Angels-Indians feud brewing?
Posted: Thursday April 10, 2008 07:28AM ET
In the ninth inning Tuesday, Travis Hafner of the Indians absolutely crushes a pitch from the Angels' Justin Speier for a game-winning home run. In the ninth inning Wednesday, with a four-run lead, two out and none on, Speier hits Hafner with a pitch. "It didn't look too good, did it?" Cleveland Manager Eric Wedge said. Wedge said he did not know whether to categorize the plunking as intentional and retaliatory. Speier said it was neither, just "good old-fashioned baseball" in trying to keep the ball inside on a power hitter who punishes mistakes. "With that type of hitter, you have to try to pitch both sides of the plate," Speier said. "I was just trying to come in." Hafner, who took first base without incident, would not say whether he thought Speier took aim at him. "I don't know what was going on his head," Hafner said. Did he consider the circumstances odd? "Strange is a good word," Hafner said. "Curious."
Travis Hafner , AP
Comments (18)
Man, the media really wants to pump up these fueds. It was just a retaliation pitch. been happening for over 100 years. relax.
Hi, I'm Troy McClure | 04/10/08, 08:05 AM
Report Offensive CommentAre American sports fans this pathetic? Are our attention spans this poor? Have we truly lost our love for the game of baseball? Sports writers and sports pages, websites would make us think so with the now-daily stories, columns, and "Truth&Rumors" about brawls, impending brawls, and why brawls may occur when baseball teams take the field. Fans and sportswriters are equally at blame. We're all forgetting to focus on balls and strikes because unrestrained violence interests us more. How about some news about actual baseball activity?
EastCoastKeith | 04/10/08, 08:07 AM
Report Offensive CommentWell said ECK
Hi, I'm Troy McClure | 04/10/08, 08:19 AM
Report Offensive CommentThanks Troy McClure. I'm sure I'll be getting abused as well by some others here soon about my comments. But it's good to see at least one other human agrees. Play Ball!
EastCoastKeith | 04/10/08, 08:22 AM
Report Offensive CommentI'm reading about more possible brawls in baseball each day.
Must be another way for Bud Selig to deflect attention away from the 'roids issue.
Let's have a bunch of baseball brawls, and the fans will forget about Roger Clemens, Barry Bonds, Mark McGwire, et al......that's the ticket!
BobD | 04/10/08, 08:36 AM
Report Offensive CommentEvery team should dislike every other team. they should all play hard all the time.
AllStarz | 04/10/08, 09:44 AM
Report Offensive CommentIf he throws at his head, then you could make an argument that it was intentional.You have to throw inside to keep the hitters off the plate.
Beer-n-drums | 04/10/08, 10:21 AM
Report Offensive CommentHafner wears that elbow guard for a reason. He does stand tight to the plate. The pitcher was most likely just coming inside. Why would any pitcher who is winning by 4 runs and 2 outs intentionally put a runner on? Also, why would he seem to feel a need to retaliate when Haf only hit a 2 run shot to win the day before. Seems to me that the GS walk off by Hunter would have brought a retaliation before this. Just the media trying to start crap again.
ECK...what you say is good but it isn't the fans. It's the media. They think with the paparazzi and hollywood and all that brings in ratings so now they are trying to bring the same sensationalism into MLB which isn't needed.
Tribe13 | 04/10/08, 10:35 AM
Report Offensive Commentmy guess is that the media doesn't read T&R b/c they'd quickly realize that no one cares for these stories.
chicks dig the long ball, but I don't think they dig the brawl.
Me DUM DUM | 04/10/08, 10:44 AM
Report Offensive CommentI'd love to see the Indians take some bats and pound down on the Angels players in a brawl. Kick fat Vlad's butt.
madhatter | 04/10/08, 10:56 AM
Report Offensive CommentThese spoiled little babies who complain about getting a brushback would never have survived pitchers like Nolan Ryan or Bob Gibson.
eyesWIDEopen | 04/10/08, 11:59 AM
Report Offensive CommentI think I'm missing something. Are people speculating that Speier plunked Hafner in retaliation for Hafner's homerun?
SlinkyRedfoot | 04/10/08, 12:37 PM
Report Offensive CommentYes Slinky, that is what this sports writer is implying, that he hit him for the game winning homerun the day before. Notice where the article came from? LA? Just trying to start crap.
Tribe13 | 04/10/08, 01:44 PM
Report Offensive CommentHell, I say let C.C. Sabathia and Mike Sciosa put it all on the line in a sumo death match.
Gets By Buckner 86 | 04/10/08, 02:42 PM
Report Offensive CommentHafner crowds the plate.....those close pitches happen all the time to him and rightfully so....so much in fact, he wears an elbow guard.
JohnnySeoul | 04/10/08, 04:36 PM
Report Offensive CommentBefore every start Nolan Ryan used walk to the base line in front of the opposition dugout, reach down grab a fist full of dirt and give the other team a hard stare. What he was telling them was if you bunt on me I'm going to drill you. David Ortiz straps on 37 pieces of armor hovers over home plate and when pitcher hits him they get fined, suspended and loose a start. Different era's...personally I'd like to see a little more chin music and let the players take care of it themselves.
grahams98 | 04/10/08, 05:31 PM
Report Offensive CommentTribe and Eyeswide shut:
I totally agree......well put.
Bandit77 | 04/10/08, 06:20 PM
Report Offensive CommentGraham, that's what makes hockey such a great sport. The players police themselves.
kman29 | 04/11/08, 05:06 PM
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