ATLANTA — Whit Merrifield has had sufficient of control-challenged pitchers hitting batters with pitches.
The veteran infielder grew to become the newest in a string of Atlanta Braves gamers hit by fastballs when he was plunked at the back of his head Tuesday by Colorado Rockies rookie Jeff Criswell, and Merrifield stated Main League Baseball must do one thing concerning the state of affairs earlier than somebody is critically injured — or worse.
“The place the sport’s at proper now, it’s simply ridiculous,” stated Merrifield, who was hit by a 94.5 mph pitch within the seventh inning of the Braves’ 3-0 win, leaving a welt simply behind his left ear on the high of his neck. “I hate the place the sport’s at proper now with that.”
Merrifield, a participant rep on the MLB Competitors Committee, shouted at Criswell whereas being attended to on the sector, and once more as he was strolling off with a Braves coach. Merrifield handed concussion protocol checks however was on his strategy to a CT scan after the sport to rule out inner accidents.
He was hit by a 1-0 fastball after Criswell missed approach inside with a first-pitch slider.
Braves Travis d’Arnaud and Austin Riley have been hit by up-and-in fastballs in consecutive video games Aug. 18-19 towards the Los Angeles Angels. D’Arnaud missed 5 video games with a forearm contusion and Riley landed on the injured record with a damaged hand that’s anticipated to sideline him for six to eight weeks.
Michael Harris II left an Aug. 25 recreation after being hit within the hand by a fastball from Nationals rookie DJ Herz main off the primary inning and left the sport just a few innings later. X-rays and an MRI confirmed no fracture and he returned to the lineup two days later.
“We misplaced Riley, we virtually misplaced Mike, we virtually misplaced d’Arnaud in a span of two or three weeks,” Merrifield stated. “The way in which pitchers are throwing now, there’s no regard for throwing up and in. The blokes are throwing as exhausting as they’ll, they don’t care the place the ball goes. And it’s simply … it’s bulls—-.”
Merrifield wasn’t executed venting.
Not even shut.
“You’ll be able to’t hit a man anymore (in retaliation),” he stated. “There’s no concern that, ‘Oh, if I hit this man, our man’s going to get hit.’ That’s not within the recreation anymore. Pitchers don’t should hit anymore, in order that they don’t have to face within the field. And the groups are bringing pitchers up that don’t know the place the hell the ball goes. They throw 100 miles an hour, so it’s, ‘Alright, we’ll see if he can get the fellows out. Simply arrange down the center and throw as exhausting as you possibly can.’ And it’s bulls—, and it’s driving me nuts.”
He stated one thing must be executed, and he’ll do what he can to assist get the state of affairs addressed.
“I’m on the Guidelines Committee, and we’ve bought a name (Wednesday),” he stated, “and it’s going to be a protracted dialog on what we’ve bought to do to make pitchers take into consideration … I simply took 95 proper off the pinnacle. I’m very fortunate that it bought me in a great place, and I’ve bought to go get a CAT scan. I’m out of the sport, he will get to remain in to pitch, I’m in all probability not going to have the ability to play tomorrow.”
Criswell, 25, was making his seventh MLB reduction look. He pitched 1 2/3 innings Tuesday and was charged with one hit, one run and three walks with one strikeout. He threw simply 23 strikes in 41 pitches.
“No repercussion on his half, and I imply, with out being overly dramatic, that was my life on the road proper there,” Merrifield stated. “So, I’m sick of it, it’s taking place approach an excessive amount of. I watched Taylor Ward get hit within the face final yr and should get reconstructive surgical procedure. Justin Turner bought hit within the face final yr. It’s taking place at an exponential charge. Guys are getting hit within the hand, Mookie Betts broke a bone in his hand this yr. It’s simply ridiculous, and it needs to be fastened. Or, God forbid, one thing horrible’s going to occur.
“If this hits me in a unique spot, I imply … it’s simply pathetic. It’s frankly pathetic, that among the pitchers that we’re operating on the market don’t know the place the ball’s going, on the major-league degree. It’s bought to be fastened. It simply pisses me off to no finish.”
(Picture: Todd Kirkland / Getty Photos)