At Some Point in Life, We Are All Carlos Quentin

[DOUGHBOYS]

My high school and College playing days over due to a 'sore arm', which later in life would turn into rotator cuff surgery, I turned to fast pitch softball. I made the transition more gracefully than most. One game I hit three homers. I don't say this to brag, merely to set up the rest of the story. I thought little of the good hitting night. For me, just another league game.
Leading up to a re-match vs. that same team two weeks later, friends and teammates let me know that the pitcher who gave up the three homers was not happy with me and had told people that he would 'get me'.

Amazing the things that run through a person's mind when armed with this information. As a baseball pitcher, I had run the gamut of being in both situation's.
I had hit batter's. I had hit hitter's intentionally.
I had been hit by pitches. And I know a couple of them were intentional. Through all those games, I had never approached a pitcher and a hitter had never done the same to me. At the same time, no pitcher had ever proclaimed two weeks in advance that they were going to 'get me'.

I had thoughts of 'bailing' on the first pitch, but I didn't want to look like a wuss. I thought about engaging him in conversation before the game, but felt that would probably make things worse. "Hey sorry I hit those dingers off ya, heard you're out to get me!"
Nah, that wouldn't work.
Finally, I just decided to get my ass in the batters box and whatever happens, happens.
The first two batters reached base and I thought to myself that he wouldn't want to hit me and load the bases.
I was wrong.
The pitch bored in on me and hit me in the side. It didn't hurt at all. But for some reason, I was pissed. Maybe it was thinking about this moment for the last two weeks. Maybe it was that I couldn't get out of the way.
I still don't know.
But, I was pissed. And I didn't know what to do with myself.
I didn't run to the mound, I just started walking towards him. I had no idea what I was going to do when we got within striking distance. Maybe I was hoping he'd say something. I really don't know. But here I was walking towards him. Behind him, our leadoff hitter, who was on second base, started running towards him. I thought that he may tackle him from behind or sucker punch him.
He didn't.
He ran right past him and put me in a bear hug. I'll always remember what he said.
"YOU WENT THE WRONG WAY, DAN! FIRST BASE IS THIS WAY!" He started leading me towards first base. And then turning towards the pitcher, he shouted for everybody to hear, "YOU MAY NOT HAVE NOTICED THAT TWO WEEKS AGO WHEN YOU HIT THREE BOMBS OFF THIS GUY!"
I laughed. A lot of people laughed. I went to first base and the game continued without problem.

I write this because of the Zack Greinke-Carlos Quentin incident.
Sometimes it doesn't matter if Quentin crowds the plate.
It doesn't matter if he gets hit a lot.
It doesn't matter if it was a 3-2 pitch.
Sometimes, we're human and we're pissed.
We have no idea what Greinke said, but being pissed and hearing a pitcher say ANYTHING would be enough for some to do what Quentin did. I've seen it. I've seen charts of the pitches. I've seen Quentin crowd the plate.
It all means nothing.
I don't think Greinke or Quentin are at fault. I don't think of either of them as an idiot.
Some times we're just pissed and want to do something about it.
Even if we have no idea what that 'something' is.

[KJ Duke]

You really do have a million of 'em don't you Dan? On point!

I think you could replace just about any baseball sportswriter in the country and their fan base would be ecstatic. ESPN, MLB, SI ... is anyone listening ?

[Quahogs]

You really do have a million of 'em don't you Dan? On point!

I think you could replace just about any baseball sportswriter in the country and their fan base would be ecstatic. ESPN, MLB, SI ... is anyone listening ?

KJ SHhhhhhhhhh... he'd have less time for us

[Glenneration X]

As always, right on target Doughy. Way to place an obviously hot topic on these boards into a more personal viewpoint for the rest of us.

Many of us I'm sure have played sports in our lives, whether organized or sandlot, whether in our youth, young adulthood, or today. Many of us I'm sure have also let logic and reason give way to the emotion of the moment and of the battle sometime while playing. Actions and reactions don't always make sense when looked at without emotion and from outside the situation. The Quentin/Greinke brawl and what triggered it may likely be one of those cases.

By the way, I agree with KJ. You'd be one helluva an asset for any site or publication that was smart enough to bring you on board.

[DOUGHBOYS]

Thanks for the niceties KJ, Steve, and Glenn, really appreciated.

Sometimes it is easy forget that these players are human, isn't it?
Move it along, nothing to see here.