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MOOSIC — Every year it seems that baseball’s unwritten rule is one of the hottest topics in sports.
Retaliating an opposing team’s actions by intentionally hitting one of the team’s batters is a potentially dangerous, yet effective move. But tempers often flare in the aftermath.
The debate, however, is split. Throwing at opposing batters is such a touchy topic, that even some RailRiders fall on different sides of the debate.
Veteran catcher Eddy Rodriguez is on the side in favor of outlawing the play, while veteran closer Ernesto Frieri and recent New York Yankees call-up Rob Refsnyder understand it’s part of the game and it’s a team-first move.
“I think whenever you get into unwritten rules people have a lot of different opinions,” Refsnyder said. “For as long as I can remember, it’s always been a part of the game — even in college — protecting guys. Obviously some guys are more sensitive than others, so that’s kind of the grey area. I don’t mind it. I think it’s a part of baseball.”
Tuesday’s reoccurring incident between Baltimore Orioles third baseman Manny Machado and the Boston Red Sox involving retaliation for the Machado’s questionable slide into Dustin Pedroia at second base is just the latest example of the longstanding debate over baseball’s unwritten rule.
It all started on April 21 when Machado slid into the Red Sox second baseman, causing Pedroia to miss a couple games. Two days later, Red Sox pitcher Eduardo Rodriguez tried three times to hit Machado and failed. Then reliever Matt Barnes threw a 97 mph fastball behind Machado’s head. The throw caused a suspension.
Fast-forward three series later to Tuesday when Red Sox ace Chris Sale threw behind Machado.
For Eddy Rodriguez, the Machado altercation hits home. The catcher is friends with the Orioles phenom and understands the possible repercussions if a throw goes wrong.
“What normally happens in my experience as a catcher is, ‘Hey, we’re going to plunk this guy,’” Eddy Rodriguez said. “You go plunk this guy and you know what? There’s so many variables. A ball could hit this guy in the head. Guys have kids, kids have families and it’d be an extremely sad story for somebody to lose a life over a rule in this game, or an unwritten rule.”
And while the Machado-Red Sox incident started a fire on social media and in national sports broadcasts, Refsnyder believes it wouldn’t have been nearly as big of a story if it happened in the minor leagues.
Refsnyder, who’s been on the receiving end of the unwritten rule, said that the repercussion pitches occur just as much in the minors as the do in the bigs, but the incidents in the majors are caught on video, adding to the fire.
“I think it happens just as much in the minors, there just isn’t enough video to kind of (document it),” the Yankee said. “Obviously with the Machado and Pedroia thing, if that was Low-A ball, there wouldn’t be cameras capturing Pedroia’s reaction. I’ve been in plenty of them. I remember one here when (Austin) Romine got hit in the head. I just think the whole social media thing is on a bigger stage in the major-league level.”
Eddy Rodriguez, who said he’s been in his fair share of altercations regarding baseball’s unwritten rule of the years, always goes back to a June 12, 2015, incident.
Scranton/Wilkes-Barre was facing the Rochester Red Wings and RailRiders catcher Austin Romine was due up fifth in the bottom of the first inning. The RailRiders had already scratched three runs across home plate by the time Romine stepped into the batter’s box. A frustrated Red Wings starter Lester Oliveros had just given up back-to-back home runs and took out his poor start on the catcher.
Oliveros threw a fastball that hit Romine on the crown of the head and he immediately collapsed on the ground, writhing in pain as the benches cleared.
“Romine has two kiddos. All I can think about when he was laying on the ground — his toes kicking on the ground — all I thought about was, what (Oliveros) gained versus what (Romine) could have lost,” Eddy Rodriguez said. “That to me is ridiculous because human beings are way bigger than this game no matter how much money we make, no matter how macho you are.
“It does not matter because at the end of the day, you know what? If that guy is on the streets somewhere, is he going to go after Romine without a baseball in his hand? My guess is no because Romine’s as hard-nosed of guy a I’ve ever been around.”
At the same time, Frieri understands his role as a pitcher. There are times when he’s called to protect one of his teammates.
Even though he’s been a closer most of his professional career, he knows there’s a time and place for payback, and if it’s needed he’s not afraid to follow through for his team.
“This is baseball and that’s part of it? You respect the game. If you don’t, you’re going to pay for it,” Frieri said. “If I have the chance, because it’s not easy because I can come into a one-run game, I’m not going to do it. I don’t want to be that stupid. I don’t want to be too brave, ‘Oh, I can do it.’ No. That’s being stupid. If the games not (close), like 3-0 and two outs, maybe I’m letting them know we have our guy’s back.”
The varying opinions between Rodriguez and Frieri are evidence of just how difficult baseball’s unwritten rule is to read.
But at the end of the day, players like Frieri are team players and are going to do what he has to do for his team.
“If I see that somebody’s playing around with one of my teammates — he’s trying to hurt one of my teammates — I’m going to do something,” the closer said. “I’m not a guy that likes to talk before, if I see the chance I’m going to do it.”