Kansas City Royals: The Next Phase of Winning
By Paul York
Kansas City Royals starting pitcher Yordano Ventura (center) talks with Chicago White Sox – Mandatory Credit: Matt Marton-USA TODAY Sports
Ventura Wasn’t To Blame For This One
As we learned later, Ventura quick-pitched Eaton, and Eaton ended up initiating the jaw-jacking between Ventura and him. If you’re inclined to say the quick-pitch was bush league, then you have to consider Jeremy Guthrie, Luke Hochevar and Zack Greinke as bush league, as they’ve all employed that same strategy from time to time while in a Royals uniform.
Did Ventura need to stare Eaton down after fielding the ground ball? No. Is that enough reason to engage in a bench-clearing brawl? I sure wouldn’t think so.
"As we learned later, Ventura quick-pitched Eaton, and Eaton ended up initiating the jaw-jacking between Ventura and him…Did Ventura need to stare Eaton down after fielding the ground ball? No. Is that enough reason to engage in a bench-clearing brawl?"
Baseball is back in Kansas City. Why aren’t we embracing this? I’d probably classify myself as more of a baseball purist, and would prefer the old days of guys hitting a home run, dropping the bat, and making their way around the bases at a good pace.
In other words, I’d prefer the batter not show up the pitcher. That’s not reality though.
No, reality is that we’re living in a baseball age where guys like David Ortiz and Jose Bautista can literally stand in the batter’s box after dropping a bomb, admire it, stare out at the pitcher, and THEN start a very leisurely stroll around the bases. Not only that, but they can do this with no repercussions.
So why aren’t pitchers afforded that same right? If batters can have free rein to show up a pitcher, it’s only right that a pitcher can show some excitement after big out.
Given the multitude of incidents Ventura has been involved with this season, the only one I have any kind of problem with is staring down Mike Trout after a base hit up the middle. Unless there is some history there that I don’t know about, which is a very real possibility, that seemed bush league.
Next: Samardzija May Have Been The Instigator