PK Hit in Face and Subsequent Events

[champs2005]

I cant quite put it into words, but Ill try...last nights sequence of events with Konerko getting hit in the face by Pavano, his trying to get up and go to first, Herm holding him back, his puffed up lip as he stood at first base, MB hitting the first guy up for the Twins next inning with his first pitch and then PK hitting a homer on the first pitch in his next AB...this was one of the top 5 highlights of the season for me. Regardless that it all came in this game; Twins sweep, nail, coffin, etc.

 

Not to take anything away from Paulie, because that homer was so perfectly timed. But, is there any chance at all that Mauer said something to PK in that next at bat like "sorry dude, number one down the middle take a shot" or Pavano threw him a cookie to atone? Probably not but just throwing that out there. That would be even more dramatic, in an "inside baseball" kind of way.

[ChiSox_Sonix]

I cant quite put it into words, but Ill try...last nights sequence of events with Konerko getting hit in the face by Pavano, his trying to get up and go to first, Herm holding him back, his puffed up lip as he stood at first base, MB hitting the first guy up for the Twins next inning with his first pitch and then PK hitting a homer on the first pitch in his next AB...this was one of the top 5 highlights of the season for me. Regardless that it all came in this game; Twins sweep, nail, coffin, etc.

 

Not to take anything away from Paulie, because that homer was so perfectly timed. But, is there any chance at all that Mauer said something to PK in that next at bat like "sorry dude, number one down the middle take a shot" or Pavano threw him a cookie to atone? Probably not but just throwing that out there. That would be even more dramatic, in an "inside baseball" kind of way.

 

Absolutely not.

[elrockinMT]

PK is the man and the league MVP

[NorthSideSox72]

Absolutely not.

 

 

PK is the man and the league MVP

 

Agreed on all above.

 

[justBLAZE]

I've been in the group that was hard on Paulie and Thome last year.. Paul Konerko is just amazing, he needs to stay.

 

EDIT: Much respect to Mark Buehrle for retaliation (not sure who's call it was) and going back to the posts from the game thread where some said Mark should have gotten an out before throwing at them or pick Young.. while Young deserved to be beaned, you retaliate first chance you get and Mark did just that, THANK YOU.

Edited September 17, 2010 by justBLAZE

[elrockinMT]

I've been in the group that was hard on Paulie and Thome last year.. Paul Konerko is just amazing, he needs to stay.

 

EDIT: Much respect to Mark Buehrle for retaliation (not sure who's call it was) and going back to the posts from the game thread where some said Mark should have gotten an out before throwing at them or pick Young.. while Young deserved to be beaned, you retaliate first chance you get and Mark did just that, THANK YOU.

 

 

Yep!

[Milkman delivers]

I've been in the group that was hard on Paulie and Thome last year.. Paul Konerko is just amazing, he needs to stay.

 

EDIT: Much respect to Mark Buehrle for retaliation (not sure who's call it was) and going back to the posts from the game thread where some said Mark should have gotten an out before throwing at them or pick Young.. while Young deserved to be beaned, you retaliate first chance you get and Mark did just that, THANK YOU.

 

My inclination is to say that it was Mark's call, as Ozzie has shied away from hitting people in the last few years. I want to use a stronger term than "shied away," but I'll just say it was Mark's call and that's it.

[chiguy79]

MB is a man, many of our other pitchers are not.

[Rowand44]

My inclination is to say that it was Mark's call, as Ozzie has shied away from hitting people in the last few years. I want to use a stronger term than "shied away," but I'll just say it was Mark's call and that's it.

Indeed.

[jenksycat]

My inclination is to say that it was Mark's call, as Ozzie has shied away from hitting people in the last few years. I want to use a stronger term than "shied away," but I'll just say it was Mark's call and that's it.

 

Could he have possibly done that because of the endless amount of s*** he took when he did retaliate? He's apparently just always wrong no matter what the decision these days.

[Balta1701]

Could he have possibly done that because of the endless amount of s*** he took when he did retaliate? He's apparently just always wrong no matter what the decision these days.

Although that's certainly possible...what other part of the way he likes to play the game has Ozzie changed because of someone else's criticism?

[South Side Fireworks Man]

Mark said he was "told" to do it. It was stupid for him to say it. He should have just said nothing, or said, "It slipped", or said, "I didn't mean to hit Cuddeyer just as Pavano didn't mean to hit Konerko." But you never admit you did it on purpose. The Sox under Ozzie still haven't learned how to handle this type of thing.

[jenksycat]

Although that's certainly possible...what other part of the way he likes to play the game has Ozzie changed because of someone else's criticism?

 

So you're suggesting what? He stopped retaliating out of the goodness of his heart and wanting peace and harmony in the league?

 

I'm thinking the piles and piles of meaningless s*** from the dumb fans and stupid media made him change.

[Rowand44]

Mark said he was "told" to do it. It was stupid for him to say it. He should have just said nothing, or said, "It slipped", or said, "I didn't mean to hit Cuddeyer just as Pavano didn't mean to hit Konerko." But you never admit you did it on purpose. The Sox under Ozzie still haven't learned how to handle this type of thing.

I'm pretty sure if we were still in the race it would have been handled differently. At this point, who cares?

[greg775]

I'm pretty sure if we were still in the race it would have been handled differently. At this point, who cares?

 

Agreed. It matters not.

Our team is in a freefall.

[The Ginger Kid]

Agreed. It matters not.

Our team is in a freefall.

they played about .500 ball in August, they're just under .500 in September.

 

Free fall? Hardly. The Twins are just a better team, it pains me to say it, but they're playing exceptional baseball right now.

[South Side Fireworks Man]

I'm pretty sure if we were still in the race it would have been handled differently. At this point, who cares?

How so? You mean Mark wouldn't have retaliated at all after Paulie got hit in the face and then the ump would have issued a warning to both teams after Pierre got drilled later?

[Wanne]

they played about .500 ball in August, they're just under .500 in September.

 

Free fall? Hardly. The Twins are just a better team, it pains me to say it, but they're playing exceptional baseball right now.

 

I'm not sure I'd say they're head and shoulders a better team. Difference being...their players EXECUTED and came through at the plate and their pitching has been solid. We couldn't get a clutch hit if our lives depended on it! If each Sox player (or a majority) played like they're capable of (and didn't crap down their pant legs the first two months of the season) we wouldn't be 9 back. Handle the lower level teams like a good team should. Quit letting your A-holes pucker up every time you hear the word Twins.

 

It just seems this team goes through the motions for the most part, which is the most frustrating thing. They play to NOT FAIL instead of having any type os swagger to them (except right before the ALB). As many said...that all-star break really came at a crappy time...but then again we really didn't carry over any momentum whatsoever and seemed destined to fail when the Twins got hot. Really makes you wonder about the mental fortitude of this team...or the person running it anyway (and I'm a huge Ozzie fan). Case in point...calling a bunt in last nights game was completely chicken-s*** in my mind. Really didn't show any confidence in the team. Things like that have a greater affect than most think IMO.

[The Ginger Kid]

I'm not sure I'd say they're head and shoulders a better team. Difference being...their players EXECUTED and came through at the plate and their pitching has been solid.

that's the thing to me, they don't appear to be that much better. But when you're 1/2 game from having the best record in MLB for the season, then you have to give them some measure of credit. The Sox haven't been great, but they're not in a nosedive either. They're 30-12 since August 1st, the Sox 21-22.

 

the question is, how long can they sustain that torrid pace? all the way to a WS championship? I can't see them beating either the Rays or the Yankees in the first round, and it's starting to look like that's who they'll get.

[Marky Mark]

PK is the man and the team MVP

 

 

Fixed.

[greg775]

they played about .500 ball in August, they're just under .500 in September.

 

Free fall? Hardly. The Twins are just a better team, it pains me to say it, but they're playing exceptional baseball right now.

 

we had a four game lead at one point and tons of head to head matchups against them and choked in almost every one of those head to head matchups.

We are in a freefall.

The Twins are good, but the White Sox who have more "name" players than the Twins, folded their cards.

Edited September 18, 2010 by greg775

[balfanman]

we had a four game lead at one point and tons of head to head matchups against them and choked in almost every one of those head to head matchups.

We are in a freefall.

The Twins are good, but the White Sox who have more "name" players than the Twins, folded their cards.

 

This is what bothers me. Someone else wondered about the teams mental makeup. Over the Guillen years, the Sox fold in big situations much more often then they overachieve. I'm not necessarily an Ozzie basher, but isn't motivation supposed to be one of his strong points as a manager? It sure seems to me that when the pressure is on, this team folds like a house of cards more often than not. Maybe handling pressure is somehow taught in the Twins organization and that is why their youngsters come up big so often when called upon.

[Dick Allen]

This is what bothers me. Someone else wondered about the teams mental makeup. Over the Guillen years, the Sox fold in big situations much more often then they overachieve. I'm not necessarily an Ozzie basher, but isn't motivation supposed to be one of his strong points as a manager? It sure seems to me that when the pressure is on, this team folds like a house of cards more often than not. Maybe handling pressure is somehow taught in the Twins organization and that is why their youngsters come up big so often when called upon.

If the Sox played .500 vs. Minnesota, they would be 1 game out right now.

[Milkman delivers]

Could he have possibly done that because of the endless amount of s*** he took when he did retaliate? He's apparently just always wrong no matter what the decision these days.

 

A contrarian view from Jenksy Cat suggesting that everyone else is always wrong? Now I've seen it all.

[BigEdWalsh]

If the Sox played .500 vs. Minnesota, they would be 1 game out right now.

Wow. Just plain wow. What coulda been if only.....