By now, most MLB fans know that things between the Los Angeles Angels and the Seattle Mariners got out of hand.
At one point, there was a melee between the two teams that resulted in punches thrown (and landed) and several suspensions.
All because of hit by pitches.
In late June, Angels star Mike Trout complained after the Mariners threw around his head on multiple occasions.
In fact, as Codify Baseball notes, these three pitches happened in just a 4-day span:
These 3 pitches happened in just a 4-day span. 😬 pic.twitter.com/HUOYWoSMqv
— Codify (@CodifyBaseball) July 6, 2022
Angels pitcher Andrew Wantz threw behind Julio Rodriguez‘s head and hit Jesse Winker the day after Trout complained.
That Winker HBP led to the fracas that resulted in 12 suspensions.
In any case, it’s time for the league to do something about pitchers throwing at or around hitters’ heads on purpose.
Pitching Around The Batter’s Head Is Silly, Irresponsible, And Dangerous
It’s an incredibly dangerous thing to do, as it can put the batter’s life in danger.
If MLB finds evidence that a pitcher intentionally threw around a batter’s head, he should be suspended for a very long time.
It’s hard to believe someone will do something like that to a colleague.
Imagine being drilled in the head with a 100-mph fastball.
That could end your life.
Trout was right to complain: perhaps the Mariners are mad about the fact he absolutely owns them.
However, if that’s the case, that’s not the way to react.
It’s uncalled for and irresponsible.
In fact, the whole idea of pitchers “punishing” hitters with HBP after they do their job is silly and out of date.
It’s true that the lack of foreign substances has caused pitchers not to have the same grip and they can incur in control lapses, but three pitches at the head in a span of four days is not a coincidence.
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Tracy says
1st I just want to say when the Mariners played the Angels in Seattle they hit our player Justin Upton in the head, not much was said. Yes there was concern from the Angels team, I’m sure they didn’t mean to hit him, but it happened. So for Mr Trout to say the Mariners pitcher was aiming for his head on purpose might be incorrect. Again that didn’t stop them from almost hitting Julio and hitting Jesse. Did he think it was a good idea, apparently things got stirred up because of comments that were made, let us not forget it was a Mariner that got hit and another that they tried to hit, did Mr Trout have a comment about that? Or was that the fault of the Mariners?