Miami Marlins pitcher Jose Urea is catching mega slack from the baseball world for purposely drilling Atlanta Braves‘ 20-year-old phenom Ronald Acua Jr. And as bushleague as it seems, people are overreacting a bit considering Acua wasn’t injured.
The star outfielder stepped into the box and was hit by a 97 mph fastball just above the left elbow, setting off a bench-clearing incident that led to Urea’s ejection.
At that time, the Braves were sweeping the Marlins, winning every game in their four-game series. This unstoppable zone was thanks in part to Acua’s home runs and going yard in five straight.
MLB on Twitter
Benches clear in Marlins-Braves after Jos Urea hits Ronald Acua Jr. in 1st inning. Acua Jr. (5 straight games with HR, 3 straight with leadoff HR) exits in 2nd inning. https://t.co/V2aSu97YEX
Beanballs are part of the game’s history and there have always been intentional drillings. The culprit usually pays the price with a suspension or ejection. MLB hit Urea with a six-game suspension and the Braves will have the right to retaliate at a later day.
But I said it before and will mention it again, there was some validity in what Keith Hernandez said. No matter what a large majority of the new baseball society thinks.
Zach Klein on Twitter
Wait… Keith Hernandez is actually saying he agreed with Jose Urena drilling Ronald Acuna… because.. “they are killing you, he’s hit 3 HR’s.. You got it hit him” That’s the dumbest #^@^*@ I’ve heard.. youngster is ballin’ and you can only stop him by hitting him.. SMH https://t.co/hkXkZbjsMg
This situation isn’t anything new. But, the fact that Urea drilled Acua off the rip is a bit more gangster and blatant than what people are used to. I’ve reported on many beanball incidents and sometimes pitching inside with intent is necessary. Anybody in baseball will tell you that. It wasn’t like Acua got drilled in the face or the head.
Giancarlo Stanton hit in face with pitch
11.09.2014. In a sickening scene, Giancarlo Stanton of the Miami Marlins slumped to the ground after right-hander Mike Fiers of the Milwaukee Brewers hit him in the face with a fastball in the top of the fifth inning Thursday night.
It also wasn’t like his hand was broken or his season ended.
The outrage over this is kind of an overkill. It was typical social media battling it out for who could come up with the best condemning remarks towards the art of plunking in baseball.
Sports Illustrated on Twitter
MLB should use Wednesday’s Jose Urea-Ronald Acua Jr. incident to set a historic precedent (by @JATayler) https://t.co/CTDMDZOarV
No one wants to look like the bad guy and everyone wants to be the majesties of morality.
Former player Michael Youngs Twitter rant sounded very personal to me. He stirred up the pot giving little historical references to the bandwagon Tweeters who wouldn’t understand why players get thrown at in the first place. On its surface, it looks silly and dangerous, but beanballs are woven into the fabric of baseball and are what separates the pros from the regular Joes.
Michael Young on Twitter
Last thing…stop bringing up Pedro, Unit, Drysdale, Gibson, etc. Those guys got people out because they’re HOFers. Pitching inside was an art to them. For every guy like that, there are tons of other tough guys who pitched inside w no command, got shelled, and then got released.
So based on people’s remarks, Urea isn’t supposed to pitch inside because he hasn’t mastered it yet? That makes no sense. He has denied intentionally hitting Acua. And whether it was intentional or not, the best pitchers establish the inside of the plate by any means necessary.
FOX Sports Florida on Twitter
@Marlins RHP Jose Urena talks about the pitch that hit Ronald Acuna Jr. #MLB https://t.co/0X2piBVNz9
There are hundreds of unwritten rules in baseball. Not all of them are addressed on paper or understood.
Acua was lighting the Marlins up with homers and we already addressed the Braves organizations problem with his swag sauce. I don’t see an issue with style, but he’s a bit heavy on the mustard at times and that comes with consequences. Some social media pontificators are using the old adage that the best way to stop a player is to stop him on the field within rules of competition. Unfortunately, when stakes are high, and a guy is hot at bat, sometimes getting drilled slows him down.
If you bat flip after a homer, circle bases really slow after a homer, quick pitch hitters or injure an opposing player on a shady play, more than likely you’ll be getting drilled in retaliation. Anywhere above the shoulders is forbidden, but the buttocks, back arm and leg is fair game. You just have to be on point.
When Manny Machado collided with Dustin Pedroia at second base with a questionable slide to the knee last season and injured the Red Sox legend, the baseball world lashed out at Machado.
Boston Strong on Twitter
Manny Machado is a dirty player. https://t.co/xrpU67PfFY
But when Boston threw behind Machados head in retaliation. Pedroia wanted Machado to know that he didnt agree with the action but that he should’ve expected to be beaned under those circumstances.
I love Manny Machado. I love playing against him. I love watching him. If I slid into third base and got Mannys knee, Id know Im going to get drilled. Its baseball. I get drilled, I go to first base. Thats it, Pedroia said after the incident.
That kind of stuff happens in baseball.
Beaning guys is old school, but sometimes old school rules are used to check new school fools…Im just sayin.
Back in 2013, when former manager Dusty Bakers Reds had a beanball war with the Cleveland Indians, he was all for it saying, (Clevelands) Matt Garza and (Cincys) Johnny Cueto should just duke it out if they have a problem with each others pitching styles.
A good beanball war is like a WWE script. Rarely does anybody get hurt, but sometimes they do, which heightens the drama and storyline.
Don’t do that, Don’t do that!
Nick Swisher takes Aroldis Chapman’s 100mph heat towards his head like a man.
At the end of the day, nobody wants to get beaned, but there are situations throughout the course of a season that may require this tactic. Its not unheard of for a team to drill a guy who is tearing its pitchers apart. Its just unusual that its done so blatantly. Thats what people have a problem with. Not the fact that Urea hit Acua.
Welcome to the MLB big boy. If youre going to play with flash, youre going to have to pay the cash and sometimes the payment is in flesh. Barbaric? Maybe. But indelibly and undeniably a beautiful, dramatic, chaos in the game.