ATLANTA — Whit Merrifield has had sufficient of control-challenged pitchers hitting batters with pitches.
The veteran infielder turned the most recent in a string of Atlanta Braves gamers hit by fastballs when he was plunked behind his head Tuesday by Colorado Rockies rookie Jeff Criswell, and Merrifield mentioned Main League Baseball must do one thing in regards to the scenario earlier than somebody is significantly injured — or worse.
“The place the sport’s at proper now, it’s simply ridiculous,” mentioned Merrifield, who was hit by a 94.5 mph pitch within the seventh inning of the Braves’ 3-0 win, leaving a welt simply behind his left ear on the high of his neck. “I hate the place the sport’s at proper now with that.”
Merrifield, a participant rep on the MLB Competitors Committee, shouted at Criswell whereas being attended to on the sphere, and once more as he was strolling off with a Braves coach. Merrifield handed concussion protocol assessments however was on his solution to a CT scan after the sport to rule out inner accidents.
He was hit by a 1-0 fastball after Criswell missed approach inside with a first-pitch slider.
Braves Travis d’Arnaud and Austin Riley have been hit by up-and-in fastballs in consecutive video games Aug. 18-19 in opposition to the Los Angeles Angels. D’Arnaud missed 5 video games with a forearm contusion and Riley landed on the injured listing with a damaged hand that’s anticipated to sideline him for six to eight weeks.
Michael Harris II left an Aug. 25 recreation after being hit within the hand by a fastball from Nationals rookie DJ Herz main off the primary inning and left the sport a number of innings later. X-rays and an MRI confirmed no fracture and he returned to the lineup two days later.
“We misplaced Riley, we virtually misplaced Mike, we virtually misplaced d’Arnaud in a span of two or three weeks,” Merrifield mentioned. “The way in which pitchers are throwing now, there’s no regard for throwing up and in. The fellows are throwing as laborious as they will, they don’t care the place the ball goes. And it’s simply … it’s bulls—-.”
Merrifield wasn’t performed venting.
Not even shut.
“You possibly can’t hit a man anymore (in retaliation),” he mentioned. “There’s no worry that, ‘Oh, if I hit this man, our man’s going to get hit.’ That’s not within the recreation anymore. Pitchers don’t must hit anymore, in order that they don’t have to face within the field. And the groups are bringing pitchers up that don’t know the place the hell the ball goes. They throw 100 miles an hour, so it’s, ‘Alright, we’ll see if he can get the blokes out. Simply arrange down the center and throw as laborious as you may.’ And it’s bulls—, and it’s driving me nuts.”
He mentioned one thing must be performed, and he’ll do what he can to assist get the scenario addressed.
“I’m on the Guidelines Committee, and we’ve received a name (Wednesday),” he mentioned, “and it’s going to be a protracted dialog on what we’ve received to do to make pitchers take into consideration … I simply took 95 proper off the pinnacle. I’m very fortunate that it received me in a great spot, and I’ve received to go get a CAT scan. I’m out of the sport, he will get to remain in to pitch, I’m most likely not going to have the ability to play tomorrow.”
Criswell, 25, was making his seventh MLB aid look. He pitched 1 2/3 innings Tuesday and was charged with one hit, one run and three walks with one strikeout. He threw simply 23 strikes in 41 pitches.
“No repercussion on his half, and I imply, with out being overly dramatic, that was my life on the road proper there,” Merrifield mentioned. “So, I’m sick of it, it’s taking place approach an excessive amount of. I watched Taylor Ward get hit within the face final 12 months and must get reconstructive surgical procedure. Justin Turner received hit within the face final 12 months. It’s taking place at an exponential price. Guys are getting hit within the hand, Mookie Betts broke a bone in his hand this 12 months. It’s simply ridiculous, and it needs to be mounted. Or, God forbid, one thing horrible’s going to occur.
“If this hits me in a distinct spot, I imply … it’s simply pathetic. It’s frankly pathetic, that a number of the pitchers that we’re operating on the market don’t know the place the ball’s going, on the major-league degree. It’s received to be mounted. It simply pisses me off to no finish.”
(Picture: Todd Kirkland / Getty Pictures)
