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Friday, May 09, 2008

MLB: Sexson sets off fracas in Seattle

SEATTLE—The location of the pitch, not the intention of it, sent Mariners first baseman Richie Sexson “into a rage” Thursday night, and ended up with him throwing his helmet and then pile-driving the pitcher into the ground.

“I understood the situation, but there is a right way and a wrong way to play the game,” Sexson said after the Mariners’ 5-0 loss to the Rangers at Safeco Field. “If you hit me below the shoulders, I am fine with that. But get up near the face, [and] I am not going to deal with that.”

Before order was restored, Rangers outfielder Milton Bradley picked up Laird, carried him away from the action and ended up shoving the catcher several times in the chest before walking away.

Milton Bradley walking away from a rhubarb? Perhaps he was trying to throw Laird at Sexson.

Harry Balsagne Teaches The Correct Way to Hit!! Posted: May 09, 2008 at 03:23 AM | 53 comment(s)
  Related News: GeneralSeattle

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   1. The Ghost of Pete Incaviglia  Posted: May 09, 2008 at 06:42 AM (#2774398)
Who the hell charges on a mound on a pitch that's not even close to hitting them?
   2. Shooty Did Not Kill McGurk  Posted: May 09, 2008 at 06:53 AM (#2774403)
Who the hell charges on a mound on a pitch that's not even close to hitting them?

I think the M's are just one frustrated team right now.
   3. Matt Clement of Alexandria  Posted: May 09, 2008 at 07:10 AM (#2774412)
That video is really something else. That pitch was over the goddam plate, Sexson's a jackass.

The scene where Bradley just lifts Laird up and carries him backward was pretty brilliant, too. Credit to Bradley for using his obvious energy in that situation to prevent violence rather than instigate it.
   4. Fly is Part of the Landed Gentry  Posted: May 09, 2008 at 07:45 AM (#2774421)
Wow. That was a borderline strike. I mean, it was high, but if it had been called a strike it likely wouldn't have been the most egregious bad call this season.
   5. IronChef Chris Wok  Posted: May 09, 2008 at 07:50 AM (#2774425)
We need to give those Hispanics a medal.
   6. Slinger Francisco Barrios (Dr. Memory)  Posted: May 09, 2008 at 07:51 AM (#2774426)
We need to give those Hispanics a medal.

Is Sexson Korean?
   7. Wahoo Werewolf  Posted: May 09, 2008 at 07:57 AM (#2774431)
Sexson admitted the way the Mariners have been struggling on offense, and the fact he missed Wednesday night's game to be with his child, who was taken to Children's Hospital, probably had something to do with his reaction to the pitch
   8. Craig K  Posted: May 09, 2008 at 08:01 AM (#2774434)
Who was that on the Rangers holding Felix back, and why didn't Felix deck him?
   9. IronChef Chris Wok  Posted: May 09, 2008 at 08:04 AM (#2774435)
Is Sexson Korean?

If he was hitting .300/.400/.500 they probably would claim that he was.
   10. Will Young  Posted: May 09, 2008 at 08:06 AM (#2774436)
Craig K, that was former Mariner Eddie Guardado acting as peacemaker.
   11. Craig K  Posted: May 09, 2008 at 08:06 AM (#2774437)
Before order was restored, Rangers outfielder Milton Bradley picked up Laird, carried him away from the action and ended up shoving the catcher several times in the chest before walking away

Umm, I think Laird weighs more than Bradley does; how the hell did he pick him up?
   12. Shooty Did Not Kill McGurk  Posted: May 09, 2008 at 08:19 AM (#2774446)
Umm, I think Laird weighs more than Bradley does; how the hell did he pick him up?

Gamma rays.
   13. RB in NYC (Now with Resolutions!)  Posted: May 09, 2008 at 08:23 AM (#2774451)
Gabbard left the game, I think, a few batters later with some kind of injury. Now obviously that might have nothing to do with Sexson charging the mound but if he did, it makes Sexson's doing it even more horeshit.

King of the horseshit, however, is Sexson trying to use his sick kid as an excuse for being an ass.
   14. Biff uses the power of mental thinking  Posted: May 09, 2008 at 08:27 AM (#2774456)
Kason Gabbard lowered his ERA to 1.85 despite having a 9/13 K/BB ratio.

Another good part of that video is when the Mariners announcer says there was "no doubt" of the pitch's intent.
   15. poludamas  Posted: May 09, 2008 at 08:30 AM (#2774460)
Sexson threw his helmet at Gabbard and hit him in the back before tackling him. Gabbard was making his first start after coming off the DL; he had wrenched his back by slipping during a delivery. There is a pretty good chance that his exit from the game is related to Sexson's charge.
   16. The District Attorney  Posted: May 09, 2008 at 08:45 AM (#2774476)
Who the hell charges on a mound on a pitch that's not even close to hitting them?
I totally remember Manny doing this against the Yanks in a playoff game.
   17. Fly is Part of the Landed Gentry  Posted: May 09, 2008 at 08:46 AM (#2774478)
I totally remember Manny doing this against the Yanks in a playoff game.

No you don't.
   18. The District Attorney  Posted: May 09, 2008 at 08:48 AM (#2774481)
Yes, I do.
   19. jmurph  Posted: May 09, 2008 at 08:55 AM (#2774490)
Yes, I do.


Well, you might remember it, but it never actually happened. In your defense, though, he did get really fired up at a similar pitch from Clemens in the Pedro/Zimmer game in 03. But he didn't charge.

Side note- I was on the phone with my dad when all of that went down, and I actually said out loud, in all seriousness, "Oh my god, I think Pedro just killed Don Zimmer."
   20. Fly is Part of the Landed Gentry  Posted: May 09, 2008 at 09:03 AM (#2774498)
And the DA needs to go back and read the case report because Manny didn't charge the mound, nor did he throw his helmet. All he did was gesture furiously. It was also completely out of character for Manny, who never loses his temper on the field.

To be fair, Wikipedia reads 'charged the mound'. It's just wrong, is all. He yelled, and walked menacingly.
   21. Hack Wilson  Posted: May 09, 2008 at 09:07 AM (#2774501)
Sexson should get a 20-game suspension, although Seattle fans might argue it should be 30.
   22. SoSHially Unacceptable  Posted: May 09, 2008 at 09:18 AM (#2774512)
Wow. That was a borderline strike. I mean, it was high, but if it had been called a strike it likely wouldn't have been the most egregious bad call this season.


I've got to disagree with this. Even as tall as Sexson is, if the ump called a strike on a pitch where the catcher has to leave his crouch and reach well above his head to catch it, that would likely be the most egregious ball/strike call this season.

Of course, the idea that Sexson should be enraged about that particular pitch is ridiculous.
   23. aleskel  Posted: May 09, 2008 at 09:18 AM (#2774514)
the part I remember about that '03 broohaha was Pedro yelling at Posada and pointing at his head. Everybody on earth could tell Pedro was saying something to the effect of "the next one's coming here" Pedro claimed he was telling Posada to use his head. Brilliant.
   24. Charles S., enjoys the sparking period  Posted: May 09, 2008 at 09:20 AM (#2774516)
Umm, I think Laird weighs more than Bradley does; how the hell did he pick him up?

Bradley flashed some cash and that killer smile. Laird was putty in his hands.
   25. Answer Guy, Snowed In  Posted: May 09, 2008 at 09:23 AM (#2774520)
Umm, I think Laird weighs more than Bradley does; how the hell did he pick him up?

Bradley flashed some cash and that killer smile. Laird was putty in his hands.


Damn, beat me to it. I just found this thread. I've picked up plenty of guys heavier than me. :)

(Oh, you mean lifted off the ground? Ummm.. I've tried doing that too, with less success.)
   26. Nasty Nate  Posted: May 09, 2008 at 09:25 AM (#2774521)
the part I remember about that '03 broohaha was Pedro yelling at Posada and pointing at his head. Everybody on earth could tell Pedro was saying something to the effect of "the next one's coming here" Pedro claimed he was telling Posada to use his head. Brilliant.


i disagree (but i am the world's chief Pedro-apologist).

that is the common perception of the incident, partly because thats how Tim McCarver confidently explained it at the time, using his amazing previously-unknown ability to lip-read in Spanish. What is your general impression of what Posada was yelling out to Pedro at that time?
   27. bunyon  Posted: May 09, 2008 at 09:26 AM (#2774524)
Are you guys serious? It's not that surprising that a professional athlete can pick someone up off the ground who is heavier than him.
   28. Shooty Did Not Kill McGurk  Posted: May 09, 2008 at 09:29 AM (#2774530)
Wow, ESPN's Sportscenter has broken out in this thread.
   29. Nasty Nate  Posted: May 09, 2008 at 09:30 AM (#2774534)
hehe. i think i know what you mean. sorry
   30. The District Attorney  Posted: May 09, 2008 at 09:37 AM (#2774545)
Well, you might remember it, but it never actually happened.
Exactly!

No, I agree that "walked menacingly" sounds more like it.
   31. Shooty Did Not Kill McGurk  Posted: May 09, 2008 at 09:38 AM (#2774548)
hehe. i think i know what you mean. sorry

Meh, it's all right. I just feel for the Mets fans who are trying to figure out a way to work Clemens V. Piazza into this.
   32. Slinger Francisco Barrios (Dr. Memory)  Posted: May 09, 2008 at 09:38 AM (#2774549)
If he was hitting .300/.400/.500 they probably would claim that he was.

Those perfidious peninsular personages!

I just feel for the Mets fans who are trying to figure out a way to work Clemens V. Piazza into this.

It's...it's a trap?
   33. Shooty Did Not Kill McGurk  Posted: May 09, 2008 at 09:42 AM (#2774552)
I just feel for the Mets fans who are trying to figure out a way to work Clemens V. Piazza into this.

It's...it's a trap?


Mwahahahahahahaha!
   34. Nasty Nate  Posted: May 09, 2008 at 09:43 AM (#2774555)
to help get back on topic, isnt the first line of the excerpt bullcrap: "The location of the pitch, not the intention of it, sent Mariners first baseman Richie Sexson “into a rage” Thursday night". Hadn't the M's hit a couple guys in the game, and sexson thought the high pitch was intended to be further inside? this would exonerate sexson a little bit.
   35. Shooty Did Not Kill McGurk  Posted: May 09, 2008 at 09:46 AM (#2774558)
Hadn't the M's hit a couple guys in the game, and sexson thought the high pitch was intended to be further inside? this would exonerate sexson a little bit.

This sounds right, but his reaction was so immediate, I have to think he was loaded for bear when he went to the plate. Again, I just think the M's are a frustrated team right now and the smallest spark was going to set them off. They got some hype in the pre-season and now the wheels have already fallen off. I think they may be in the anger stage of grief.
   36. jmurph  Posted: May 09, 2008 at 09:54 AM (#2774569)
Hadn't the M's hit a couple guys in the game, and sexson thought the high pitch was intended to be further inside? this would exonerate sexson a little bit.


This is exactly what happened with the Manny/Clemens stuff (haha! back to the Sox/Yankees!). But really, even if you're all geared up to charge the mound because you think they're going to throw at you, shouldn't you wait until they actually throw at you?
   37. Nasty Nate  Posted: May 09, 2008 at 09:55 AM (#2774570)
yeah thats what i meant. he went to the plate imbued with this particular game's tension. in a normal game, he would not react to a pitch in that location.
   38. Barry`s_Lazy_Boy  Posted: May 09, 2008 at 09:57 AM (#2774572)
I went to watch the video since the quote mentioned his "pile-driving" him into the mound. Which is a bunch of hooey. They rolled around like a couple of girls.
   39. Shooty Did Not Kill McGurk  Posted: May 09, 2008 at 10:01 AM (#2774576)
I went to watch the video since the quote mentioned his "pile-driving" him into the mound. Which is a bunch of hooey. They rolled around like a couple of girls.

That is hot!
   40. Jon Koltz  Posted: May 09, 2008 at 10:05 AM (#2774579)
Sexson's no Kyle Farnsworth.
   41. The Ghost of Pete Incaviglia  Posted: May 09, 2008 at 10:14 AM (#2774588)
Gabbard left with "bruised legs," so yes, the brawl directly led to his removal from the game.
   42. Guy LeDouche  Posted: May 09, 2008 at 10:28 AM (#2774595)
Did you hear? Kenji like, totally held back Felix. Richie was having none of it.

Are these fvckers doing a baseball game or some boy band retrospective?


Guy remembers a time before blatant homerism. Oh yeah, Get off his lawn!
   43. PH  Posted: May 09, 2008 at 10:47 AM (#2774615)
The scene where Bradley just lifts Laird up and carries him backward was pretty brilliant, too. Credit to Bradley for using his obvious energy in that situation to prevent violence rather than instigate it.

Of course, in light of what happened to Bradley last year, you'd think he'd be the last person to lift somebody up in order to prevent them from fighting. Unless he was trying to end Laird's season and give Saltalamacchia the playing time.
   44. Elisabeth Rhm and Walter Haas  Posted: May 09, 2008 at 10:57 AM (#2774623)
Of course, in light of what happened to Bradley last year, you'd think he'd be the last person to lift somebody up in order to prevent them from fighting.

Who was the manager who tore his ACL? Bud Black? He needs to learn from Ken Macha the correct way to pick Bradley up and take him away from a confrontation.
   45. Danny  Posted: May 09, 2008 at 11:38 AM (#2774668)
Who the hell charges on a mound on a pitch that's not even close to hitting them?


Jason Kendall.
   46. Dedicated to Esoteric but he wasn't listening  Posted: May 09, 2008 at 01:29 PM (#2774801)
Who was that on the Rangers holding Felix back, and why didn't Felix deck him?


As someone else pointed out, that was former Mariner Eddie Guardado, who (additionally) was/is Felix's closest friend on the team and in all of baseball. That's why he can hold him back like that. Felix has a hot head too, so I'm glad Guardado intervened.
   47. Greg Franklin  Posted: May 09, 2008 at 02:08 PM (#2774844)
I attended this game. If you've been at a bench-clearing brawl, the first thing you'll notice, besides the apparent lack of blood and the milling, is all the flash bulbs from the cameras and cameraphones going off around the stadium bowl.

Anyway, the first HBP by Felix didn't mean anything. The second HBP was on Ian Kinsler in the 4th, who had hit the HR in the 2nd off Felix. Kinsler was visibly angry as he went to first, and I bet it was him who instigated the Gabbard pitch the following inning.

So I think it's true that (a) Gabbard threw a message pitch -- it may not have been at Sexson's head, but it didn't slip; (b) Sexson had to charge the mound in order to retain his teammates' respect. Of course he was way out of line in throwing the damn helmet.

I could see two Rangers pushing and shoving each other directly in front of me, and I id'd Laird because of the equipment. Should've guessed Bradley was the other dude.

My companions (not really baseball fans) were astounded when I told them that, by "the code," there would be a retaliation for the 2nd HBP. They predict a massive suspension for Sexson, based on their experience with soccer and red cards.

As someone else pointed out, that was former Mariner Eddie Guardado, who (additionally) was/is Felix's closest friend on the team and in all of baseball. That's why he can hold him back like that. Felix has a hot head too, so I'm glad Guardado intervened.

Perhaps not quite in time? According to a dude on Lookout Landing who says he had access to the raw TV feed in the stadium, Felix got in a hidden shot on a Ranger, who was later spied in the dugout holding a towel to a bloody mouth.
   48. Styles P. Deadball  Posted: May 09, 2008 at 02:23 PM (#2774864)
"Goddam lardass, Kason Gabbard, I'm tellin' you, he jumped us.

"Sure did."

"I mean glove off, bat down, no warning, he challenged the Mariners!"

"Called us names."

"CALLED US NAMES!"

"But Richie was there."

"Richie's a killer!"
   49. Elisabeth Rhm and Walter Haas  Posted: May 09, 2008 at 02:46 PM (#2774890)
Jason Kendall.

He stuck that f'in thing out there, that's for sure.
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