Before getting into a discussion of just how much testosterone is displayed by American League pitchers when throwing at the heads of batters, a brief word or two about the present state of the playoffs this Monday morning.

Click below for an excellent analysis, thanks for the contribution Ed,
Marty The Marlins are putting up as gallant a fight as this young team can muster against the Cubs. However, they are looking at Prior and, if necessary, Woods, in the remaining two games at Wrigley. The likelihood of success seems remote. Dusty has done his typical great job in bringing this club to the verge of entering the World Series. Florida threw Beckett, their best pitcher at the Cubs yesterday and were rewarded by a great effort. They have no one comparable to pitch in the remaining games.

The Red Sox and the Yankees—-what remains to be said after the torrent of words from players, management, media? It was an ugly game, a display of ridiculous, unbecoming behavior on the part of those involved. Statements after the events unfolded added nothing to reassure one that adults had finally taken charge. Baseball deserves better.

It has finally come to the attention of the national press, notably the New York Times, that in addition to the intended consequences of the destructive designated hitter rule there are unintended consequences which should provoke its removal from the structure of the game. What has long been apparent to many observers, the designated hitter rule has allowed the American League headhunters, Clemens, Martinez and their ilk, to throw at batters heads without fear of having their own heads thrown at.

Pitchers in that league don’t come up to hit. The American League has changed the rules of the game. They play ten men to a side rather than the traditional, nine men. Their teams consist of nine position players and a pitcher. When the drastic rule change was first announced it’s proclaimed justification was that the game needed more hitting to make it more interesting for the fans— and, unsaid, bring more of them to the ballpark and more money to the owners. When one last looked, Bonds and Sosa and Pujols were playing in the National League, the Giants were selling out their ballpark every game during the season, and, as far as one could tell, Giants fans were enjoying the game as much as A’s fans.

Some of the thoughtless reactions of involved individuals during and after the game bear reflection. Ramirez’ display of manly rage after a ball was thrown a foot or two from his head and clearly wasn’t thrown at him, was one of the more outlandish episodes. Clemens’ statements after the game that if he wanted to throw at hitters heads they would certainly know that was happening was simply reiterating what was generally known, namely, that on occasion he threw at hitters heads. When one throws a baseball at the speed of 95 miles an hour at someone standing 60 feet away, intending to hit him, this comes perilously close to being a criminal act.

It is true that pitchers throw inside and should continue to have the right to do so, Should they have the right to intentionally throw at a batters head, intending to hit him? I know of nothing in the rule book that says so. Do pitchers do that? Simply listen to types such as Clemens. Simply watch Martinez, who never tries to hide what he is doing. Would they continue to endanger the lives of others if they knew they were the next target when they came up to bat?

The owner of the Sox, after the game, compared Martinez to Bob Gibson and Don Drysdale, noted headhunters. Gibson and Drysdale were headhunters but at least they had the guts to stand up and take whatever retaliation was in store for them. The designated hitter rule gives the headhunter the freedom to put the batter’s health at risk while hiding out therafter, in the dugout. Doesn’t sound much like an even battle or a rare display of courage.

There was one notable display of adult behavior on the field the other day. It was the sight of Jeter, in the midst of all the chaos,walking deliberately up to Clemens, who was standing on the mound, clearly with the intention of keeping him out of the fray and letting him know that winning the game was the only important thing. There was no point in losing sight of that fact, a self-evident observation which most of the participants had lost sight of. It might be noted that Clemens went on to shut down the Sox.

One could go on at length but one thing rings clear and loud. The Sox are unlikely to win this series. It isn’t that they are cursed. They simply aren’t as self assured and mature as Jeter…. and they aren’t hitting very well and Martinez still can’t beat the Yankees.