# MLB: April **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [March 30, 2013, 7:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-april/654370 "2013-03-30T19:03:41Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 12
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2013, 12:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-april/654370/221 "2013-04-12T12:29:15Z")
It looked like “Try it” or some variation thereof to me. The brawl almost caused a fight at Casa Silenus, because the wife and I had agreed to each root for our teams but not against the other. When Quentin charged the mound that went right out the window and I started agitating for Padre blood. \ Quentin charges the mound, but Grienke has been taking martial arts lessons for decades. When the dust clears, there are 4 Padres out cold and out for the season and Grienke dusting off his hands on the mound. \ Maybe a rule change that says any injuries caused by going after a batter or a pitcher carry a $500,000 fine and a year’s suspension. ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2013, 12:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-april/654370/222 "2013-04-12T12:43:07Z")
> [@madmonk28](#): > > Yeah, but Haren is pitching tonight. He didn’t exactly wow us in Cinci, let’s hope it was opening night jitters. I didn’t see the game, but 10 hits in 5 innings, and only giving up 3 runs? Was he great at pitching out of jams, or did lucky breaks keep it from being much worse? ---
**Author:** ![madmonk28](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madmonk28/32/20811_2.png) [@madmonk28](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madmonk28)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2013, 2:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-april/654370/223 "2013-04-12T14:08:06Z")
He was lucky that the wind was blowing in or he would have had a lot of HRs against him. BUT he did hit a double, so all was forgiven. The highlight was when the Sox intentionally walked Harper to get to Zim who blasted a double that scored two runners and sealed the deal. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2013, 2:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-april/654370/224 "2013-04-12T14:21:09Z")
> [@Asimovian](#): > > Fuck. Fuck fuck fuck. They just reported that Zack Greinke suffered a fractured collarbone during a pretty huge brawl with the Padres tonight. > > Fuck you, Carlos Quentin. > [@FoieGrasIsEvil](#): > > That really was a jack move by Quentin, especially considering the situation in the game in which the beanball occurred (one run game, 3-2 count, 6th inning) coupled with the fact that this dude is well known for leaning into pitches to try to draw walks. Fuck that guy. I hate this shit so much. Pitchers “retaliate” over HBPs that were clearly accidental and guys charge the mound at random. I know Greinke and Quentin are supposed to have a little bit of a history, but it seems to me that the whole code is out of whack and you hate to see guys get hurt like this. I think a long suspension is in order here. ---
**Author:** ![Freddy\_the\_Pig](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/a587f6/32.png) [@Freddy\_the\_Pig](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Freddy_the_Pig)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2013, 2:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-april/654370/225 "2013-04-12T14:33:37Z")
If Quentin charges everyone who hits him, he’s going to be quite the pugilist. He sticks his elbow out over the plate and won’t so much as _flinch_ to get out of the way of a pitch. ---
**Author:** ![Yaxche](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/8dc957/32.png) [@Yaxche](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yaxche)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2013, 2:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-april/654370/226 "2013-04-12T14:53:18Z")
Yeah, he clearly leaned into the pitch, too, even if it was high and tight. Greinke can’t give away the inside part of the plate because this bush leaguer has been holding a grudge for 5 years, and he knew it. Borderline pre-meditated, considering where he took the pitch, and the response. The only good I see in this is maybe it lights a fire under Kemp’s ass, considering how poorly he has played to date. He really took it personal. ---
**Author:** ![jsc1953](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/5daacb/32.png) [@jsc1953](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jsc1953)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2013, 2:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-april/654370/227 "2013-04-12T14:58:24Z")
If Quentin is indeed leaning into pitches, the umpires do have the latitude to take care of that. If his elbow is over the plate when it’s hit, it’s a dead ball strike. If he doesn’t make any attempt to get out of the way, it’s a dead ball ball, and stay-here-buddy no-1B-for-you. In yesterday’s Cubs-Giants game, the Giants were down 5-0 in the 4th inning, but had the bases loaded, 2 outs, and the pitcher (Vogelsong) coming up. Bochy waved the white flag, and decided that bullpen rest was more important than pinch hitting. Vogelsong drew a walk and the Giants got 4 runs. > [@](#): > > That kind of decision might be good for the week-long fortunes of a team on a road trip, but it shouldn’t be rewarded with a four-run, two-out rally. The Giants acknowledged they didn’t want the runs; they wanted a fresh bullpen. The Cubs chased after the Giants in the parking lot and banged on their window, screaming “YOU FORGOT THESE. EXCUSE ME YOU DROPPED THESE RUNS. YOU FORGOT THESE.” The Giants rolled down the window and politely thanked them. What else were they supposed to do? > **[a San Francisco Giants community](https://www.mccoveychronicles.com/)** > > Your best source for quality San Francisco Giants news, rumors, analysis, stats and scores from the fan perspective. ---
**Author:** ![bup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/6bbea6/32.png) [@bup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bup)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2013, 4:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-april/654370/228 "2013-04-12T16:07:07Z")
> [@madmonk28](#): > > He was lucky that the wind was blowing in or he would have had a lot of HRs against him. BUT he did hit a double, so all was forgiven. He settled down in the 4th and 5th, but used too many pitches, so we never got to see whether innings 1-3 were real, or 4-5 were real. In the 3rd inning the White Sox hit everything they swung at. ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2013, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-april/654370/229 "2013-04-12T16:37:59Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > Maybe a rule change that says any injuries caused by going after a batter or a pitcher carry a $500,000 fine and a year’s suspension. I’m a little more of an eye for an eye kind - you deliberately injure a guy, you’re out as long as he is. Plus the fine. ---
**Author:** ![madmonk28](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madmonk28/32/20811_2.png) [@madmonk28](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madmonk28)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2013, 4:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-april/654370/230 "2013-04-12T16:41:25Z")
> [@bup](#): > > He settled down in the 4th and 5th, but used too many pitches, so we never got to see whether innings 1-3 were real, or 4-5 were real. > > In the 3rd inning the White Sox hit everything they swung at. Yeah, but he did look better than he had in Cinci, so hopefully he’ll settle in. As a side gripe: when are Washington fans going to learn how to act at a ball game? Sit down and watch the game! ---
**Author:** ![Fred\_Garvin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/c67d28/32.png) [@Fred\_Garvin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fred_Garvin)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2013, 4:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-april/654370/231 "2013-04-12T16:46:37Z")
> [@jsc1953](#): > > In yesterday’s Cubs-Giants game, the Giants were down 5-0 in the 4th inning, but had the bases loaded, 2 outs, and the pitcher (Vogelsong) coming up. Bochy waved the white flag, and decided that bullpen rest was more important than pinch hitting. Vogelsong drew a walk and the Giants got 4 runs. Vogelsong actually sent an inning ending grounder to Castro, who let it go through his legs. A single, hit batter, and a double after that and the Giants had 4 unearned runs. It was the 5th inning when Vogelsong got the bases loaded pass. ---
**Author:** ![FoieGrasIsEvil](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foiegrasisevil/32/16638_2.png) [@FoieGrasIsEvil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FoieGrasIsEvil)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2013, 6:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-april/654370/232 "2013-04-12T18:26:57Z")
Carlos Quentin owns the minor league single season record for being hit by pitches (43 times). Since 2007, he has been hit by a pitch 108 times. A hundred and eight! So clearly, Greinke didn’t mean to hit the guy in the situation the game was in, and equally clearly is that Quentin likes to lean into pitches to draw walks. Frankly I don’t understand why umpires keep letting him get away with it. It’s not like it just happened a couple times. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2013, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-april/654370/233 "2013-04-12T18:35:14Z")
> [@FoieGrasIsEvil](#): > > Since 2007, he has been hit by a pitch 108 times. A hundred and eight! So clearly, Greinke didn’t mean to hit the guy in the situation the game was in, and equally clearly is that Quentin likes to lean into pitches to draw walks. I mentioned earlier that these guys have issues or something- or at least Quentin says they do. Greinke has hit him 3 times, and apparently he is the only batter Greinke has hit that often. Of course the last time Greinke hit him with a pitch was in 2009, so, you know, it’s one of those intense feuds where absolutely nothing happens for years at a time. ---
**Author:** ![Freddy\_the\_Pig](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/a587f6/32.png) [@Freddy\_the\_Pig](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Freddy_the_Pig)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2013, 7:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-april/654370/234 "2013-04-12T19:37:24Z")
> [@Fred\_Garvin](#): > > It was the 5th inning when Vogelsong got the bases loaded pass. It’s incredible–inability to retire the pitcher cost the Cubs all seven runs in a 7-6 loss. That’s why I don’t like the DH. Letting the pitcher bat gives the Cubs more embarrassing ways to screw up. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2013, 7:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-april/654370/235 "2013-04-12T19:38:48Z")
That’s one thing you can say for the Cubs: when they lose, you rarely find yourself thinking “they didn’t deserve to lose that one.” ---
**Author:** ![Asimovian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asimovian/32/172_2.png) [@Asimovian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Asimovian)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2013, 8:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-april/654370/236 "2013-04-12T20:04:22Z")
> [@Marley23](#): > > I mentioned earlier that these guys have issues or something- or at least Quentin says they do. Greinke has hit him 3 times, and apparently he is the only batter Greinke has hit that often. Of course the last time Greinke hit him with a pitch was in 2009, so, you know, it’s one of those intense feuds where absolutely nothing happens for years at a time. Either that, or Quentin is full of shit. Supposedly, Quentin had to be restrained from going after Greinke the SECOND time Greinke hit him. Let’s see. According to Baseball Reference: 1. Quentin hit a home run off Greinke the very first time they faced each other. 2. Quentin subsequently went 0-4 with a walk against Greinke over the course of a couple of games before being HBP the first time (first pitch of the at-bat). In that scenario, Greinke’s Royals were ahead by a run and there were two runners on. Doesn’t sound like a good time to plunk someone intentionally. 3. Quentin hit a home run in his next at-bat against Greinke, followed by a single. He went 0-3 against Greinke in the next three at-bats he had (spread out over two different games) and then he was hit the second time. This was on a 1-1 count with nobody on and the White Sox trailing by a run. Perhaps better – but still not ideal – circumstances for hitting a guy on purpose. 4. Since then, Quentin had had 17 PAs against Greinke before being hit the third time. Quentin collected a home run, two singles and a walk in those appearances, going 3-16. The last time they’d faced each other was on August 22, 2010, and Quentin had been 0-2 against Greinke last night before the HBP. I realize that stats aren’t going to tell the entire story of a grudge between two guys, but looking at those figures, I’m inclined to think Greinke is telling the truth when he says he’s never thought about plunking Quentin. Unless Quentin had showboated on some prior occasion, I just don’t see it. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2013, 8:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-april/654370/237 "2013-04-12T20:19:33Z")
And unfortunately, Quentin is going to walk away with a 5 game suspension **at most** , while Greinke will be out for months. I have a funny feeling that the series at Dodger Stadium next week is going to be…interesting, like “warnings issued before each game” interesting. ---
**Author:** ![Asimovian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asimovian/32/172_2.png) [@Asimovian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Asimovian)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2013, 8:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-april/654370/238 "2013-04-12T20:23:58Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > And unfortunately, Quentin is going to walk away with a 5 game suspension **at most** , while Greinke will be out for months. I have a funny feeling that the series at Dodger Stadium next week is going to be…interesting, like “warnings issued before each game” interesting. Yeah, I suspect you’re right, particularly if Quentin makes it back to the team in time for part of the series. I’m there on Wednesday night – should be interesting. I’m really not keen on seeing anyone else get hurt, though. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2013, 8:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-april/654370/239 "2013-04-12T20:35:25Z")
I think you’ll see a longer than normal suspension for Quentin. What did Kemp do? Confront him after the game ended? That might cost him, too. I think I’d start the bidding at 10 games. [Speaking of suspensions, it sounds like MLB bought records from Biogenesis, the Dr. Nick-alike HGH clinic linked to Alex Rodriguez, Ryan Braun, and all those other guys.](http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20130412&content_id=44564698&vkey=news_mlb&c_id=mlb) Including Francisco Cervelli, who is a no-hit catcher who’s been slugging the ball really well the first two weeks of the season, but which nobody seems to be commenting on. Heh. The league reportedly decided to buy the records because one of the players had started buying and destroying the records. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2013, 8:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-april/654370/240 "2013-04-12T20:52:26Z")
> [@FoieGrasIsEvil](#): > > Carlos Quentin owns the minor league single season record for being hit by pitches (43 times). > > Since 2007, he has been hit by a pitch 108 times. By way of comparison, Pete Rose played 3,562 games, more than anyone else in the history of baseball, and was hit by a pitch 107 times. The #2 man in games played was Carl Yaztrzemski. In his entire career he was hit by a pitch just 40 times. Hank Aaron is third in games played. He was hit just 32 times. Fourth, Rickey Henderson. 98 times. Fifth, Ty Cobb. 94 times. Remember, Ty was not well liked. Sixth is a tie between Eddie Murray, who was plunked 18 times in his entire career, and Stan Musial, who was plunked 53 times. After them comes Cal Ripken, the eighth man to play 3000 games, who was plunked 66 times. Willie Mays, ninth, got dinged 44 times. Barry Bonds is tenth all time in games played and was infamous for allegedly allowing his elbow to get hit by pitches, but in his 2,986 games was still not hit as often as Carlos Quentin, 106 dings. You have to get down to 16th on the games played list before you hit (ha ha) someone with more HBPs than Carlos Quentin, that being, of course, Craig Biggio, who let himself get hit as a strategy. And it took him a career four times as long to get there; Quentin is hit by pitches almost as often than anyone in major league history on a per game basis, so far as I can tell. Maybe Carlos Quentin is just slow. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-april/654370.md?page=11) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-april/654370.md?page=13)