Farnsworth-Manny 'Incident' -much ado about nothing

So what’s the big deal with Kyle Farnsworth throwing BEHIND Manny Ramirez? Nothing in theory-it’s part of the game. Matter of fact, for the Yanks, it’s about time. But a few things to consider:

Mike Mussina, NOT Farnsworth, should have been the one to throw at/around/up and in at Manny. Why should Farnsworth be responsible to send a message to Ramirez and the Sox? Farnsworth didn’t get dusted for three dingers and a double in four at bats! Let’s face it, Farnsworth’s ‘purpose pitch’ was about as greatly orchestrated as a 2nd grade ballet recital.

Remember, all the rules are tilted to the offense. Umps don’t call high strikes, and batters can lean out over the plate with more armor than King Arthur and the Knights of The Round Table. This prevents the pitcher from throwing inside. So a hurler has to throw more in the middle of the plate. Result-instant offense and longer games.

MLB doesn’t allow teams and players to handle and police their own problems OR take into account that throwing a baseball at 60 feet, six inches isn’t all that easy. Used to be that pitchers PRACTICED throwing inside-NOT to deliberately hit, but to establish their right to in inner part of the plate. NOW, batters get so comfy that even a tight pitch inside is frowned upon.

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Add to that the fact that EVERYBODY is warned after a first incident. So take a case like last night. Assuming that Farnsworth’s toss was deliberate, the BoSox have no recourse to protect their players, and that is how feuds linger and smolder. Tom Seaver used to say on TV that umpires should just ‘get out of the way and let the players handle it.’ More than once, Seaver recalled an incident between the Mets and Cardinals in which he and Bob Gibson started plunking guys. Seaver went to Gibson and said, “We can keep doing this all day, or we can stop right now. But remember, I throw a lot harder than you do.” Great point. Umps are so ready to interject themselves into the game during arguments and/or warnings, that issues don’t get resolved. That’s why you had Farnsworth’s half hearted attempt at sending a message to Manny. My friend the Care Bear in Jersey throws harder.

Memo to MLB: Let the players play the game. The Yanks and Red Sox hate each other anyway, let them iron their own issues out.

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