Report a Violation

Ryan W.
Bigelow, MN     07/03/2009 10:21 AM

First thing first, the Wacker family has a strong passion for athletic competition - and individiuals should not hold that against them. The baseball incident in discussion occurs more frequently than one may expect in the game of baseball. The idea is not to hurt the batter by hitting them - no player is ever directed to throw up and in (the head); however, there is nothing wrong with a pitcher hitting a batter in the mid-to-lower region of the body. Thus, baseball has a rule for this incident - awarding the batter first base. Pitchers may hit a batter for different reasons: 1) to back the hitter off the plate (crowding the plate) or 2) to retaliate for actions deemed unsportsmanlike to the other team. Knowledgable baseball people (coaches, players, parents, and fans) know that this type of action occurs in the game of baseball. I guess the next time a defensive football coach informs his defensive to tackle the opposing running back all the way to the ground OR a basketball player committs a hard personal foul on the shooter OR a volleyball player spikes the ball at the opposing blocker too hard OR a dominate wrestler manhandles his opponent in an aggressive manner - we are going to question the coaches? I understand the message that Wade Wacker was sending to his players, I believe the players understood the message even before Wade said anything. Do I like that hitting a batter occurs, no. But, I understand its part of the game and that will occur (either on accident or intentionally).