Twins Notebook 8/18: On Kenta Meada, Patience and Baseball's Unwritten Rules

"The “unwritten rules” of baseball are such an embarrassment to the sport. You have a generational superstar in Tatis Jr. and he’s being told not to hit a home run because he shouldn’t hurt the other team's feelings."   Anyone complaining if he pops up to the infield?    No, didn't think so.    If this stupid unwritten rule is so important to them then just put in a written rule that if you are up by such and such and have a 3-0 count it automatically turns to 3-1 without throwing a pitch.  Ridiculous.

The unwritten rules are so dumb.  You cannot celebrate too much, you cannot bunt for a hit with no hitter late in game, you cannot swing 3-0 with large lead late in game, so on and so on.  

I agree with T-J that I have seen 6 run come backs late in games.  If teams are so worried lets put in a mercy rule.  What if he Swung 0-0 and hit it, should be yelled at for not falling behind in count?  How did the others get on base?  I mean come on. 

I didn't play long enough to understand this, but if a coach sent a signal for him to take a pitch and he doesn't, said coach has a right to be pissed, no?   Or is it more of a suggestion - do hitters shake off signals like pitchers?  

Hitters do not shake off signals (they aren't even given the option in most leagues at most levels); they receive the signal from the 3rd base coach or manager, and they do what they are instructed to do.  Yes, if you miss a sign or ignore one, you are in trouble (oftentimes, they forgive you if you hit a home run when the bunt sign was on, but even then....).

I'm speechless. If you don't want a 3-0 pitch hit for a grand slam, pitch better. Instead of letting a fastball hang in the zone like an invitation.

Rangers just sound like bad losers. And I sincerely hope that Tatis doesn't "learn" from this.

I also like the unwritten rules of baseball.  Not all "good behavior" is codified into law, either, but in a game where a human holds a ball capable of throwing it at you at high speed, courtesy matters.  Baseball isn't just a set of rules - there is a necessary element of respect for the history of the game.  Sure, you play to win, but you don't grind the other guy's face in it.  I've always believed baseball was the least of the "guy on the other team is your enemy" sports (sorry, Bob Gibson); between the lines, play hard.  But with respect for the game and the other team, or someone's gonna get plunked.

I agree that up 6 or 7 runs in the 8th inning is not a "you must take a 3-0 pitch with the bases loaded" situation.  The other team could come back.  But I'd run fast with my head down....

I also like the unwritten rules of baseball.  Not all "good behavior" is codified into law, either, but in a game where a human holds a ball capable of throwing it at you at high speed, courtesy matters.  Baseball isn't just a set of rules - there is a necessary element of respect for the history of the game.  Sure, you play to win, but you don't grind the other guy's face in it.  I've always believed baseball was the least of the "guy on the other team is your enemy" sports (sorry, Bob Gibson); between the lines, play hard.  But with respect for the game and the other team, or someone's gonna get plunked.

 

I agree that up 6 or 7 runs in the 8th inning is not a "you must take a 3-0 pitch with the bases loaded" situation.  The other team could come back.  But I'd run fast with my head down....

I am all for respecting the game and some of the unwritten rules have their merits but I don't understand this one. Tatis gets a good pitch and is supposed to take it because it's a 3-0 count?

Hitting a home run when you're given the chance (in a game that isn't entirely out of reach) isn't what I would call showing up your opponent.

What can be more disrespectful to the game and to the opponent than not to play as hard as you can?

Some unwritten rules are rules. No. You do not bunt in the 9th inning of a no-hitter if your team is trailing by more than a run. No. You do not let yourself get hit by a pitch in the 9th with a perfect game on the line. Arbitrary? Maybe. Good Sportsmanship? Yes. I'm sure Charlie Hustle would beg to differ. 

Over/Under of Twins SP throwing 7 innings this year? I'm going under no matter the spread.

Go Twins

Jake Cake... mmmm....

The unwritten rules are so dumb.  You cannot celebrate too much, you cannot bunt for a hit with no hitter late in game, you cannot swing 3-0 with large lead late in game, so on and so on.  

 

I agree with T-J that I have seen 6 run come backs late in games.  If teams are so worried lets put in a mercy rule.  What if he Swung 0-0 and hit it, should be yelled at for not falling behind in count?  How did the others get on base?  I mean come on. 

Celebrating is great as long as you show sportsmanship and do not put any of it in the face of your opponent. When it comes to the approach you take to hitting in a one-sided game, SQUIRREL was spot on. If the team that is behind promises to stop trying to win the game, and I have never heard of that happening, then the team that is ahead should ease up. When it comes to breaking up a no-hitter, if it's a close game and you would bunt if it's not a no-hitter then you should not be castigated for bunting if it is a no-hitter.

Some unwritten rules are rules. No. You do not bunt in the 9th inning of a no-hitter if your team is trailing by more than a run. No. You do not let yourself get hit by a pitch in the 9th with a perfect game on the line. Arbitrary? Maybe. Good Sportsmanship? Yes. I'm sure Charlie Hustle would beg to differ. 

 

Over/Under of Twins SP throwing 7 innings this year? I'm going under no matter the spread.

 

Go Twins

I would take the under as well.   The problem with your unwritten rules are rules comment is this.    Compare your first example to the link I am sharing.   It was a perfect game in the 8th inning and down by two so already farther away from your examples.   So it is absolutely arbitrary and I absolutely differ on the good sportsmanship.    Its not good sportsmanship towards your teammates to consider your opponents feelings when it reduces your chances.    In this example it was the 8th inning, down by 2 in a perfect game and might I add a point in the season where they were only down by one game in the standings.   So in that case you have an opposing pitcher and manager that to this day rip on a guy for bunting and violating baseball's unwritten rules.    I remember at the time Tony Gwynn countering that his guy did nothing wrong and vaguely remember another all star at the time saying something like "If he was my teammate and thought his best chance of getting on base was to bunt but didn't bunt because someone on the other team thought it was violating an unwritten rule I wouldn't want him on my team."   How can you have unwritten rules when no one knows what the unwritten rules are?   https://www.mlb.com/news/tbt-bunt-spoils-curt-schilling-s-perfecto-c180341170

Celebrating is great as long as you show sportsmanship and do not put any of it in the face of your opponent. When it comes to the approach you take to hitting in a one-sided game, SQUIRREL was spot on. If the team that is behind promises to stop trying to win the game, and I have never heard of that happening, then the team that is ahead should ease up. When it comes to breaking up a no-hitter, if it's a close game and you would bunt if it's not a no-hitter then you should not be castigated for bunting if it is a no-hitter.

Last night is perfect example of the no-hitter no bunt rule.  Yes, it was not a bunt, but it was a weak hit that got Meada out of the game due to no-hitter broken and pitch count.  What happens?  Three runs later game is tied.  The question is how close is too close, or if the guy would normally bunt.  If shift is on and they giving the base hit should it be taken?  I mean once the pitching changed happened the whole game changed, if it was done via bunt people would be outraged, but the hit gave brew crew chance to win, thankfully they did not.  The point is, getting runners on base is how you win and change the dynamics of the game.  If you know a bunt will get the pitcher out because of pitch count, do the bunt change up the game give your team a chance.  I will agree if say it was 10-0 lead in the 9th a bunt for a hit to get pitcher out may be bush league, but 10 run innings happen.  The beauty of baseball is it is never over until that last out happens.  

In terms of celebrations, if you cannot handle the other team celebrating, do give them something to celebrate.  If you beat them and shut them up how will they shove it in your face?  It is not the other teams job to help you look good.  What is even more crazy is when the other team is upset about 1 player they throw at other players, like it is that players fault for the "broken rule" that is even more bush league to me.  Also, the celebration rule is very much against non-white cultures.  In Hispanic ball they will do all kinds of celebrations but then they are expected to form to the white norm of not doing it when they come to play MLB. 

I got an idea, lets not make guys run bases on HR anymore, like they do in slow pitch softball just hit and walk to bench.  Do not allow curten calls or 50 game suspension, if you do not run out of the box or do a bat flip, 50 game suspension.  If anyone on the bench claps or screams when something good happens 50 game suspension for them all.  Lets take all celebrations out of baseball so not upset people if you "cross the line"  The line will be any, because if not then the line is subjective for each person and how do you know if you have crossed it.