could with a ptich. =) Still. We are assuming a hypothetical major-league me who can actually break 90, much less 80.

[ralkana.livejournal.com]

I didn't see the play live, I only saw the replays, and even then, it was from a distance, so I couldn't really tell. Possibly it was clean, possibly it was dirty. He's a physical guy, and as I told rhi_silverflame, if you give him the option of sliding around for the tag or going through the catcher, he's gonna play bulldozer every time.

It happens. Players try to take the catcher out all the time. Last season (or possibly the season before, I can't remember), someone tried it on Bengie Molina and ended up with a separated shoulder and a six week vacation. Bengie wasn't even bruised. He's a solid guy. This time the catcher got the worse end of the stick, and I truly hope that he's okay. No one deserves injury.

So I'm not cheesed, and I'm not gonna say you're wrong, but I'm not gonna say you're right either. How's that for decisive? *g*

And hey, the Nationals come to town next week out here! I'm gonna see if I can get tix to at least one of the games.

[dlgood.livejournal.com]

I'm not cheesed, and I'm not gonna say you're wrong, but I'm not gonna say you're right either.

Heh. Indeed.