I'm not going to fault Plouffe for screwing up at third. He hasn't had much time there and third base is probably the most unique position on the field outside of catcher. It's all about reaction time and that takes some adjustment.

Just my two cents, but I'm trying to figure out exactly why Oswalt would want to hit Mauer in that situation. It isn't as though he was retaliating against something.

 

That said, I don't have a problem throwing at someone, but I have a huge issue with throwing at someone's head where you have a potential career ending or life threatening injury. If you are going to do it intentionally, put it right on his thigh which will leave a nice bruise and slow him down for a game or two, but at the head is classless and should warrant a rather long suspension.

 

While I agree with you that throwing at a players head is ridiculous, and should never be done intentionally. I highly doubt that Diamond was looking to hit Hamilton in the head. We all have said he should have gone for his thigh, or back, or ribs, etc.... and I honestly think that is where he was aiming. But to try and target a spot on a batter and hit him is extremely difficult to do. No matter who is throwing the ball. Not to mention that Hamilton totally knew a ball was coming right at him, and leaned forward to avoid being hit. Which IMO, is why it looked as if the ball was going for his head. If he stand there and takes it like a man, he gets hit in the upper right arm or roughly the same place Mauer did.