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| Associated Press |
One night after Harper was hit by a Braves pitcher for the third time in the last three games between the two clubs, Strasburg fired a 97 mph fastball into Justin Upton's left hip in the bottom of the first inning. Upton quietly took his base, and plate umpire Marvin Hudson issued warnings to both dugouts, which should have ended the whole affair.
Except one inning later, Strasburg suddenly couldn't find the strike zone. He walked Jordan Schafer on four pitches, then uncorked three consecutive wild pitches to Andrelton Simmons, the last two sailing well behind the Atlanta shortstop's back and allowing Schafer to score.
Hudson had no choice at that point but to eject Strasburg, as well as Johnson. (By rule, once warnings are issued, a manager is automatically ejected if his pitcher gets tossed.)
Strasburg, who was still running to cover the plate on the final wild pitch as Hudson was giving him the heave-ho, stopped dead in his tracks and offered a look of bewilderment to the umpire. He slowly walked off the field as Johnson emerged from the dugout to talk to Hudson, who informed the 70-year-old manager he was being ejected as well.
At 1-plus inning, this wound up as the shortest start of Strasburg's career, and certainly the strangest. After throwing 14-of-20 pitches for strikes in the bottom of the first, he threw seven consecutive balls in the bottom of the second.
12 comments:
Mark, do we know if he's healthy?
Oh come on.....Stra was sending a message....and a good one. Don't throw at our guys. Granted, he should of gotten his moneys worth and gotten Simmons in the ribs, but Stra is young. Screw the Braves. And yes 222, tomorrow I'd drill that little latin guy that started all this. Then....its finished. Then the Nats can look in the mirror again. And I guarrantee this had nothing to do with Davey. I knew when I read that Werth, Espi n Laroche were huddling, after Harper was shit on that they would handle this
OK, I now officially don't want Knorr to be considered as Davey's replace not for next year. Pulling Tanner, who's an experienced MiLB starter, after 51 pitches and leaving the last 4 innings to THIS bullpen, is BS. It's an invitation to a meltdown.
And Eddie, you're almost right! Two runs across the plate.
The comnent that Hudson had no choice is wrong.
He had no choice if he couldcread Stras's mind, but havibg watched Stras for 4 ears now.
I have seen him lose his release point early in the game and get it back often.
So Hudson decides he did it on purpose. I am not as convinced as Hudson. But he must have the ability to re minds.
But he clearly had a choice and to say other wise is not accurate.
"Pulling Tanner, who's an experienced MiLB starter, after 51 pitches and leaving the last 4 innings to THIS bullpen, is BS. It's an invitation to a meltdown."
Good call.
I really don't believe Stras was throwing at Simmons on purpose. If he had control, he would have hit him in the ribs or butt like he did Upton. He threw seven straight balls...lost his release point. He has trouble with the mound in Atlana anyway. I think the message was over after Upton.
Stras is a major head case. He lost control -- forget command -- he lost all control!
Now you have to worry about Stras' head turning him into a Rick Ankiel.
Stras is a major head case. He lost control -- forget command -- he lost all control!
Now you have to worry about Stras' head turning him into a Rick Ankiel.
MNF. Huh? I know u have a tough time typing but that was one of your best :-)
it was all intentional. he looked at that Napa sign and threw right at it. good for him.
Scott, I *think* the gist of MNF's comment is that he thought Hudson had no choice only if Hudson was a mindreader and knew that SS was making the throws with "bad" intent. MNF counters that, having watched SS for years, he has seen him lose his release point and believes that is what happened here. He's not convinced that Hudson had no choice but to eject SS unless Hudson was able to read his mind and find "bad" intent there. Otherwise, MNF questions the decision by Hudson and that comment that he had no choice. I think. :-)
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