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Beaning Kinsler, Part II: Lackey Speaks

Posted on May 16th, 2009 9:18pm by Evan Grant
Filed under AL West race, Baseball, Game Recap, Texas Rangers

During John Lackey’s post-game press conference with reporters, he insisted he did not try to hit Kinsler.

“I haven’t pitched in six weeks,” Lackey said. ” I was obviously trying to come in on him but there was no intention to hit him or to come in behind him. If you know anything about me, I’d go straight to the source if I was going to do something. If you’ve ever talked to me, I’d tell you I was going to do something, I’d tell you if I did it, I’d stand up and own up to it. I did not try to throw at him. I hadn’t pitched in six weeks. The last thing I wanted to do was come out of the game early.”

I texted with a pretty astute baseball man, who still had doubts about Lackey’s aim. One point he made: Replays apparently showed that Angels C Mike Napoli didn’t have to move very much at all to catch the first pitch. If a pitcher was trying to come inside and missed by as much as Lackey did, the catcher would have had to lunge for the ball.

I remember this happening once before where a pitcher threw two pitches at a hitter early in a game and it was with complete purpose. It was Adam Eaton, then of the Rangers, throwing at Juan Rivera. It was 2006. The Rangers were trying to hang in the playoff race and were chasing the Angels (it was much later in the season). But it struck me at that point as a move of panic or desperation. It also led to a bench-clearing brawl a couple of weeks later in Arlington.  I’ll just say this, if indeed Lackey threw with purpose, it says one of two things: The Angels either respect the Rangers or they fear them.

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23 Comments to “Beaning Kinsler, Part II: Lackey Speaks”
  • scooper @ May 16th, 2009 at 9:21 pm

    @evan: that is a wonderful observation. Respect or fear? I’ll take either one. And the “astute baseball man” made a good one, too. I didn’t see the play, but, if the catcher caught the ball behind Kinsler easily, it’s because he knew where it was going!

  • James @ May 16th, 2009 at 9:37 pm

    Funny, minorleaguebaseball.com shows that Lackey pitched on 5/10 against Portland. By my count, that was six days ago and not six weeks ago.

  • Jack Daddy @ May 16th, 2009 at 9:44 pm

    No issue with the ejection. Umpires have to restore order and the had padilla on hill. But I have my doubts as to whether he was trying to hit him. His statement held some sway with me. Curious evan, as to what your angels beat buddies think.

    Meanwhile, bit it coming into house (was running down steps to get to door before alarm went off and my 3 he old stepped in front of me). The lunge to the slide saved his life and put me down. Seriously think shin is broken, hand has deep cut, hip is bruised severely. As i’m writhing in pain (might have been some f bombs), my 6 yr old says “dad, salty had some big hits tonight and ian’s play to end it was awesome”. I love this game!

  • Juboon @ May 16th, 2009 at 9:49 pm

    After watching the replay a whole buncha times, I think he meant to send the first one as a message and just missed on the second one. But, as Lennon said, “instant karma’s gonna get you.” ;)

  • scooper @ May 16th, 2009 at 10:00 pm

    I just saw the play for the first time. No question that the ball behind Kins was on purpose. The catcher didn’t even more his feet, he just reached out and caught it. And I still think that the plunk was on purpose, too.

  • scooper @ May 16th, 2009 at 10:02 pm

    @JackDaddy: I hope you’re ok! You are right, it’s really cool that your 6-yr-old is into the game like that.

  • scooper @ May 16th, 2009 at 10:07 pm

    Mark Grace also had a good observation on the FOX broadcast: Lackey was not particularly vehement in his argument that he wasn’t throwing at Ian.

  • James @ May 16th, 2009 at 10:09 pm

    I would think that Scioscia would have been tossed as well since his ace just got thrown out “because he hasn’t thrown in two months.”

  • JustSaying @ May 16th, 2009 at 10:15 pm

    So are we going to see Lackey tomorrow?

  • Ehren @ May 16th, 2009 at 10:25 pm

    @Evan: I was at the game and there was purpose in the bean. If he hadn’t pitched in 6 weeks he would have gone to the other side of the plate after the first pitch inside because he would know if he didn’t have his control.

  • Little O @ May 16th, 2009 at 10:32 pm

    It was on purpose. The whole not pitching for six weeks gave him what he thought would be a perfect cover. Angels figured they could intimidate a young team. They didn’t.

  • Tim Perkins @ May 16th, 2009 at 10:32 pm

    He did it on purpose and yes, the Angels now fear us.

  • rodpodd @ May 16th, 2009 at 10:38 pm

    Lackey has always had good control. He’s known for getting and staying of hitters in the count. So, by this reasoning, he was aiming at Kins.

  • Little O @ May 16th, 2009 at 10:39 pm

    Just showed it on MLB TV. Showed the catcher calling for down and away. Lackey shaked him off.

    Mitch Williams even says it was blatant. :)

  • TomHandy @ May 16th, 2009 at 10:40 pm

    I don’t quite get it, what is the logic pitchers have that beaning a player is going to intimidate anyone? It seems like historically all it does is motivate the other team. I can’t see how it causes fear or intimidation, because the opposing team would know that any further hits would result in ejection anyway, so why would they be afraid of that? It just seems like dirty ball, like twisting someone’s ankle in a pileup.

  • Dr Pepper presents Batface McGee @ May 16th, 2009 at 10:50 pm

    Thats BS and makes Lackey nothing more than a massive bitch in my book. How can you stand up and deny throwing at someone and using the excuse as being man enough to admit something as a reason why you didnt throw at someone when its OBVIOUS exactly what he did? I now hate the Angels and Lackey and his bitchass teammates can forever suck it.

  • JustSaying @ May 16th, 2009 at 10:55 pm

    Rangers have a perfect opportunity to hold the angels down by the throat tomorrow……it could be an interesting game……already interesting how the series has degraded toward a brawl……but it doesn’t look like the Rangers have any reason to change their focus…..Angels kinda have a Python Black Knight feel to them right now……..

  • Jolly @ May 16th, 2009 at 11:00 pm

    8 games above .500 and 7 of those 8 are from beating al west opponents……sure makes wash look like a whiz kid………

  • Mike E @ May 16th, 2009 at 11:01 pm

    Hasn’t pitched in six weeks? The guy’s had what 3 rehab starts in the minors?

  • bertie @ May 16th, 2009 at 11:42 pm

    lackey is a buffoon

  • Sriram @ May 17th, 2009 at 7:35 am

    TomHandy – to answer your question, the logic behind a beaning like this one is, most likely, to try and rattle the other team and get them to do something stupid in retaliation. Truth be told, given that the Pad-zilla is known to have a plunking problem of his own, and has a reputation for being something of a hothead, there was at least some merit to the strategy. If Padilla did happen to plunk somebody right back in the 2nd, he’d also get ejected, along with who knows who else in the ensuing brawl, thus getting some of the Rangers’ best players out of the game. Much to their credit, though, the Rangers didn’t bite – they just kept playing the game, thus leaving the Angels playing the fool.

  • James @ May 17th, 2009 at 9:50 am

    I think you’re onto it Sriram, Scioscia wanted Kinsler hit to send a message that the Angels aren’t going to be pushed around. He wasn’t expecting Lackey to get tossed, only get a warning to both benches. This takes Vinny out of his game because he likes to pitch inside and hit batters. Advantage Angels. Plus, if Padilla retaliates he’s gone and you’re stretching the Rangers’ bullpen.

  • colorado kool aid @ May 17th, 2009 at 6:29 pm

    lackey is a pathetic liar . . . this destroys his credibility as a professional athlete, much less as a decent human being . . . REAL Texans OWN their actions, they don’t do something, then lie about it. Bush leaguer!