Baseball is a game that has its dark side, and bench-clearing brawls are a part of that.
First, let me say that we, as fans, do enjoy seeing the batter hit by a pitch, the players charging the mound, the bullpen running in to join the fight, and the aftermath as the players are pulled apart. Brawls are a part of baseball, almost part of the strategy of the game.
But what happened in the bottom of the 4th inning on Thursday, May 8th, between the Seattle Mariners and visiting Texas Rangers, was simply not necessary.
Let me set the situation. Felix Hernandez, the Mariners' 22 year-old wonder pitcher, struggled with command in the first inning. In the second inning, an inside fastball got away from him, and he beaned Rangers catcher Gerald Laird.
From my perspective, no foul, the pitch just got away. Ian Kinsler would turn that mistake into a two-run homer that increased the Rangers lead to 4-0.
In Kinsler's next at-bat in the fourth, Hernandez's inside pitch struck him on the arm. No foul and no warnings from the umpires.
However, in the bottom of the fourth with two outs and nobody on, Rangers starting pitcher Kason Gabbard threw a high fastball to Richie Sexson, still struggling in a three-year slump. The pitch was not inside and IT DIDN'T HIT HIM, but Sexson charged the mound.
Sexson, instead of throwing punches or tackling Gabbard, decided to throw his helmet. Taking from a similar line from an Austin Powers movie, "Who throws a helmet?"
Richie Sexson, who the Mariners are having to pay $15.5 million this season, is batting .209 and .158 in the last seven games. Normally, that would be considered a slump, but as baseball fans will tell you, those are normal numbers for Sexson.
Around baseball he is arguably the most overrated player three years running.
Now I did hear that he had a minor family emergency involving his two-year old son's health yesterday, and I wish the family and his son the best. Possibly the incident was built up emotion exploding from the family issue, team slumping, and personal numbers at the bottom of the majors, again.
But none of that excuses the behavior displayed by Sexson on Thursday night. I hope that in the morning Sexson will look in the mirror feel ashamed and apologize for his actions.
The worst part of this whole brawl is what happened to Rangers starter Kason Gabbard. Gabbard, just activated from the DL the same afternoon, had a one-hit shutout through 3.2 innings. After the benches returned to their dugouts and Sexson was the only player ejected, Gabbard tried to come his nerves and return to pitching.
But after only one batter, something wasn't flowing right, Gabbard was favoring his ankle. After a visit from manager Ron Washington and trainer Jaime Reed, it was determined that Gabbard should leave the game. So now a young pitcher returning from the DL might be heading back because of the cowardly acts of Richie Sexson.
Incidents like this spark emotions from players, managers, even the fans. I won't lie to you, look for me behind the Mariners dugout next week when Seattle comes to Texas. I promise not to swear, but that's my only promise, sorry.
As for Seattle fans, I'm sure their take on the situation is different. Gabbard was throwing at Sexson. This was retaliation for throwing at Ichiro the night before. I'm looking forward to these comments and the resulting discussion, but that is the beauty of baseball: everything is a debate.
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5 months ago
It is not a dark side at all it is a part of baseball. If you have been a fan your whole life or played the game you would understand this. I dont know who wrote this article but its un-informed and really just stupid in a baseball sense. If richie is a coward for charging the mound than any good man and any good baseball player is also a coward because everyone, and I mean EVERYONE has charged the mound atleast once in there life. It just urks me that someone like whoever posted this article is so far in the dark, or should i say just doesnt derserve to watch, listen, or play the sport ive played and watch my whole life which is baseball
- A real baseball Fan
from 5 months ago
EVERYONE HAS CHARGED THE MOUND...? That's right. Remember all those times Henry Aaron, Lou Gehrig, Roberto Clemente, Jackie Robinson, Frank Robinson,Cal Ripken Jr. etc, etc. charged the mound after getting beaned? You are right, Jacob. Basaeball is all about getting even...Get real.
-I Guess I'm Not a Real Baseball Fan
5 months ago
The only problem with your statement Jacob is that people usually charge the mound after, you know, actually getting hit, not a ball over the plate but a couple feet high. Plus, Sexson is huge, just run after him and tackle him if you must, don't be a pansy and throw your helmet at the guy. Thankfully the game's outcome wasn't affected by this, but it easily could have.
5 months ago
Also, you have no idea on what kind of verbal exchanges had been going on the field earlier, or if the two have any sort of history. This could stem from other feuds outside of Ichiro getting hit.
5 months ago
I have been part of baseball for over 15 years. I was in my share of heated games. It happens, especially when teams begin to get frustrated. Sexson was obviously waiting for anything close to have an excuse to vent some of his frustration. Throwing a helmet is ridiculous, wussy, and quite honestly, childish. I'm sorry, Richie Sexson is not exactly a small man. If he needs help from his helmet to take out a pitcher, there's no wonder his average is at a mere .209.
5 months ago
I'm glad Richie attacked Gabbard. You don't pitch with pinpoint accuracy all game then, all of a sudden, lose control and let one fly up near a batter's face. Someone throwing a 80-95 mph pitch at a vulnerable part of my body would also get me instantly angry.
5 months ago
Jacob, bench clear brawls are the dark side of baseball. There not as bad as the entire steroids issue, and I'm not saying that baseball needs to move in a direction to get rid of this entirely. I've been a fan, player, and coach of baseball my entire life, I too have been involved in a baseball fight. And at that moment I knew it was the right thing to do, to run out there and tackle a batter before he hits my pitcher. Now after the ejection, ensueing morning, and 10 game suspension I receive, maybe it wasn't the best choice.
Do fights spark teams, yes. Do manager ejections spark teams, yes. Can this altercation spark the Mariners losing ways, possible. BUt this was a fight, from where I was sitting, was avoidable and not necessary. Lets wait till July or August when you have had a long season, then vent your frustrations. And please by all means, don't throw your helmet.
5 months ago
I'm sure the only reason Sexson threw his helmet was because he didn't want to get his brains beat in ala Nolan Ryan. You know that Rangers pitchers know how to fight.
5 months ago
Mike, a pitch at his face? Have you actually seen the replays. It was high, yes, but it was over the plate. With pinpoint accuracy, if he wanted to hit him then he would have hit him. There was no basis...and then to throw your helmet? hutless, classless...
5 months ago
gutless that is...
5 months ago
Alright I have to give Richie Sexson some credit, in a post-game interview he stated that he just snapped and went into a rage. Sexson says that he doesn't remember anything from the five minutes after charging the mound and stated that throwing his helmet was chicken s***. Kudos to any man who can admit his mistakes.
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