http://msn.espn.go.com/mlb/news/2002/0619/1396644.html Bonds says he'll take matters into his own hands SAN FRANCISCO -- In the wake of the latest pitcher to throw near him -- Tampa Bay's Travis Harper, who buzzed Barry Bonds on Tuesday night -- Bonds says he'll taking matters into his own hands. "If our pitchers ain't going to do it, I'll defend myself," Bonds told the San Francisco Chronicle after Tuesday's 8-3 loss to Tampa Bay. Harper threw a fastball behind Bonds' knees, nearly hitting him. Asked if he felt that Giants pitchers weren't protecting him enough, Bonds told the Chronicle: "Ask them." Said one Giants pitcher to the newspaper: "Is that what he said?" before walking away. Said another: "I don't care what he said." Harper hit the Giants' Marvin Bernard to start the ninth inning. Two batters later, he threw a 1-2 fastball that forced Bonds to move forward to get out of the way. Bonds walked slowly toward the mound, pointing his finger at Harper. Both benches emptied but there was no further incident. Bonds has been hit by six pitches this season. "I just had a lot of buildup. That's all," Bonds said later. "Too many balls have been thrown at me in one year, and that's enough. I just couldn't take it anymore. It probably wasn't an intentional pitch. When balls get thrown at you quite a bit, eventually you're going to get upset. "It's just a lot of frustration, that was all," Bonds said. "Losing doesn't frustrate me. I'm just not going to allow people to throw darts at me anymore. I'm tired of it." Harper said he wasn't trying to hit Bonds, especially with an 8-3 lead. "That was a natural reaction to do what he did. That's fine,'' he said. "He's got to understand what I'm trying to do out there and it's not to hit him.'' HA! Looks like he pissed off his own pitching staff now. I want to see him charge someone on the mound! Perhaps if he didn't stop and stare at his home runs, he wouldn't get pitched at ... Or perhaps if he didn't stand with his elbow in the strike zone, his elbow wouldn't get hit ....
isn't it interesting that when Roger Clemens, a 6'5" 230lb massive dude SAID BEFORE A GAME that he was going to plunk Bonds, then did so... Bonds did nothing? But when a scrub like Harper hits him, he walks menacingly towards the mound? that is just ridiculous! plus, its no news that his teammates don't like him... remember when he hit his 500th homer? After rounding the bases, who received him at home plate? Only the bat boy, not a SINGLE teammate... hmm....
The same could be said of Craig Biggio. I agree -- I wish umps would stop awarding 1st base on those ridiculous barely-missed-the-plate hit batters. But at least Biggio doesn't go yelling at the pitcher when he gets hit. On a sidenote, I'm not a fan of the "body armor" that these players wear. Unfortunately, I don't think they are going to get rid of it ("player safety"). However, I think they should be required to wear whatever they take to the plate all the way around the bases. None of this wearing it to the plate and then handing it to the 1st base coach.
I would like to see Astros pitchers defend their batters just ONCE!!!! Just once!!! No team gets more players hit from year to year...and there is NEVER any retaliation.
you mean like this ridiculous thing? hmmm... i wonder why bonds crouches the plate? Exactly. He has no fear of getting hit, so he stands over the plate. That means the pitcher can't pitch "outside" like he normally would because that would be right over the plate for Bonds. Can't pitch inside because he'll hit the damn elbow pad. I don't like Clemens, but I thought it was great that he threw right at him. I like pitchers that have no fear of pushing batters off the plate. Now, aiming high and inside is one thing, but just middle-in -- they need to do it more often. Unfortunately, it doesn't do any good because the batter has armor on so they don't care if they get plunked. I would like to see Astros pitchers defend their batters just ONCE!!!! Just once!!! No team gets more players hit from year to year...and there is NEVER any retaliation. MadMax, I think there are two reasons for this. Astros players are rarely hit "on purpose" so retaliation doesn't always make sense. Plus, Astros pitchers (at least under Dierker) hated putting people on base for any reasons (walks, intentional walks, etc). I do think it's odd that we consistently lead the league in hit batters, but I think a part of that is Biggio and his ridiculous elbow padding like Bonds. While pitchers stay away from Bonds, they still come in on Biggio, he leans in with his elbow, gets plunked, and runs to first.
I guess the pitchers in the AL don't know they're supposed to allow Barry to stand on the plate. Did yall see what Oswalt did in his start the other night? Jose Hernandez was kind of leaning out and hit an up and away fastball out to right field. The next time up Oswalt buzzed him high and tight! My man Roy!
