Ventura/Machado

[SiteWolf]

OK, so if you aren't aware, with his team trailing 5-1 and Ventura's day near done, he drilled Machado in the ribs/hip with a 99mph fastball....an intent pitch isn't normally at that speed, but Yordano didn't look upset that it happened.........and, of course, Manny charged the mound and took a swing at Ventura, benches clear, blah blah blah

Both, of course, have their histories but there's not equal guilt here either.

If you were commissioner for a day, how do you think you'd handle this?

[ProneEisenrott]

I have always maintained that intentionally throwing at a player, especially a fastball with the intent to injure, is morally wrong and suspendable. I'm not sure that it's any different than intentionally clipping an opposing player in the parking lot with your car. Or shooting him in the kneecap with a pistol.

Baseball "traditionalists" tend to defend beanballing as "part of the game" but the further the older generations are removed from the game with the passing of time, the more the younger generations have the opportunity to trump tradition with logic and common sense.

[P562045]

Commish P would make Ventura miss a start each times he does something foolish like this and add another game after each incident. Or make Ventura bat the next time he pitches against the Orioles and see how he likes getting hit by a pitch. And no Ventura does not get to go first base after getting hit the first time. Most pitchers are a somewhat easy out for the other team. Well Ventura may not be pitching anytime soon. I got that kind of feeling from his Manager Ned Yost comment after the game. So make sure the suspension does not start until Ventura is pitching again.

Machado should get a game for charging the mound in this Commish humble opinion. I know players feel the need to protect themselves sometimes but other players could get hurt and from a league perspective that is not a great situation. Cause let us be honest fans usually want to see the best players playing in a game they are watching especially if they are paying money to see the game in person.

[rich76]

Do away with the DH and most of this will stop. Ventura is a cowardly punk. Every year he has been in MLB he has had some kind of incident....last year I seem to remember 3 consecutive games he started a bunch of shiznit. He has already been fined mucho $$$$ and had a 7 game suspension. When is enough enough? I say suspend him for 20 games without pay and see if that gets his attention. I doubt that it will because, as I said above, he is a cowardly punk with no self control. He's an average pitcher too. Not even 10 games over 500 for his major league career. Throwing 102 mph does not a pitcher make....IMHO.

[SiteWolf]

Do away with the DH and there are players we like to watch hit who try to play positions they shouldn't and/or retire earlier.....while guys we don't wanna watch hit take their places at the plate.

Intentionally hit someone? You're automatically the first one up when your team comes to the plate...and you can't be pinch hit OR run for.

[yon Beast]

they both had the same intent to injure within minutes.

ventura, as a few have said, should be gone.
throwing at the batter is the equivalent to swinging a stick at someone in hockey....no place for that attitude in sports, imo.

charging the mound is no better...instigated or not... the intent is to 'hurt'.
now some may say you must stand up for yourself in that position and charging the mound is the way ballplayers have chosen to represent them standing up for themselves....rubbish! There is no 'me' in team as long as your educated and do not have some form of dyslexia.

The classy player will swear and take his base assuming he's not hurt.
Leave the discipline to the officials....there is no advantage to charge the mound, ever!
Everything is on video.

beanball.....for lessor pitchers afraid of the hitter. weak.

[P562045]

Yes I guess I meant intentionally hit Ventura in my comments yesterday because it appears to me that nothing else will get through Ventura's thick head.

I guess suspending Ventura more games after each incident without pay is another way to approach the type of situation we are discussing. But for some reason I don't think what I just mentioned will change Ventura's behavior because as Rich said Ventura has done this kind of thing before.

The league needs to send a very strong message that what Ventura is doing can not be tolerated for a variety of reasons and some I mentioned yesterday. Something could happen if this keeps up and it could turn very ugly from a league perspective.