Was Prince Fielder Right to Charge the Dugout?

Baseball has its share of action every season. While we see the same things repeatedly through the years, sometimes new things become more prevalent. One such thing this season is hit batters.

Fans may not think much of this as the batter automatically takes first base for their team, but the experience of being hit by a major league fastball is quite painful for the baseball players. No one could easily take a pitch of the sort, especially depending upon where it’s been thrown.

Many of the hit by pitch situations in 2009 have resulted in ejections, fines, and even brawls. A few of these pitches have legitimately caused injuries and while the motive for most of these is nonexistent, some scenarios genuinely look like the pitcher beaned the batter purposely.

This year, hundreds of batters have been hit by pitches, some more remembered than others such as Scott Rolen getting struck in the head by a pitch, injuring him for more than a couple days. And then there’s the time the pitch was thrown at Dustin Pedroia’s head and he ducked and it missed him, but then the next pitch was placed right below that and beamed him in the side.

Just last week, Manny Ramirez of the Dodgers was struck with a pitch while his team trailed the Brewers 17-4. The game had little meaning as far as the score was concerned, but things were about to heat up.

The next inning, still a 17-4 blowout, Fielder stepped up to bat and was immediately struck in the side by a pitch by former teammate Guillermo Mota. Fielder remained calm and took his base but after the game he charged the Dodgers club house hoping to find a certain pitcher for some revenge. The only thing in his way was a small security guard that looked like he was gonna cry, but luckily some of his teamates convinced him to back off, and the little security guard called for about 6 more little guys.

Mota has a history of hitting batters at the plate, and actions like this must be reprimanded. Fielder felt the pitch was intentional, and so did fans watching the game.

Fielder may have been somewhat out of line in doing what he did, but he was right to stand up to a growing trend of pitchers putting the well-being of batters at risk by going after them with the ball. Hopefully commissioner Selig will take notice.

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