* I was at the White Sox game Saturday night when our ace closer Bobby Jenks threw a pitch behind Ian Kinsler. You can watch the replay by clicking here.
Our guys had been hit twice by Rangers pitchers Saturday night, and one of those pitches was particularly egregious. Chris Getz was hit on the knee so hard that the ball must’ve bounced 20 feet in the air.
I was sitting six rows behind home plate (just another benefit of Union League Club membership, campers) with my brother Doug, a rabid Texas Rangers fan. You could umpire the game from those seats, and we did, repeatedly.
Anyway, the now infamous Jenks pitch looked on purpose from where I was sitting, but it was clearly thrown far behind Kinsler. The pitch was also a stupid move considering we were up by one run in the 9th inning and Kinsler is a great base stealer and Doug was getting all excited about a possible miracle comeback. Still, I understood why Jenks felt the need to retaliate and not apologize for it later…
“No, I meant to. To send a message,” Jenks said, according to the Chicago Tribune. “Basically I was saying, ‘I’m sick of seeing our guys get hit and hurt and almost get taken out of the game.’ I threw it with intention.” […]
“I’m not going to put a guy on in that situation,” he said, according to the Tribune. “I was not going to hit him. I made my point with that pitch and it came across the way I wanted it to.
“I’m not going to go dirty. I was going to keep it low and behind him.”
The pitch was, indeed, low and behind the hitter. This was not a killer pitch by any means. And Rangers pitchers had hit six Sox batters in four previous games this season, so it wasn’t unjustified.
* The Sox have an unearned reputation for being headhunters. The numbers just don’t hold up…
Since 2004, the White Sox have been hit by a pitch 331 times, while only hitting an opponent 270 times — the fewest in all of baseball during that span. The White Sox have been hit by a pitch 16 times in 2009, the third-most in the American League and fifth overall in all of baseball. Basically, Guillen only takes care of business when he feels business needs to be addressed.
But Major League Baseball is now investigating and Jenks faces a possible suspension…
“Investigating? It’s not a crime,'’ Guillen said. “I mean Bobby didn’t even get close to hitting him. If you hit the guy and you hurt him, then I see something wrong. But they have their way to do their stuff and we are still waiting to see what decision they make and then we see what happens.” […]
“I see a lot of my hitters almost with broken hands on back-to-back days,'’ Guillen said. “I never retaliated because I think it no was on purpose. But in the meanwhile, if I’m the hitter, and I keep getting hit and my pitchers don’t protect me, I don’t want to play for them.
“That’s the way baseball is and how it’s going to be. Am I outspoken about it? Maybe it’s my fault because every time I hit somebody, I say, ‘Yes, I did.’ I got in trouble. I paid my dues. I paid my money. They sent me to correctional houses. But in the meanwhile, fans have to know what’s going on in the game.”
* What do you think about this? Should Jenks be suspended and fined, and, if so, for how long and how much?
- Anon - Tuesday, May 12, 09 @ 1:37 pm:
Jenks is absolutely in the right here. Hitting batters is part of the game. By taking the high road and sending a message, rather than hitting and possibly injuring a player, Jenks essentially introduced mutually assured destruction into baseball. You dont have to hit them, but they need to know that we can hit em and hit em hard.
For the record, I’m a cubs fan.
- Anon - Tuesday, May 12, 09 @ 1:37 pm:
Sorry, I almost forgot; no fine, no suspension.
- dan l - Tuesday, May 12, 09 @ 1:39 pm:
Sure. Fine him lightly. Suspend him lightly, whatever, the MLB thinks is appropriate to send the message that this stuff isn’t tolerated, blah blah blah blah blah.
Give him credit though. He was honest about what happened, he’s not creating the usual controversy surrounding “was it intentional or not?” He did it. He moved on. He made it easy for everybody else to move on too.
- Reality Check - Tuesday, May 12, 09 @ 1:39 pm:
Who cares, it’s just the White Sox.
:)
- VanillaMan - Tuesday, May 12, 09 @ 1:40 pm:
If Jenks is penalized for this, you might as well put all the team players in padded petticoats and brassiers.
If the NBA cannot tell Jenks’ intentional miss from an intentional hit, they have bigger problems being able to steer American baseball into the future.
What a bunch of babies!
- Balance - Tuesday, May 12, 09 @ 1:43 pm:
No, but Rich should not be allowed to call the game from the sixth row anymore.
- Thanks for taking my call you idiot - Tuesday, May 12, 09 @ 1:44 pm:
Bobby Jenks is the best. My boys and Ilove his nervous habits. Screw Texas. Long Live Bobby!!
- just ducky - Tuesday, May 12, 09 @ 1:46 pm:
as hawk said on the tv broadcast that night, “we need to get some umpires who know what the devil is going on in a baseball game!” in bobby’s role as closer, it made no sense to hit kinsler. what he did was close enough. the rangers ought to quit hitting people before carlos quentin goes postal. i wouldn’t mess with that guy.
- Ghost - Tuesday, May 12, 09 @ 1:46 pm:
No penalty.
TIB (This is baseball)
and as Tom Hanks would say, there is no crying in baseball.
- Anon - Tuesday, May 12, 09 @ 1:47 pm:
No fine, no suspension. A year or two ago, Sports Illustrated ran an online article about the most intimidating pitchers. Bob Gibson was #1, and was quoted as saying he had 6 pitches: A fastball, a curve, a slider, a brushback, a knockdown and a hit batter. He once through at the on-deck batter for getting too close to the plate during his warm-ups. I worry about safety, too, but tell me baseball wasn’t better then.
- Rich Miller - Tuesday, May 12, 09 @ 1:47 pm:
===before carlos quentin goes postal===
It looked to me like Quentin may have leaned a little into that pitch, but that’s also part of the game.
- just ducky - Tuesday, May 12, 09 @ 1:48 pm:
i meant to say bobby shouldn’t be punished. the rangers should, for creating a “pattern of abuse” against the sox throughout the season thus far.
- Rich Miller - Tuesday, May 12, 09 @ 1:53 pm:
Quote of the year…
===I got in trouble. I paid my dues. I paid my money. They sent me to correctional houses. ===
Huh?
lol.
I truly love Ozzie Guillen.
- Doug - Tuesday, May 12, 09 @ 1:55 pm:
He should be fined, suspended and forced to walk down Michigan Avenue in a tutu.
Rich forgot to mention that the Rangers won the season series 4-2.
- Shore - Tuesday, May 12, 09 @ 1:56 pm:
He should learn to shut his mouth. Part of being a pro is being discreet. As every high school english teacher says, the art of communication is thoughts communicated throw showing, not telling.
Oddly I can see both the cubs and the sox winning 70 games and losing 70 games because of pitching that lives up to playoff level talent or doesn’t.
- Rich Miller - Tuesday, May 12, 09 @ 1:58 pm:
I didn’t forget, Doug.
Also, just remember that next time we’re sitting in the upper deck so the “real” Sox fans can have a go at you and your cute little Rangers outfit. lol
- Tom Joad - Tuesday, May 12, 09 @ 1:58 pm:
The Sox pitchers should retaliate the following inning after a teamate gets hit, not the last inning of the final game of the series. Then it makes some sense. What Jenks is accused of makes no sense, as Hawk said.
- no apologies to mariotti - Tuesday, May 12, 09 @ 2:02 pm:
there is no way big bad bobby should be fined or suspended since he didn’t actually hit him. Are you going to start suspending pitchers every time they brush a batter back? and as far as carlos quentin going postal, he is a power hitter who crowds the plate, he has to know he is going to get beaned….. and thats coming from a sox fan.
- Anonymous Communist - Tuesday, May 12, 09 @ 2:04 pm:
Give ‘em hell, Bobby.
That’s the way to send a message late in a close ballgame. Throwing behind a batter sends the same message as going high and tight with less risk of putting the runner on.
If I had to pick a team in the loathsome American League to root for, it would be the White Sox. As a Cardinals fan, the enemy of my enemy is my friend.
- Jimmy87 - Tuesday, May 12, 09 @ 2:06 pm:
Bobby Jenks should absolutely not be suspended. First off, how many White Sox pitchers have to get hit before they expect some sort of retaliation? Like the article above states that number is now at 6 - through only 4 games! That’s a lot of plunking by the Rangers pitching staff.
Secondly, Bobby Jenks has pinpoint control and can run the radar gun up around 100mph. Did he choose to go high at tight on Kinsler with a fastball? No, he threw well behind him with a pitch that looked to be in the upper 80s. This demonstrated his true intent (and restraint), which was NOT to hit Kinsler, it was simply to send a message to the Rangers…lay off the bean ball.
I’m a Royals fan, and I certainly have no love loss for Jenks or the White Sox organization. But MLB needs to get a grip and leave this incident alone.
- Some dude - Tuesday, May 12, 09 @ 2:07 pm:
Suspend 1 game - Fine 1 game check.
MLB needs to be consistent but since he didn’t actually hit him, the fine and suspension shouldn’t be as long as if he did.
A 97 mph heater is a hard pitch to get out of the way of. We’ve all seen pitches get away from a guy when he’s trying to cover the plate, what happens if this pitch gets away? Maybe he releases too early and it goes to the head or the hands. It’s simply too dangerous of a game to be playing when you’re throwing a baseball at nearly 100 mph.
For all of you “part of the game” guys, I know where there’s a cage that pitches a 95 mph fastball I’d love to take you to. I’ve been hit by one in a game in college, no fun.
- Nice Suit - Tuesday, May 12, 09 @ 2:07 pm:
I can’t stand the Sox usually, but the Jenks pitch and that mentality is what’s missing from baseball. He shouldn’t get a fine or suspension.
That was how I was brought up on baseball, and it’s missing from today’s game.
In this rare instance-I applaud Jenks and crazy Ozzie. Jenks stood up for his teammates. Nice job.
- Citizen6 - Tuesday, May 12, 09 @ 2:09 pm:
Go hawks!
- Rich Miller - Tuesday, May 12, 09 @ 2:12 pm:
===no fun.===
Yep. And it’s no fun when one of your young players gets kneecapped, either. Something has to give eventually.
- Easy - Tuesday, May 12, 09 @ 2:14 pm:
Sox fans wish Jenks’ aim was that good. The real truth is he can’t find the plate, no matter which team is batting.
- Rich Miller - Tuesday, May 12, 09 @ 2:16 pm:
Easy, you Cub fan, have you seen his ERA?
- Doug - Tuesday, May 12, 09 @ 2:16 pm:
Millwood was throwing 86mph that night, if you are crowding the plate and can’t get out of the way of a High School fastball, maybe you need to go play checkers.
- Anthony - Tuesday, May 12, 09 @ 2:16 pm:
DISCLAIMER: I am a Rangers Fan.
I too was at that game, and I don’t really care that Jenks through the brushback at Kinsler. I am aware of the animosity between these two teams. I was also at the game in Arlington when Nolan Ryan beat living you-know-what out of your beloved Robin Ventura. Still, I think an investigation of Jenks is a little ridiculous.
However, the Sox get beaned more than anybody else, especially Quentin who clearly makes no effort to ove out of the way of any pitch. So maybe the investigation should be into your hitting coach who apparently teaches his batters to lean into pitches.
- Anthony - Tuesday, May 12, 09 @ 2:17 pm:
@ Anthony
I am idiot. obviously I meant to say “threw” not “through.” Ugh.
- Doug - Tuesday, May 12, 09 @ 2:20 pm:
Anthony, at least there were two Rangers fans there that night.
- Phineas J. Whoopee - Tuesday, May 12, 09 @ 2:21 pm:
The goofy Sox have hit the fewest batters in the league and they get in the most trouble. Keep your mouths shut and just hit em’. That will send the message.
Suspension for being stupid.
- South Side Mike - Tuesday, May 12, 09 @ 2:21 pm:
Hey, Rich, make Tuesday baseball blogging a regular (1/month?) feature. To answer your question, I could see MLB doing fine and suspension of 1 game, which of course will be appealed and then dropped on a day when Jenks needs a day-off. His only mistake in all this was admitting to the purpose pitch publicly to the media.
However, Jenks acted entirely appropriately. Heck, I remember last year (or was it 2 years ago) when the Rangers kept beaning our players and yet the Sox pitcher was ejected when 1 Ranger was hit. Unfortunately, Buehrle has too good control to “accidentally” nail someone, and no Sox starter is a real hurler who can intimidate with their fastball. So it’s up to a reliever to send the message, and I give big props to Jenks for stepping up to that role.
This is perhaps one area where I’ll admit the Cubs are better. Zambrano would have no problems hurling a pitch (or a bat) at someone in retaliation. Of course, it would be dismissed as more Crazy Z shtick and he would get off scot-free.
- Pat Collins - Tuesday, May 12, 09 @ 2:49 pm:
Hey, Rich, make Tuesday baseball blogging a regular (1/month?) feature.
Good idea. Then we can discuss what we blow up on the field on the 30th anniversary of Disco Demo. Make a good Q of the day :)
- Vote Quimby! - Tuesday, May 12, 09 @ 3:05 pm:
Jenks should be fined for telling the truth–he was protecting his players. It reminds me of Greg Maddux when he was coming up with the Cubs–he retaliated and was ejected in the fifth inning. I always admired him for that (and those 350+ wins) and even though I am a Cub fan, I’m on Jenks side on this one.
- Dan S, a Voter and Cubs Fan - Tuesday, May 12, 09 @ 3:13 pm:
I am NO WAY a Sucks fan, but there was no ejection or warning by the umpire, move on. No fine, no suspension.
- Ned Racnad - Tuesday, May 12, 09 @ 3:15 pm:
Aren’t about 90 percent of the Sox’ HBPs Pierzynski getting hit? And you can’t say he doesn’t deserve every one of them. So if you deduct those, the Sox really are a bunch of dirty headhunters.
- Third Generation Chicago Native - Tuesday, May 12, 09 @ 3:16 pm:
So Jenks admitted what all the other pitchers would not dare.
No one hit, no one hurt, why punish Jenks? If they do then any pitcher who actually hits and/or hurts players should be punished.
- Bill - Tuesday, May 12, 09 @ 3:16 pm:
Doug,
You better run to the limo after the game if you are going to keep on wearing a stupid Rangers costume at the cell.
- Boscobud - Tuesday, May 12, 09 @ 3:23 pm:
I think if a player get hits by a pitch than the batting team get one run added to there score. Even if it is wild pitch. There is no reason for such childish games like that. These are grown men acting like children. Also these pictures should be able to prevent hitting someone with there pitch, and if they can’t they I think they need to play with the minor teams.
- Boscobud - Tuesday, May 12, 09 @ 3:30 pm:
To explain my answer a little better. We have to remember that this is the White Sox’s and in my opinion that whole team needs to go the minors for a while. Not saying the Cubs are any better because there is quite a few of the Cubbies that need to go to play with the minors.
- Boscobud - Tuesday, May 12, 09 @ 3:37 pm:
Since I am on a soapbox hope you all don’t mind one more comment. Why doesn’t Pinella play Hoffpauir instead of Soriano? Hoffpauir is a much better player and his head isn’t as large as balloon in the Macys day parade. Soriano needs to bat in the third spot but nooooooo he is going to cry if he doesn’t get to bat first.
- Stones - Tuesday, May 12, 09 @ 3:46 pm:
He should not be suspended. If Jenks had wanted hit him he would have. My opinion might be different if he had thrown above his chest but that is not the case here.
- Yellow Dog Democrat - Tuesday, May 12, 09 @ 4:22 pm:
Suspended and fined for what, throwing a Ball instead of a Strike?
Apparently, the same Nanny State that wants to ban talking on cell phones, even when there’s no accident or other violation, now has found its way into baseball.
What’s next? Milk, cookies and a nap to replace the 7th inning stretch?
RICH: I’d love to hear Kinsler’s take.
- Quacktastic - Tuesday, May 12, 09 @ 4:30 pm:
Could we ask Jenks to throw a couple pitches at Dan Proft?
- Black Ivy - Tuesday, May 12, 09 @ 4:30 pm:
Absolutely not. Baby Bobby Jenks was protecting my baby White Sox and should not be disciplined.
It’s all in a game, right?
- scoot - Tuesday, May 12, 09 @ 5:04 pm:
1-2 games…although I don’t have a problem with what happened.
- Amy - Tuesday, May 12, 09 @ 6:11 pm:
I wish Jenks had not said anything….there’s no need to talk about doing what’s right, playing the game hard. i have a hard time imagining some players playing in the era of Bob Gibson. even as an American League, ok, Sox, fan, you have to know about wicked pitching going right at a batter if you followed the game around that time.
and that’s how it should be played. i’m sure Jenksy is very popular with his mates cause he’s backing them up.
screw a suspension for this. they can barely handle the illegal substance issue and that spell way more damage to the game. call the fouls as you see them, ump, nothing more. game over.
- Wumpus - Tuesday, May 12, 09 @ 6:56 pm:
Tell Quentin to back off the plate, he won’t get hit so much. He is a great young player with the potential to be a great player for a long time. Either he needs to back up, get a fancy elbow pad like Barry Bonds or get used to getting hit as he crowds the plate.
- wordslinger - Tuesday, May 12, 09 @ 9:16 pm:
–If the NBA cannot tell Jenks’ intentional miss from an intentional hit, they have bigger problems being able to steer American baseball into the future.–
VMan, you’re obviously a big fan of both the NBA and MLB. Hint: Baseball is the game on a diamond with small white balls and bats, hopefully outdoors. Basketball is played with big orange balls on an indoor court.
As far as your mention of “padded petticoats and brassiers” go, well, you would know a lot better than I.
Jenks will probably get a pass, even though he copped. The Sox had been nailed earlier, and no action was taken in the game.. The worst would be a three-game, probably reduced to one on appeal. No biggy.
The Sox need something to fire them up. As for Big Bad Bobby Jenks, let’s get back to dropping that Big Hammer with a two strikes. Everyone catches up with the gas eventually.
- 47th Ward - Tuesday, May 12, 09 @ 9:36 pm:
I realize this is a bi-partisan issue, both the NL and AL have “purpose” pitches and occasionally hit opponents on purpose to send the appropriate message.
However, at least in the real league, the pitchers each take their turn at bat. Would Roger Clemens have been such a head hunter in his early days if he had to stand up there with a bat in his hand instead of a ball?
End the designated hitter rule. End the abomination.
- 47th Ward - Tuesday, May 12, 09 @ 9:38 pm:
Sorry, I meant to add that no way is this a suspension-level event. Not even a fine. It’s baseball. Although if you did the same thing outside a ballpark, you might get arrested for attempted assault…
- wordslinger - Tuesday, May 12, 09 @ 9:55 pm:
As long as we’re on sports, let’s hear it for the young Blackhawks!
Has any franchise every experienced such a reversal of fortune in such a short time — in the standings, at the the gate and in the hearts of the fans?
There’s a lesson here for all of us — youth will be served, especially in the third period!
If you see any of the Hawks stars on Madison Street, buy ‘em a beer — those that are over 21, that is.
Let’s bring Wayne Messmer back to sing the National Anthem for the Western Conference Finals — and let it be the Red Wings!
- Doug - Tuesday, May 12, 09 @ 10:06 pm:
Here’s Kinsler’s take:
Ian Kinsler was unperturbed by White Sox reliever Bobby Jenks’ open admission that he deliberately threw at the Rangers second baseman on Saturday.
“That’s part of the game,” Kinsler said Tuesday afternoon. “There’s nothing else to say about it.”
Jenks was fined an undisclosed amount — reportedly $750 — by Major League Baseball on Tuesday after admitting that he deliberately threw behind Kinsler in the ninth inning of Saturday’s game between the Rangers and White Sox. Rangers pitchers had hit six batters in the first four meetings between the two teams, and Jenks wasn’t happy about it.
And our esteem manager weighed in:
“They can talk all they want, but we weren’t trying to hit anybody,” Rangers manager Ron Washington said. “If their pitcher says something like that … that’s on him. If my guys get hit six times and one of my guys wants to take care of business, then take care of business. But don’t talk about it.”
- jim - Wednesday, May 13, 09 @ 4:23 pm:
I’m not a Sox fan, so I have no dog in this fight.
There’s nothing wrong with a purpose pitch, especially one that doesn’t make contact. Just makes the other side realize there could be a price to pay for tagging the opposition. I prefer this approach to actually hitting someone. It’s a Gandhian approach to protecting teammates.
- George - Thursday, May 14, 09 @ 4:38 am:
Baseball players, like hockey players, police themselves. No, there should never been any “head hunting” as a fastball from Jenks, or other pitchers that throw as hard as him, could serious injure a player, or even kill him.
No fines, no suspensions. Just good ol’ hard ball. That’s why girls don’t play baseball.
Some will cry and say that intentionally hitting a batter and benches clearing brawls should not be in baseball, but those are the same people that stopped playing in 5th grade. It’s a part of the game. Just like body checks and sweaters over the head followed by a bombardment of haymakers are part of hockey. No reason to “sissyfy” our pro sports. But thank you Bobby for not hitting Kinsler. The Rangers need him healthy all season ;).
Also, none of those HBP’s were intentional by the Rangers. Just look at the times they were hit. They wouldn’t want an extra base runner in those situations. Just bad control. But I’m sure the Rangers were expecting something in return because of all the HBP’s.