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Tim C: Easy huh? Just cant resist to take a shot at someone huh?
Anyways, heres all Im trying to say. Yes, everyone knew Erstad was going to get thrown at. My problem was WHEN the warning was issued. Managers and players have the same concern.
Of course give the Braves their shot at him, which they did. But no warning should be issued at that point. Why issue a warning to the Angels? They havnt even thrown a pitch yet. Why should Byrd have that burden on his mind the whole game? Byrd now has to alter his game, not being a power pitcher, he relies on control, and being able to pitch inside. If he does that, and doinks someone, he gets ejected? Thats not right. The warning should have been issued only after, or IF an Angel pitcher konked someone. Because THEN its turned into retaliating for the Erstad brushback.
Said Byrd.."Immediately at first, you want to go out there and stand somebody up, but lets say I do go out and hit somebody with a fastball, now who do we have to come in? (assuming he gets ejected).."Its a fine line. Its tough decesion to make. I have to stand up for my teammates, but they need me to pitch the game."
Byrd said he was affected by the umpires warning....."When I dont even take the mound and Ive already got a warning, yeah, it makes it tough."
I just think that baseball, in giving the authority to the umpires to issue warnings, its usually unfair to one of the teams. And this has been an issue for a long time, not just last nights game. In essence, one team, gets a free shot, which is fine (usually in taking up for a teammate). And the other team gets warned, and like in last nights game Byrd gets dinged.
Also, back to whether Erstad was trying to hurt Estrada, heres what Erstad said in todays paper....."I didnt sleep much last night. When somebodys injured, thats the last thing you want, I thought about it from every angle, every possible thing I could have done differently. I play the way I play."
[Edited by chuckfan1 on Jun 8th, 2005 at 07:25 PM]
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