[ozzy6900]

I understand what Pete Booth is saying here. F1 has great control, then a taunt, a HR, a successful suicide or squeeze, then F1 plunks B1. But there are still things that have to be considered here.

Was the pitch a fastball or an errant breaking ball? As many professional pitchers have stated, "If I'm going to intentionally nail someone, he is getting my fastball, right in the ribs!". It is nearly impossible to control a breaking ball enough to drill a batter (but I am sure there are those who will argue this point). Now in most cases, the BU is not looking at the pitch as closely as the PU is (or should be). Last of all, the four times in my career that I dumped a pitcher, I was 98% sure that he was looking at the batter and not his target (which is F2). This the BU cannot see, and I don't care how good you think you are, a BU cannot tell were F1 is throwing the ball! Only the PU can see this.

So I say that even if the situation is right, and F1 does the deed, it is the PU's job to take care of this problem. The BU has to back up the PU and help keep order. I do not agree with the BU calling this. If you are working with a rookie at the plate, I still do not agree. You will have a $hithouse on your hands but that is what you get paid for.

Now before you start arguing about the "rookie PU", tell me, would you jump in if he calls a fastball down the center of the plate, belt high a ball? Would you jump in if he calls the slider off the plate a strike? Some calls just belong to the PU, and IMO, this is one of them!