I agree 100%. As I'm sure is clear from my post above, I'm not defending throwing at batters.

I think going for someone's head is taking it too far, I'm certainly not defending Barnes here. But I've got an issue with the bolded.

a) we don't know that.
b) if someone steps on your foot and apologizes, you forgive and forget. If they step on your foot again, you get a bit more irritated, even if they apologize again. Third time, even worse, again the fourth. Machado has a history of horse**** like this, whether it's getting upset at Donaldson for tagging him and throwing his bat down the third base line, or getting in to it with Yordano Ventura because Ventura threw on the inside half.

So sure, maybe he didn't mean to do it and he just kind of lost control of his slide, but someone who has never run in to any issues like this is going to get a lot more leeway than Machado because he's had so many of these situations over such a short period of time in the league.

JFC. Reading comprehension. How does it work? Of course I don't think what Barnes did was remotely OK. That's why I posted this less than an hour ago:

I can say that it will be difficult to entirely eliminate retribution from baseball without endorsing retribution, especially retribution of the sort that Barnes engaged in.

Understood, which is why I think the retribution didn't come for 2 full days (they had time to think about it). That said, looks like Pedroia was annoyed at his team mates for doing it.

The difference this time is Machado immediately checked on him (not like his prior issues), and you can see from watching the video that after his cleat gets kicked up he pulls it back.

I have no issue with brushback pitches etc, obviously. I do have a massive issue with trying to get back at someone who does something dirty like you're in the ****ing playground. Grow up.

Common knowledge. You don't steal a base up 10. You don't showboat. You don't throw at my guy. If you do, your guy gets hit.

My bad - I even quoted that post!

I still maintain it's not the same as what happens in other sports, not at all. With the possible exception of hockey and enforcer types, even then......

Book of Stupid Unwritten Rules rule 8.01 (4.03b)

LOL at defending the unwritten rules of baseball.

Yeah those aren't rules of the game. Those are unwritten rules, and if you throw at someone deliberately you're getting ejected (in the rules of the game).

Almora actually held up at 3rd last night when he could have scored, which annoyed me at the time as I own him in fantasy and am likely to lose runs scored this week.

I will always defend the unwritten rules of baseball, damnit!

Btw that new Chipper Jones book is legit.

He's a big unwritten rules guy. You'd like it xnbomb

I don't remember these, but did Machado try to hurt opponents during them? There's a difference between getting upset and actively trying to injure another player. The Red Sox are implicitly accusing him of the latter.

There was the really awful slide (not the Pedroia one):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HyJgAJ-Ec-Y

Barnes wasn't throwing at his head, he was obviously expertly pitching to contact

Interesting. Even this isn't as bad as intentionally going studs up, but it's definitely reckless.

RE: Heyward,

This swooning over 18 games of not even .800 OPS is hilarious

These rules exist in every sport. Why is it people only complain about them in baseball?

Edit: and I will defend them right along with you!

Right? Amusing.

I do think in large part, at least amongst Cubs fans and commentators, it's that he's of such large value to the team defensively (and I guess intangibly with the clubhouse presence etc) that even an average bat will be huge.

He had a positive WAR last year (not joking) despite a slash line of .230/.306/.325, that's how good his defense is.

Sounds like Derek Jeter is buying the Marlins along with... Jeb! PLEASE CLAP GUYS.

I think it's best to clarify it as "That's how good certain defensive metrics rate him"

He's like the anti-Schwarber.

Since defensive metrics have been brought up, maybe you guys can help me understand something. How is it possible AJ Pollock has a -3 DRS, the same as Yasmany Tomas? Watching the two play outfield is night and day. Is it just lol sample size, or is Pollock just really bad? Because to my untrained eye, he looks pretty good out there.

Just heard Thames has 7 hrs in 19 abs against the reds this season and 6 of those were with 2 strikes. LOL reds.

Good god are you a pussy.

Knew this was coming. So very predictable.

If thinking that deliberately throwing a baseball at someone at 95 mph with the intention of hurting them is wrong, stupid, puerile and idiotic makes me a pussy I'm more than fine with it.

It's the majors, not a ****ing pickup game in the park. Stop being a ****ing child and beat the opposition.