Brazen does not play well in baseball, especially when the brazen one has yet to complete a major league month.
Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Cole Hamels showed that reality Sunday night when he gave a young and, some might say, cocky phenom an interesting welcome to the major leagues.
In a move that some old-school types might shrug about, Hamels admitted plunking Washington Nationals outfielder Bryce Harper in the back with the first pitch of Harper’s first at-bat. There was no doubt about intent because Hamels admitted throwing at Harper.
“I think that’s kind of a warped sense of what it’s all about,” said former Indians, Orioles and Mariners manager Mike Hargrove. “But the game at the major league level sometimes comes down to intimidation. Intimidation with talent, or intimidation with a physical presence. It sounds like Hamels was just trying to get his bluff in first.”
Interesting, Hargrove seemed more surprised about Hamels’ candor. He said he probably would advise Hamels not be so honest if it happened again.
“I’d call him aside and ask, ‘What is he thinking in admitting it?’ ” said Hargrove, now a special adviser to the Indians' front office. “It’s a real no-no to throw at someone’s head, the shoulders up. I’m sure that he didn’t do that. Really . . . after the fact, there’s not a whole lot you can say, other than if you do don’t come out and publicly say you did it on purpose.
“That’s kind of cutting off your nose to spite your face.”
Phillies manager Charlie Manuel agreed, telling WIP in Philadelphia he wished Hamels had been more discreet in discussing the pitch. Being honest sent the matter right to Joe Torre and baseball, where a decision on a suspension and/or fine will follow.
Hamels might have given Torre no choice.
Cleveland’s Ubaldo Jimenez was suspended for hitting Colorado’s Troy Tulowitzki late in spring training. Though it looked and seemed intentional, Jimenez said he didn’t mean to hit his former teammate. In April, Cleveland’s Jeanmar Gomez was suspended five games for hitting Kansas City’s Mike Moustakas. Gomez was operating within baseball’s understood code — he hit Moustakas after Kansas City had hit Cleveland’s Shin-Soo Choo.
Hamels ignited radio talk shows nationwide, as well as Twitter. There, Reds Hall of Famer Johnny Bench posted that in his rookie year “Gene Mauch brought in Turk Farrell. He knock(ed) me down 3 times on 3 pitches. You gotta get back up!”
Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo was, understandably, more upset. He called Hamels all sorts of names.
“I’ve never seen a more classless, gutless, chicken (bleep) act in my 30 years in baseball.” Rizzo told the Washington Post. “Cole Hamels says he’s old school? He’s the polar opposite of old school. He’s fake tough. He thinks he’s going to intimidate us after hitting our 19-year rookie who’s eight games into the big leagues? He doesn’t know who he’s dealing with.”
OK, then — except Rockies manager Jim Tracy already used the “most gutless” take when discussing Jimenez drilling his guy. There can only be one “most” gutless action.
Hamels’ message seems pretty direct, and it might have had much to do with respect — especially for the game. Harper has never been shy about touting his considerable talent, or going against baseball’s codes. He once blew a kiss to a Class A pitcher after homering off him. He has yelled at opposing players and umpires, going all the way back to junior college, when he was ejected from the Juco World Series for showing up an ump.
Hall of Famer Mike Schmidt told GQ that "at some point the game itself, the competition on the field, is going to have to figure out a way to police this young man.”
Hamels’ action may have been a first step.
As for Harper, Hargrove’s advice was basic: “Go on about your business. Things will even out.”
In a way, they did. Washington’s Jordan Zimmermann hit Hamels in the calf on his next at-bat. (Zimmermann said it was unintentional, and it may have been. It really doesn’t make a lot of sense to put a pitcher who is about to bunt on first.) After being hit, Harper went from first to third on a single and then stole home on a pickoff throw to first. Hamels admitted Harper answered him, and Manuel told WIP “I kind of think he was sending a message to us.”
Baseball’s traditions die hard, and they are part of the game’s appeal. “Initiating” a new star into the league has long been around. So has retaliation for hitting a teammate. The brushback pitch? Hargrove said it’s been part of the game forever.
“Players,” Hargrove said, “have done a pretty good job of policing themselves.”
