Atlanta Braves DL Tyler Flowers
By Fred Owens
I don’t want to get off on a rant here but. . .
Monday’s HBP was Flowers’ 18th of the year and it’s surprising he hasn’t had a more serious injury so far as a lot of those have been on his forearm. the number of players getting hit is rising and MLB has to do something to quell that trend.
The answer is not in most cases, to punish the pitchers but to tell umpires to enforce rule 5.05 (b) (2).
"He is touched by a pitched ball which he is not attempting to hit unless (A) The ball is in the strike zone when it touches the batter, or (B) The batter makes no attempt to avoid being touched by the ball; (2) If the ball is in the strike zone when it touches the batter, it shall be called a strike, whether or not the batter tries to avoid the ball. If the ball is outside the strike zone when it touches the batter, it shall be called a ball if he makes no attempt to avoid being touched."
Hitters today may turn their backs to the ball but rarely make a genuine attempt to get out of the way. This isn’t a new issue but it is escalating as hitters take exception to almost any pitch inside.
This generates hard feelings on both sides and frustrates pitchers particularly when the ball is in the strike zone and the batter is awarded first base.
Over the years umpires have shown themselves less and less willing to enforce the rule making it harder to suddenly enforce it now. Nevertheless that must happen or someone is going to be seriously hurt with a perfectly legal pitch.
Pitchers have a right t throw off the plate inside without being concerned that a batter willing to take one for the team will simply stand like a statue and get first base.
An ‘attempt to avoid’ does not mean turning your back so it hurts less. It means trying to get out of the way. Until batters understand that they will get hit and should not be awarded first base .
That’s A Wrap
I expect Suzuki to pick up most of the catching duty until Flowers returns. Freitas will likely catch on of the games today and maybe a day game after a night game.
Barring a bad MRI result Flowers should return on time. Until then the lineup will be less effective and some pitchers will have to learn to throw to a new backstop.
I wish Freitas the best of luck with R.A. Dickey.