Every season, multiple pitchers are encouraged to throw towards opposing team members with the purpose of injuring them. Every season, these purposeful strikes cause bad blood, threats of future violence, and, on rare occasions, significant harm to players whose livelihoods rely on their ability to stay fit. Pitchers who engage in this behavior are known as "batter-pitchers."
Batter-pitchers often claim that they are only trying to make their teammates feel uncomfortable by pitching at them. However, this argument fails to take into account that the main goal is to injure someone. In addition, there are clear signs when you are being pitched at, such as when another player takes specific defensive measures to avoid getting hit by a pitch.
If a batter-pitcher has enough control over his or her pitches to know that he or she is going to strike out the person they are targeting, then they should not be throwing at all. However, many pitcher's lack this control; thus, they need to be prepared to face any result of their actions.
In conclusion, when pitchers hit batters, it is an act of assault. They should be punished accordingly.
The majority of hit-by-pitches are inadvertent. They are frequently caused by pitchers attempting to throw the ball inside but missing by a few inches. Pitchers will frequently toss inside to make hitters nervous so that they do not swarm the plate. A pitcher may, however, throw at a batter on purpose as a form of retribution. This is known as pitching-ball abuse and can lead to penalties from the league office.
In 2001, Jim Bouton wrote about how Mike Torrez, then a coach with the New York Yankees, would "pitch-hit" players who were on base by walking them. The tactic was believed to be used as a way for Torrez to get closer to the plate without being called for an illegal play. In 2002, Tony LaRussa was fired as manager of the Chicago White Sox after it was discovered he had instructed his pitchers to walk certain batters to get them out of games.
In 2003, Chuck Finley of the Los Angeles Angels was suspended for 20 days by the American League for repeatedly throwing pitches at the head of Tigers hitter Larry Herndon. The incident occurred on May 29 when Finley walked Herndon and then threw three pitches at his head before being removed from the game. Finley said that he did this because Herndon had been picking on him since early in spring training. The next day, Finley apologized for his actions and admitted that he had been trying to hurt Herndon.
Aside from the ambiguous penalties for headhunting, pitchers attempting to hit a batter have poor aim. Pitchers practice throwing at or near the strike zone, thus preparing to throw a ball at a hitter is an unnatural action with a broad range of consequences. Some of the more common reasons include: getting a player out of the game, putting pressure on the other team's bench, causing a double play, and scoring some runs.
Pitchers often try to hit batters because they want to get a player out of the game. This may be because the pitcher feels like he has nothing to lose by trying to hit the batter (since he cannot be punished) or it may be because he wants to put pressure on the other team's bench by making them watch their best player leave the game. Score some runs, too! Finally, pitchers sometimes try to hit batters to get the other team into a double play situation where they can then be removed from the game without having scored any points.
It is very unusual for a pitcher to attempt to hit a batter. If a pitcher believes he is being attacked or bullied, he can report the incident to security guards or team officials. Otherwise, he should simply ignore the batter and continue with his pitch.
If a pitcher continues to throw at a batter who is standing in the box, even if there are men on base, he will be ejected from the game.
Beanballs are deliberate pitches fired at batters and are frequently the result of a grudge between a pitcher and a batter. The pitcher feels that the only way to react is to hurl a 95-mph fastball at the hitter without concern for his safety. Indeed, several pitchers have been killed by their own pitches.
The first recorded beanball incident occurred in 1869 when John Montgomery, then a member of the New York Metropolitans, was hit in the head with a ball thrown by Frank Shuey of the Cincinnati Red Stockings. Montgomerie died three days later from his injuries; it is believed that he was beaten with a club rather than struck by a pitch.
In modern baseball, beanballs are common among high school and college players who use them as motivation to get out front in the batting order. In the major leagues, they are used by both starters and relievers. Although rarely serious, they can still cause injury if you're hit in the head with one.
During World War II, when rubber and other material shortages prevented the manufacture of new balls, it was not unusual for 15-20 balls to be put into play during an MLB game. These old balls were sometimes called "hog balls" because they would harden after being left outside in cold weather. As a result, they were easier to throw but provided less distance or breakage than a new ball.
When a hitter is hit by a pitched ball without swinging at it, it is called a hit-by-pitch. As a result, he was given first base. This is called a pitch-at-him play. If the pitcher's action leads to a defensive replacement that would otherwise not have happened, then it is considered a successful appeal for interference.
If a batter attempts to get a pitch by walking toward the mound or jogging down the baseline while the pitcher is in his stretch, this is called a bull-penning attempt. If the catcher allows the batter to reach the plate before throwing him out, then this is called a safe walk. A batter who does this is said to be walking on nothing but air. If a runner were to take off from first base during such a situation, then it would be considered an automatic double.
In addition to these situations, there are times when a batter will try to get a pitch by doing something else rather than swinging at it. For example, if the pitcher drops a ball in front of the plate, the batter might stand there and wait for a strike. This is called a bad ball. If the pitcher throws another ball, the batter can leave his stance and look for a pitch to hit. This is called a hittable ball.
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