Baseball Errors

Josh Harrison, a marginal utility player for the Pittsburgh Pirates who must make up for lack of talent with focus and commitment, rounded third from second on a short single to right by Jose Tabata and steamed down the third base line towards Yadier Molina, the fine catcher for St. Louis, and hit him full stride, shoulder to head, as Morales received the relay throw. Morales held the ball and Harrison was called out but Molina, while he continued to play, was hurt. Several innings later at his next at bat, Harrison was hit by a pitch. The umpire jumped forward and warned both benches.

This embodies several very bad aspects of modern baseball. First, collisions are for football and hockey. Blocking home plate, the high-spike slide at second, the thunderous Pete Rose hit on the catcher at the plate are the stuff of thugs. Period. International soccer penalizes for "dangerous play." Baseball should too. Throw a flag, then throw the guy out. No blocking home plate, no forcing contact at second, no spikes. It's a beautiful game; if someone makes it dangerous or less beautiful, throw him out.

Second, there are some symbolic traditions in baseball. Throwing at a batter after he has violated baseball etiquette is one of them. This would all be avoided if the batter was not given the option of hurting someone--indeed now in the game encouraged to--but it has become part of its lore. There was no effort to hurt Harrison with the pitch, just to establish that the pitcher was angry. If that is objectionable, do not warn him; throw him out.