@@CubeInspector I think the word you're looking for is motive, which is used along with other circumstantial evidence to infer intent. One cannot know exactly another's thoughts without confession or 1st-hand testimony and barring those, intent cannot be "proven". However, you can prove innocence or prove guilt, and you can attempt to prove intent by convincing the jury and claim you've proven intent in the courtroom in closing statements.
@@PhilLongley he's an idiot because the catcher and batter already handled it amicably. Now he gets himself ejected for a non-issue that wasn't even really the batters fault to begin with
No, this was a Soft Toss at a Soft Target. It was an obligatory "gotta hit you" rather than throwing at his head trying to hurt him. This is acceptable... shouldn't have been ejected, especially with no warnings.
@@maizeman90You don't know the rules of Baseball. The Pitcher HAD to hit him, and chose to do it a lot nicer than anyone else. Soft Pitch to the Butt rather than a Cutting Fastball to the Face or Liver like most pitchers do.
@@justinlast2lastharder749 I'm aware of the unspoken rules. And many of times they are completely stupid. I'd agree with you had the catcher and batter not quashed things already. The injury wasn't even the batters fault. There is no obligatory need to hit the batter. Yes, it was a soft toss. It's still stupid and he threw at the batter on the previous pitch and missed. I've not seen the pitch so idk if he was warned then. Dumb to risk rejection on a resolved issue
Or Happ did care, but isn't one to start a fight when the umps are taking care of the issue. John Tumpane, the home plate ump, is probably the best ump in baseball, and the fact that he was able to nip this shit in the bud so quickly and decisively is a testament to that. Oh, and Mikolas is a Charmin soft sociopath, he definitely did that shit on purpose and deserved to be run.
Likely didn’t care, could’ve gone either way. Catcher hugged it out after so if there was no revenge pitch I don’t think anyone would’ve bat an eye. There was a revenge pitch and it’s one of those things 25+ years ago everyone would’ve known it was coming. But nowadays, it’s a little surprising but tbh could have been expected.
Umpires need to enforce that batters stay inside the batters box. The batter it standing with his whole back foot over the line and outside of the box. The catcher is well inside his own space. It's not the catcher's job to accommodate the batter because he feels too confined by the rules.
Catcher sets up too close, gets hit in the head. Pitcher needs two shots to hit a guy. Gets ejected for throwing a baseball at a batter, announcers freak out for some reason.
@@JonEslickthere also has been a trend recently where the catchers have been getting their hands hurt from (and get this) BEING TO CLOSE to the batter's batting zone
@JonEslick the catchers moved up to gather more strikes due to the glove being directly in the swing path. That's why umps are calling more bad balls/strikes. The catcher is in fact too close especially as the batter looks to be set at the backside of the batters box.
Contreras caused this issue. He sets up closer to the plate to try to frame the pitch. That was a normal follow through on Happ’s swing. This has been a worsening issue since last season.
Gotta disagree on that. First angle isn't great, but it certainly looks like batter's foot is on or over the back barrier of the batter's box that of course has been rubbed out. Second angle looks pretty clear that catcher's glove is behind the same line. Been far too long the first batters up have been allowed to rub out that line. Catchers are getting hurt as a result.
It's how Contreras got his arm fractured. He even said he's gonna keep setting up that close to the plate when he comes back because framing is part of the game now. It's why he wasn't upset with Happ here. The ridiculous part here is the Cardinals retaliating because they know where their catchers are setting up. This wasn't something to retaliate against.
Should just be you leave 2 hands on the bat. If not, you can take a hand off, but if you make contact with the catcher it is an automatic end of inning
I agree, I was actually at this game and before I thought it could have maybe been Happ’s fault, but then a few weeks ago J.D Martinez hit Contreras with his bat and broke his arm. Contreras is told to move closer to the plate so he can frame pitches easier and fool the umpires
@@parkerjones3019. They didn’t win a World Series together. Ian Happ made his debut in 2017 (the season after the WS). Also, that obviously wasn’t on purpose.
Pitcher didn't even throw hard, and the bater knew it was coming. That's right!!! The umps should have a better feel the game. The players took care of the situation.
Even happ knew it sounded like he already rode one in so he had to know but he took it and walked. No words. That’s baseball. I also hate mid game bat flips anyone wanna argue ?
Maybe the catchers should stop creeping so close to the goddamn plate to try and frame shitty pitches. Also the batter and catcher resolved it. The pitcher just made himself look like a child.
@@billnyethesciencedenier1516 He first threw a fast ball at this head. The video doesn't show that. And these unwritten rules are stupid. They only protect the feelings of the crybaby pitchers. Glad more and more hitters are breaking these "unwritten" rules.
@@JohnJohn-wr1jo as a professional player you should be able to determine what is a bad play from the coach/bench. Who’s ever choice it was, it was a hard R pansy decision to do. In no way did this require any retaliation… dumb stuff
@@grimsolace4433nah bruh that dude deserved to get hit. U can control ur backswing to not possible give a player a concussion. Also getting hit by a pitch although it definitely hurts ain’t nearly as bad as a possible concussion.
Pitcher was a dumbass for “sending a message” that didn’t need to be sent. (and he did a pisspoor job needing two attempts to hit Happ) Happ didn’t backswing on purpose to hit his friend and former teammate.
Even the Cardinals were waving their pitcher back to the dugout. That's when the announcers changed their tone. The announcers are the ones that need the feel of baseball. The feel of the game.
He hit him with the bat and apologized and they hugged and walked away. Should’ve been over with. So I 100% agree with the umps to straight up eject him without a warning. Pitcher taking things too far.
idk dude, when you play at that level, small "mistakes" are most of the time, intentional! I mean, he knocked out a guy from the field on an accident? F that, these guys know exactly what they are doing.
Pitcher didn’t appreciate the negligence, just saw his guy get hit in the head with a bat, hits dude in hip to let them know they don’t accept that, could be worse next time. they probably don’t do that again in fear of a fastball coming at their head next time. Yes escalated it, but maybe other team gets the point to not do that again. Ejection is kinda weak since there was no warnings and he hit him in a respectable spot
@@xXxFroztyy “hit him in a respectable spot” there was no reason to hit him in the first place when both players resolved the issue on their own. Guy came in full hot with his ego higher than the stadium. It would be like two people getting into a fist fight, then hugging it out and making up and then some random friend socking the guy in the face. Absolutely pointless. And good on the umpire for making it clear that behavior is not tolerated. Ps you are someone to stay away from.
I bet you're the type that won't help a friend in a fist fight because it's against the rules or something. Don't wanna get in trouble with mommy, it's okay little boy.
You can hear the announcers mention him doing that. Mikolas tried, but threw the fastball slightly low and Happ dodged it. So Mikolas decided to aim center mass on the next throw to hit Happ.
Well deliberately pitching at someone is always a PoS move... panned out exactly as it should when you Deliberately try to hurt someone. Baseball is a game, not a battle.
Fucking stupid thing to do either way. Costing your team potentially all for the sake of pettiness and getting back. It does absolutely fuck all especially if it all stemmed from an accident.
A little context for the ones who aren't too familiar with this: Happ & Contreras were former teammates. As recent as last season. There was no ill intent, hence the hug. Then what the clip doesn't show, the pitch prior to this one, is Mikolas aiming for his head and missing. And then follows up with this pitch to the butt.
@@GreasyBeastyeven without the prior pitch he should have been ejected with no warning. Clearly immediately retaliating with hitting a batter intentionally is grounds for ejection. Should be an automatic suspension too but the mlb is too weak knee’d for that.
Good...they should have thrown him out and fined him 💯 any pitcher that purposely hits a batter with a pitch should be suspended and fined 😒 how unprofessional.
As a St. Louis fan, Mikolas should be focusing on throwing a damn strike before throwing at a batter that literally just hugged it out with Contreras. Stupid move. He’s been awful this season.
@@keith3915 dude you throw it at someone’s ass to keep it from hurting them. It’s the most meaty area other than maybe our thighs. He threw it on purpose😂😂
@@jeremyweems4916is that a joke? It was accidental contact and they bro-hugged. The catcher could shrugged off Happ, but he didn’t. Doesn’t mean that the pitcher gets a free toss at Happ.
You have to know the background of this. I saw the game because I am a Cubs fan. Mikolas had no reason to do this because Happ would never purposefully hit Contreras. They used to be teammates and good friends and you could see the expression on his face when he hit him. Mikolas shouldn’t have been ejected but there was no reason to do that and he should have known that.
Without ejections, it just becomes a constant cycle of “getting revenge” for their guy. The problem is these feuds don’t even last just a series. Warnings might stop that, but then it just turns into getting revenge months in the future, which just fans the flames again.
Happ and Contreras were teammates. There was no ill feelings between the two. There was no need to “send a message” to Happ. Pitcher deserves to be ejected.
So did Happ for nearly killing the catcher with an unintentional but totally unnecessary showboat swing. When Happ didn't get ejected, he HAD to be plunked to let him know to have some bat discipline and don't kill our catcher you weak punk. THAT is baseball.
Happ needs to fix his swing. You don’t just get to hit people in the head because you have a quirky swing. The hit by pitch was sending a message that he needs to fix it or he’ll keep getting hit.
@@TheClaw1536 "happ needs to fix his swing" spoken by somebody whos never been paid to swing a bat in their life, you dont mess with the swing that made you rich. you mong.
I am old school in most cases, but what happened at the plate was a complete accident. There was no malice involved, and they even embraced as the guy was going to the dugout. There was no reason to bean him. The pitcher deserved to get thrown out for that stupidity.
If its an “accident” thats a result of being lazy on controlling his backswing. The catcher was being a professional, the pitcher sent the message that batters can control their bat or get plunked. How was there no reason if it discourages batters from hitting the catcher?
@@traphousemusic1880How did he deserve it when it was an accident. He wasn't looking back trying to intentionally clock the catcher, but the pitcher did throw two revenge pitches
...and the batter knew he had it coming and took it. He didn't beam his head. Same concept as fights in hockey. Players can check each other to make sure they are more mindful in the future.
Who's this announcer who's says " Have a little feel for baseball." ? One was unintentional the other wasn't. I don't care what anyone says, throwing at people is not, or shouldn't be, part of the game. Be a grown up and throw the ball over the plate.
@@nofurtherwest3474probably an accident this time, but there are a few guys who do it completely on purpose. It hasnt been a real issue until more recently
I feel the players handled that with complete respect. Batter knew what he did, he was calm and I’m sure “sorry” pitcher gave him an easy one in the side batter acknowledged it and took his base WIThOUt COMPLAINT. This is programming for the players and the masses.
@@dianeschmidt6367if your bias is more important than someone trying to intentionally injure someone who accidentally injured another player, I have no respect for you. I'm glad umpires aren't taking as much shit anymore in regards to intentionally hit batters, because pitchers are just being crybabies and using it whenever they think fit.
Announcers: they don’t need to issue warnings, if they feel it’s intentional they can throw them out Also announcers when it’s their team: HAVE A LITTLE FEEL FOR THE GAME
Why not throw Happ out for the dangerous, showboating swing? Zero reason to EVER let the bat fly like that and he could kill the catcher doing that. Since the umpires didn't have the balls to eject Happ to send the message that you can't swing like that, the pitcher did EXACTLY the right thing. In the old days, Bob Gibson would have beaned Happ for an undisciplined dangerous bat to the head of his catcher, unintentional or not.
@@UnderwaterAlexJones I would have no problem with Gibson being run but Happ would think twice about the reckless follow through in the future. Problem solved. Players that don't protect their teammates are cowards and get traded, as they should. If Happ doesn't want to get hit, then have some bat discipline and don't endanger other players with your showboat swing. Finally, I have NOTHING to do with MLB rules or their enforcement. I am just offering an opinion of a fan of the game since the 1960's. Don't wet your diaper over my opinion. Opinions are just like butt holes, everyone has one and most of them stink.
@worlddevourer7740 you’re wrong and there is no such thing as a showboat swing. Happ has been using that follow through swing his entire career. The cardinals announcers are boneheads and so is anyone who thinks that Happ should’ve gotten ejected for something that was accidental.
Yeah but this is happening too much. Batters need to knock it off. I agree with the ejection but only because you already threw at him once. Throwing at him twice earns an ejection.
@@lpdb1995 you realize one of man's first weapons was a club right? Idc how unlikely it is the batter smacked the catcher with a bat. I mean people still use baseball bats as weapons to this day
It was the first inning, and no warning was given after the previous pitch was thrown at his head. Then he hits him in the hip with a low velocity fastball and gets ejected. That's where the complaint was made. Umpires need to keep the game in context. Unless a starting pitcher kills a guy, you don't toss him in the first inning.
Announcer is Chip Caray. Long-time voice of the Atlanta Braves who took the job to do the same with the Cardinals. He comes from a long line of famous MLB announcers.
If you can't control your bat, you should be ejected like a high stick in😊 hockey. He hit him in the hip, and it didn't injure the player. Now the Cardinals are put two players, not the right call.
@@kevingeier3385 players run into each other all the time on the basepaths. you want to start ejecting every player that unintentionally comes into contact with an opponent? and you forget the whole point of pitchers purposely beaning batters. this was absolutely the wrong time to do it.
@@michaelweston2285 If the coaches and umpires refuse to keep batters in the box, so the swing of the bat (just as controllable as a pitch, by the way!) does not hit the catcher, then they have no business ejecting the pitcher. We all know that this problem of catchers getting hit by the bat has been going on way too much this season! It's time for the umps to do their job.
The announcers are clowns for saying throwing him out was bad call when he threw at him twice. Its not "feel for the game" its one guy accidentally hit catcher, the pitcher intentionally hit the batter after the batter and catcher handled the situation man to man.
Yeah they were pretty dumb about it. One of them saying "get a feel for the game" is just plain wrong. Baseball has so many stupid unwritten rules about nonsense like this. It was an accident, and the batter didn't mean to do it and apologized. No need to throw at his head or even at him in general. Well deserved ejection.
The announcer was right, though. The pitcher had no choice but to take up for his catcher. It didn’t matter if it was intentional, or if the batter said he was sorry and gave the guy a hug. The pitcher knew he had a responsibility to his teammates, and he did his job. Everyone on both teams understood this, and no one had any problem with it, including the batter. It wasn’t even a big deal, whatsoever. Then, of course, for no good reason, the umpires decided to make it one. That’s why he said they need to get a feel for the game, and he was obviously right.
@@chriswebster24he has the responsibility to smack the next batter with a ball due to accidental contact? I swear I played baseball for years but y’all are fuckin mad. Such a bad culture…
Batter was in control of his swing. He didn't "accidentally" swing his bat. You're 100% incorrect. The pitcher released the ball and uncontrollable factors steered the ball.
If you haven't noticed there is a lot of batters that are hitting catchers with their swings. They know damn well they are doing it and haven't changed shit. If the pitcher can control a pitch, the batter can control the fucking bat. You don't know shit.
Ancient storm years about 12 years old I can tell that so I’m not going to hurt your feelings too badly but if you watch the video of the batter slipped his wrist and then he hit the catcher in the head. The picture purposely threw the ball at his balls. If you watch the video is the battery didn’t move it was going straight for his balls so once again, Child stop acting like you know what happened because at the end of the day you’re about 12 years old and you’ve never played baseball in your life.
Getting mad about a catcher getting hit by the back swing is stupid. If you’re gonna get that close on the plate to try and steal strikes you’re in the danger zone and you know it. Retaliation is garbage.
@@user-sn1se8kh7zany intentional hit should be an automatic ejection. This was the most obvious intentional hit ever. There isn’t always time to react and escape a pitch and getting hit by a pitch can end a career.
Number one rule in batting is to keep both hands on the bat. You lose power in the swing. I learned that in little league. The bat isnt a weapon? And the catcher got hit in the head vs a ball to the butt. All the pitchers call the pitches, so it wasnt even him making that call. The batter has control of what happens in the swing. Plus this swing to the catchers has been goin on more often this season than ever.
I literally can't watch any other team because most other announcers just don't have the excitement that cardinal announcers have. Unless it's Jim Edmons
I played catcher as a kid. I was told it was MY responsibility to see to it I was clear of a follow through, the batter has every right to swing away unhindered. Pitch was unprofessional!
Nothing wrong with anything anyone did, except maybe the batter at first for not controlling the bat, but that was an honest accident. That happens, you know the pitch is coming. But you pitch deliberately at a batter, the umps are gonna eject you. That's everyone playing their roles.
He kept it in the mid section didn't put any heat on it sent the message it wasn't meant to hurt anyone as someone was already hurt from the previous play. PLAY BALL!
@@dahoodlum1253 They edited this clip. Before he hit him with that pitch he threw one before it that was a high fastball at like chin height that could have done some pretty serious damage if the batter hadn't moved out of the way. Letting the first one go was his warning but seeing he intentionally did it again he got ejected.
