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I certainly don't want to see anyone injured, but if what Duncan did today makes pitchers think twice about throwing inside to Jeter and ARod then I'm fine with it. The message is clear... rough up one of our players and someone is getting one in the thigh .. either with a heater or some spikes. It's baseball folks.

I certainly don't want to see anyone injured, but if what Duncan did today makes pitchers think twice about throwing inside to Jeter and ARod then I'm fine with it.
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They're not going to think twice. Pitchers pitch them inside because the scouting report suggests that they should.

The point is the Yankees have to impose costs for anything questionable.

What cost is this? Pitchers aren't going to stop pitching inside. Baserunners aren't going to give up on a play at the plate if they see a catcher with the ball.

And Steve, yes, it's a different game. McRae tries that in today's game, the trailing baserunner is called out as McRae interfered with the play. McRae may be ejected as well, depending on the discretion of the umpire.

"They're not going to think twice. Pitchers pitch them inside because the scouting report suggests that they should."
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There is a suddle point you are missing here. Here's a hypothetical pitcher's inner monologue during recent years:

"The scouting report says I should pitch this guy (Jeter or ARod) inside. What if I hit him? Oh, who cares, the Yankees don't have any pitchers that will do anything to one of our guys anyway, so I shouldn't worry. I'm going inside and now I have the advantage."

Now, possibly, here's what we have:

"The scouting report says I should pitch this guy (Jeter or ARod) inside. What if I hit him? Well, I know that one of their pitchers will probably hit our best player, and he may get injured if that happens. Or, some psycho like Shelley Duncan could kick my SS in the thigh on a slide into 2B. I better be careful. I don't have the advantage anymore."

Make sense?

~~~Back in the day, I don't think too many Yankees fans were upset with Munson for sliding into Brett, late, with his spikes high. Then again, maybe it was a different day and age, and game, back then too?~~~

You know what else was different? The context - and that is what's important. Comparing Game Six of a playoff series to the spring training game before the Yankees trot out an elderly comedian to man a position for them is taking comparisons to the extreme.

Agreed, it's a different context/setting, but, the spirit is still the same...meaning, you do something on the bases to one of ours, and, then, something will happen to one of yours on the bases too.

~~~And Steve, yes, it's a different game. McRae tries that in today's game, the trailing baserunner is called out as McRae interfered with the play. McRae may be ejected as well, depending on the discretion of the umpire.~~~

So, why then did the Rays Johnson not get slapped by the league or the umps for going into F.C. like a missle?

Make sense?
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Yes it does, like the theory that having a stonger hitter behind you will allow you to see better pitches. And the theory that a corked bat is lighter and will allow you to hit more home runs. And the theory that ________ wins championships

In these cases, the numbers don't support your conclusions.

"The book" says to pitch Jeter & ARod inside. The threat of retaliation is irrelevant. How many times did people charge the mound when Pedro was pitching? Didn't stop him from pitching inside. How many times did Drysdale & Gibson hit batters? Randy Johnson? Greg Maddux? Roger Clemens? Nolan Ryan?

If they don't want to be pitched inside, I suggest they learn to turn on an inside fastball. Because THAT is the way to keep pitchers from coming inside.

that's why munson was my favorite ballplayer who should be in the hall of fame

So, why then did the Rays Johnson not get slapped by the league or the umps for going into F.C. like a missle?
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Because it was a collision @ home plate, not a takeout slide @ 2b.

You remember this play?
http://tinyurl.com/yobytl

So, why then did the Rays Johnson not get slapped by the league or the umps for going into F.C. like a missile?
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This is the same league that is run by a commissioner that authorized the Mitchell Report that foolishly named names of an handful of players while failing to uncover the fully wrongdoing of the commissioner, the owners, the GMs, and many of the offending players.

MLB is hardly run by people that should be arbiters of rectitude.

In these cases, the numbers don't support your conclusions.
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Numbers? I didn't see any numbers in your post.

"the threat of retaliation is irrelevant. "
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Prove to me that if, say, Josh Beckett knows that if by pitching to ARod inside and accidentally hitting him, that David Ortiz or Manny Ramirez is definitely going to get hit when they come up NEXT, that he won't be more careful, and thus, be more prone to make mistakes. You haven't even provided any logical progression of thought.. all you said was that it isn't true.

"Numbers? I didn't see any numbers in your post."
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There have been studies that have shown that protection in the order is a myth, as well as studies that have shown that a corked back is more likely to hurt than help

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"Prove to me that if, say, Josh Beckett knows that if by pitching to ARod inside and accidentally hitting him, that David Ortiz or Manny Ramirez is definitely going to get hit when they come up NEXT, that he won't be more careful, and thus, be more prone to make mistakes."

How about we look at it this way; Beckett, Ortiz and Ramirez have been together for a couple of years.

Beckett, since 2002 has hit 1,2,6,7,10 (first year with the Sox), and 5 batters.

Ortiz has been hit 4 times each season. Ramirez has been hit once in 2006 and 7 times in 2007.

Looking at the 2006 season (more HB to work with from Beckett), Becketts HB breaks down like this;

4/21: TOR (1, Aaron Hill), one hit by TOR (Alex Gonzalez), possible retaliation by BOS
5/3: TOR (2, Hillebrand, Wells), none hit by TOR
5/30: TOR (2, B Molina, E Alfonso), one hit by BOS (Lowell), possible retaliation by TOR
6/28: NYM (1 Lo Duca), one hit by NYM (Loretta), possible retaliation by BOS
7/19: KCR (2, Esteban German), one hit by KC (Crisp), possible retalition by KC.
8/24: LAA (1, V Guerrero), none hit by LAA
9/16: NYY (1, Fasano), none hit by NYY

In none of those games, were Ramirez or Ortiz hit by the opposing pitcher.

More stuff later