Venters gets docked and Braves fans vent: Spare me, I say
Prince Fielder gets a hug from Angel Hernandez. (AP photo)
I know from my Twitter feed that Braves fans are irate over the four-game suspension dealt Jonny Venters for plunking Prince Fielder — oddly enough, nobody seems all that miffed that Bobby Cox also gets docked a game — but here’s where I play Bad Cop and say, “Come on now. What did you expect?”
We’ll never know if Venters meant to dust Fielder on Saturday — MLB has QuesTek to assess balls and strikes but cannot yet read minds — but these things aren’t about intentions as much as appearances. And you’ll have to admit it looks pretty fishy when …
A player hits a home run and, his next trip up, is greeted by a pitch over his head. (The Braves’ defense of Venters goes thusly: It was a slider, and you don’t send a message with an 84-mph breaking ball.) The plate umpire then warns both teams not to throw at anybody else. And the very next pitch …
Drills the Prince in the back.
The moral of our story: If you’re going to hit a guy, try not to do it with the first pitch after a warning. That attracts attention. It all but forces a reaction from both the other team — two Braves were hit by Brewers’ pitching Sunday, including Jason Heyward with what turned out to be starter Manny Parra’s final delivery of the day — and from MLB.
Brewers manager Ken Macha griped after Saturday’s game that his hitters were being targeted, and umpires can hear/read. Surely that’s how Milwaukee’s David Riske got away with not being ejected when he drilled Troy Glaus on Sunday two batters after both teams had again been warned. According to Cox, plate umpire Scott Barry said he didn’t think Riske meant to hit Glaus.
And that tells us this umpiring crew — which also features Angel Hernandez, who ejected Cox and Venters on Saturday, and Cowboy Joe West — believed the Brewers had a case. (Fielder had also been hit on Friday by Tommy Hanson after Ryan Braun hit a home run.) As it happened, Milwaukee pitchers hit three Braves in the series to Atlanta’s two, but Venters’ two pitches were the ones everyone remembered.
And I know Braves fans will cry conspiracy — the commissioner lives in Milwaukee, remember — and will cite this as further proof the umps have been out to get this team for the past two decades, but every team’s fans feel exactly the same way. Except maybe the Brewers. They know Bud Selig will protect them. That’s why Milwaukee has won 14 consecutive division titles. (Wait. You say it hasn’t?)
Chances are Venters will appeal his suspension, and chances are it’ll get reduced a game, maybe two. But let’s not go all Pollyanna and pretend the good-guy Braves would never ever stoop so low as to hit somebody on purpose. Because sometimes they do.
I’m not saying that’s what happened with Fielder. I’m only saying it does happen. It’s part of the game. And now we move on.
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236 comments Add your comment
GT Alum
July 19th, 2010
6:28 pm
MB, you also forgot Fielder’s reaction after getting drilled by Venters. I wonder if the umpires and MLB might’ve felt more of a need to take action against Milwaukee if Glaus had charged the mound yesterday.
Worm
July 19th, 2010
6:33 pm
Punishment should have been worse..You get one free shot, but Venters missed..Plunking him after a warning is a bad no-no!..Sorry, but I don’t see any “enforcers” on the Braves bench except maybe hinske..They would probably get their butts beaten in a brawl and lose players to injury for MORE than 4 games.
GT Alum
July 19th, 2010
6:37 pm
Worm, you’re dumber than Bradley is.
GT Alum
July 19th, 2010
6:39 pm
Peter, basketball is MB’s game. He’s proven many times over that what he knows about baseball would fit on a pinhead. He just likes to be negative about the Braves. They hadn’t given him much negative to write about since April, so he jumped on the opportunity to write this blog.
jo
July 19th, 2010
6:39 pm
fatty prince after he hit the home run threw the bat at the braves dugout……..and paid the price for it. braves did what they needed to do but the whiny brewers had to cry to the commish foul.
SickandTired
July 19th, 2010
6:41 pm
If the commish wants to do something for the good of baseball, let him make Prince wear a uniform that fits….the way that thing waves when he’s at the plate and hovering over the inside corner, he’sbound to get hit. The display after the homerum he hit with both feet off the ground should have gotten him hit. Not only hit, but Venters should have thrown behind his head. Good for Bobby and good on Venters. Show my team up and you’re gonna pay a price and if you want to fight, let’s get it on Prince if you can drag your fat self out to the mound. And guess what, the next time you come up we’ll hit you again. Act like a man and get treated like a man.
Sic 'em MadDog
July 19th, 2010
6:42 pm
We know the Braves aren’t too nice to hit batters … just ask Leo about Mad Dog. Maddux hit people the following year for something that happened the end of the previous season. Hitting someone in the head is bad, the rest is baseball. (But now-a-days, so are the suspensions.)
Kyle
July 19th, 2010
6:42 pm
I’m sure there is a Liberal paper just like the AJC that Mark could write for up in Milwaukee. The difference would be of course that they would like him.
Reid Adair
July 19th, 2010
6:47 pm
Well, Mark, using that logic, where’s the suspension for David Riske? He it Troy Glaus on Sunday after both teams had been warned.
Prince Fielder’s post-home run antics were uncalled for. If the powers that MLB think Jonny Venters should be suspended, so be it. I’m really not sure what they expected Bobby Cox to do about it. If they have any proof that Cox told Venters to hit Fielder, I’d like to see it.
ArkyTech
July 19th, 2010
6:53 pm
That sounds all fine and good, but if Watson is suspending him for throwing at him twice, it does not explain why Venters threw an offspeed pitch before he hit him. Does Watson really think Venters was head hunting with an off speed pitch? Does Watson really think Cox would send out his best set up guy to bean a team 9 games under .500 from another division in the next to last meeting of the season?
DawgNDallas
July 19th, 2010
6:53 pm
Mark, you should still give kudos to JVENT for being first…even if he does want to give you a little chin music.
miker
July 19th, 2010
6:54 pm
Baseball was the perfect sport from 1948 – 1957. Return to the rules as they were then. Most of you are too young to remeber real baseball. Allie Reynolds, Dizzie Dean, Early Wynn, Bob Gibson, Don Drysdale all were successfull pitching inside and drilling hitters when needed. Watch film clips of Mantle, Mays, Aaron, and Snider hitting homers and notice how fast they round the bases. They knew they would get drilled if they admired it. Fielder needs to be drilled for diving out over the plate.
Shane
July 19th, 2010
6:55 pm
Lets see Venters has control problems and Fielder has been hit 14 times this year.
Yeah it had to be on purpose then !!!
Larry
July 19th, 2010
6:55 pm
Could Cox serve his suspension in a deciding game in a postseason series? Hopefully, as our odds for a must-win victory would quadruple with him away from the dugout!
jeffrey d
July 19th, 2010
6:56 pm
I think 4 games is really harsh. And why no punishment for hitting Glaus yesterday?
It’s not all bad, though….if it takes you two pitches to hit Prince Fielder, maybe we don’t want Venters playing
Bride of Chucky Knapp
July 19th, 2010
6:59 pm
Nothin’ but old school ball, here. I don’t throw spit balls but I know someone who does. Good times.
carlchamblee
July 19th, 2010
7:00 pm
Don’t know why so many Braves fans think this team is above reproach. You really think this team doesn’t headhunt like everyone else on occasion? That no one on the roster during the Steroid Era used? That the manager who has the alltime mark for ejections doesn’t get down and dirty sometimes?
It happens and I’m ok with it.
Bride of Chucky Knapp
July 19th, 2010
7:01 pm
Great comments over here, y’all! Mark must pay better over here than the UGA boards.
carlchamblee
July 19th, 2010
7:01 pm
I should clarify I’m ok with the occasional message beanball, NOT steroids
Captain Lou Albano
July 19th, 2010
7:05 pm
All I’m saying is FOUR GAMES? Thats ridiculous. Maybe a game or two but four games? Really?
mr baseball
July 19th, 2010
7:07 pm
Why is it that the majority of times Braves pitchers drill some opposing hitter, it’s after that batter (or the preceding one) went deep? Any of you Braves’ homers think that’s a coincidence?
Being a fan of a particular team doesn’t mean you can’t take an honest look at an issue involving that team. No one (except maybe Cox and Venters) can know for sure if Venters intentionally hit Fielder, but evidence definitely points in that direction.
If Venters had hit someone else — or hadn’t thrown at Fielder on consecutive pitches — there would be a lot less certainty. But two pitches in a row at a hitter who went deep earlier is as close as you’re going to get to the proverbial smoking gun.
One complaint: It would have been a lot more palatable if Bozo Bud had suspended Cox for 4 games and Venters for 1. Braves need the young lefty on the mound a lot more than Cox sitting in the dugout.
Braves Fan
July 19th, 2010
7:08 pm
Hey worm. Go back in the ground where you belong. You are dumber than a rock. I wish he would have hit you or mark in no particular order.
James
July 19th, 2010
7:12 pm
Oh well let’s move on. Go Braves!
kurula
July 19th, 2010
7:18 pm
i think that the braves should throw at more hitters. it’s rare that they ever do it. i wish barry bonds was still playing so they could drill him every time. it took him 20 minutes to round the bases. i’d hit ryan howard too. that dude loves to watch his homeruns. hate the suspension. i really don’t think it was intentional. i don’t think bobby would want to risk losing venters. he’s been fantastic. he just didn’t have it saturday. and i think hitting fielder was just his was of saying that even with less than great stuff, he could still hit the side of a barn.
Thomas
July 19th, 2010
7:18 pm
“UMPIRES JUDGEMENT?” Not always right! Oh it just depends on the team, this thing smells bad all the way to MLB’s front office.
JCH
July 19th, 2010
7:28 pm
Enemic reporting by MB. “Miker” was Dead on it; Those of US who witnessed REAL Baseball saw Gibson Drysdale, Marichal and others earn respect on the mound. The Plate belongs to the Pitcher, the hitter steps in at his own Risk…. If you dont have the guts to admit that then gain 300 lbs like Fielder, and that crock about him being a vegetarian is more of a Reach than Bradley being forthright instead of wussing out with that political correctness Bull hockey.
Ted Striker
July 19th, 2010
7:34 pm
If you’re going to plunk someone and get tossed, you need to have your manager or pitching coach bring you some of those Rick Vaughn “Wild Thing” glasses to the mound to wear before your next pitch.
AlabamaBrave
July 19th, 2010
7:37 pm
” If you dont have the guts to admit that then gain 300 lbs like Fielder, and that crock about him being a vegetarian is more of a Reach than Bradley being forthright instead of wussing out with that political correctness Bull hockey.”
Vegetables can be fried as well my friend. If all you eat is fried okra, squash, etc., you are not going to look like Brooklyn Decker.
Shut UP
July 19th, 2010
7:43 pm
Yeah Bradley bet you wouldnt be saying this in the Batters Box against Venters…Shut your mouth and lets play baseball oh and most of your articles are terrible
J-Hey
July 19th, 2010
7:44 pm
“Not arguing the suspensions, just think that the pitcher for the Brewers should have been tossed. We have a manager saying they did not intentionally hit a guy and he gets suspended, then we have a pitcher who hits our guy and the ump says it was not on purpose”
Yeah, I can’t stand MLB umpires, I rarely trust any decision they ever make. What was the warning for after Jason was hit? Obviously for the Braves side only …
but seriously, Fielder is so fat it’s hard not to hit him with a pitch
"Chef" Tim Dix
July 19th, 2010
7:44 pm
Prince hangs/extends over the plate like his shirt. The plate is the pitchers, beware.
"Chef" Tim Dix
July 19th, 2010
7:48 pm
Glav had to hit the Murph when he was a Phillie. Anyone remember that?
gadawgs
July 19th, 2010
7:49 pm
Mark-He deserved to get drilled period! That’s baseball my friend. He needs to join a softball league if he doesn’t like it OR get off the damn plate. What a pansy!
David Granger
July 19th, 2010
7:49 pm
I didn’t see the game, but if Fielder got hit AFTER a warning, then I don’t blame the ump for running both the pitcher and the manager.
But I was under the impression that if a player is hit after a warning, it is an automatic ejection…with no “judgment call” required by the umpire. If Riske drilled someone after a warning, he should have been ejected automatically, shouldn’t he?
Braves73
July 19th, 2010
7:49 pm
I don’t understand how everyone missed Fielder trying to take out Gonzalez on a routine double play, when Prince was 3 feet of the bag, and kicked his legs out to take out Alex. This whole thing started on that play and the Braves were completely justified in taking that fat P.O.S for such a bush league play…can’t believe no one caught that play.
"Chef" Tim Dix
July 19th, 2010
7:51 pm
I love Buck Belue’s response to Angel when they were both in the Florida A League after he tossed him:” Angel, you gonna die in A ball like me?” Just awesome.
"Chef" Tim Dix
July 19th, 2010
7:55 pm
Braves73: He hasn’t touched 2nd yet.
Falcon Josh
July 19th, 2010
7:56 pm
Everybody in the Brewers clubhouse thinks Macha is soft and doesn’t stick up for his players. So when he finally does then MLB is right there to back him up. The Brewers still have to remember one thing…. Our guys get suspended but your still the Brewers. Who is getting the worst of the deal now? I think every time Prince get’s beaned the whole stadium should get a free butterball turkey!
"Chef" Tim Dix
July 19th, 2010
7:57 pm
Gibby specialized in earlobes.
CRACKER JACKET
July 19th, 2010
7:59 pm
Time for Bobby and Chipper to retire!
"Chef" Tim Dix
July 19th, 2010
8:01 pm
IF, and I say IF (wink,wink,nod,nod) Venters got the nod to do it, he is a made man.
bufbox
July 19th, 2010
8:06 pm
This ain’t nuthin… I rememder when Juan Marchail(sp?) clocked the hell out of John Roseboro with his bat … and opened up about 10 stitches worth on his noggin. Now that was baseball back in the 60s. What kinda penalty did Marchail pay?
Dave o' Brian is better than mark Bradley
July 19th, 2010
8:06 pm
Hey mark, why are you a braves writer if you just talk crap about them. I’m pretty sure a guy like BOBBY would not have his pitcher intentionally hit a batter because he’s Bern in the game for while and is not known for this. If you are going to write for the braves, don’t talk crap about them
TLanceB
July 19th, 2010
8:09 pm
I wish you no harm sir and I realize it’s not 1965; Mark, but if it were Don Drysdale and Sandy Koufax would come over to your home and hit you with fastballs.
The ump blew this one. Bob watson or whoever handed these suspensions made it worse.
Venters is a rookie with little command. The first pitch wasnt intentional. The second one, maybe. who cares. Fielder is a disrespectful showboater who whines to the umpires a lot. He’s a 26 year old baby with daddy issues.
Steroids took away so much from the game. The biggest thing it took away besides integrity was the ability for players to police themselves. No warning should have been given. You hit a guy, the other team gets to hit your guy and its done. Macha and Fielder’s whining says a lot. They knew they had it coming and couldn’t handle heat in their kitchen.
Baseball got this wrong. I hope Venters appeals. As Bobby would say, he’s a good kid.
Milt Famey
July 19th, 2010
8:09 pm
Mark,
If you look back at our series in May with the Brewers, Hanson hit Braun and the Brewers hit B-Mac in two straight games (the second one put him out of the game), so I think our hitting them was retaliation. As Don Sutton tells us, you never forget, you just wait until the appropriate time.
Bobby's Cox
July 19th, 2010
8:11 pm
MB: Always stirring the pot. Slow news day? Nonetheless I think the whole situation lacks difintive answers. I still like the conspiracy theories, though!
TheAntiMe
July 19th, 2010
8:12 pm
That’s why Bobby Cox is such a good manager. He’s old school and handles things the way good managers have handled these situations for over 100 years.
Who do you think opposing teams are going to fear the most, the Braves and Bobby Cox who sends a painful message to other teams in no uncertain terms or the Brewers and Ken Macha who cry like little girls when those Braves bullies are being mean to his team?
It’s well worth the suspensions at double the time suspended. That’s the way real men have played the game for the past million years.
"Chef" Tim Dix
July 19th, 2010
8:14 pm
In a world gone wrong, anyone using the word noggin provides hope.
Bob
July 19th, 2010
8:15 pm
Princess Fielder and Queen Selig
bravesfanbob
July 19th, 2010
8:16 pm
My favorite scene of the weekend was when Wagner shook his fist at Prince after he struck him of in the top of the ninth! We also need to hire Steve McMichael every game that Angel Hernandez umpires to threaten “to have some speaks with that umpire after the game”. I’ll never forget Hernandez’s face on that one! Why did Hernandez go up the line Saturday night to try to get in an argument with Hudson as he was leaving the game?
Look, we all know it was at least a little intentional, and that’s baseball. But as long as Hernandez is allowed to wear an umpire’s uniform in anything other than T-Ball, you are going to get situations like this in any game he is paid to control. Scott Barry works under this buffoon, and he insisted to Cox that Riske didn’t throw at Glaus even after the benches were warned. Joe West however, was too fat to get involved.