Springer is Gutless

Watching it again, the look on Springer's face doesn't really say much, but Munson's does.  Munson's eyes were wide with shock.  Since Munson had appeared to know what was going on with the first four pitches, it was obvious that Springer and Munson had talked before this AB.  It was also obvious that Munson had no idea that Springer was going to hit Bonds.  My guess is that Springer meant to crowd the plate and piss Bonds off and then eventually walk him, but he never meant to intentionally hit him.  Hitting him was just icing on the cake, IMO.

The Astros have never been an aggressive team.  They take their HBP's in silence, except for Morgan who is the King of Flop.  But when the pitchers start taking liberties with the batter's bodies, it means something.  Game 3 of the World Series -- no one out there will convince me Roy didn't throw that pitch at Crede by accident.  He smirked on the mound after the deed was done.  

The past two games were ugly and not in our favor.  Our fans were becoming restless and our players just stopped caring.  Our young pitchers looked completely lost.  Something needed to be done because this media circus of the past few days was Bonds' fault.  He created a somewhat of a war at MMP and the Astros needed to do something to try and win a battle.  Last night's game was not one where Ausmus could play second and Pettitte could pinch-hit to make things all better.

What I meant is that he is the source of the problem, whether he likes it or not, or whether it's fair to him or not.  Because of that, he is going to catch any flack the Astros' pitchers have for the Giants.  

Surely you're rational enough to see the difference. HBPs are a part of the game. He hit his freakin' shoulder. Not his arm, not his hand. Not his head. I'm sure it hurt like hell, but that's not the point.

I don't like the location of the pitch, but what's done is done.

If Barry wasn't okay w/ being HBP, he wouldn't stand so close to the damn plate, he wouldn't wear the elbow guard.

Having said that, I personally didn't have a problem understanding what Saylinara was saying because I knew exactly what she meant.

Are you SERIOUSLY an Astros fan? Or at least a serious one? Because if you were you'd know this is NOT a team that is fond of interaction w/ the media, particularly not in that sort of environment. It's not directly Bonds' fault (except that he doesn't deal w/ it himself so it then becomes the responsibility of everyone else connected w/ the occasion), moreso indirectly.

Put bluntly, they get snippy and such when that sort of incessant question is asked reguarding guys that they love and whom are their teammates (Bags, Roger), forget someone they personally do not like (and, from what I've gleaned, most of the them don't like Barry's attitude). I'm not shocked by the result (especially considering the experience level of the starting pitchers involved).

Russ is one of the veterans on this club. I have no doubt he did it on purpose. Beyond that, I can't vouch for anything. I'm not trying to make excuses, you just need to understand the reality of the way the 'Stros are.

I'm going to take exception to the name-calling and exception to the fact that you think you know what I meant by those comments, that you assumed you knew what "side" I was on and then blasted me when I was unable to respond (I'm making a wild guess that either someone told you about my comment and you came here to respond OR that you read that specific comment when hunting for stuff to throw in our faces).

That's pretty chickenshit, if you ask me. Sounds to me like you guys were spoiling for a fight.

Translation on my comments: Skerred=pitching/playing scared. Y'know, like leaving slop over the plate to be hit into the stands. Like the team has some fight in it. Is this really an objectionable concept.

Secondly, if you're seriously trying to tell me that he can only be HBP on that enormous arm guard, you need to reexamine whatever you think your boy's entitled to. I never personally thought he was in any danger of being hurt (maybe he was and I misperceived, been known to happen before), nor did I think Russ threw at him intentionally w/ the purpose of hurting him.

Did I think it was intentional? Yes. Do I have a problem w/ that? Honestly? Not really.

I don't have specific issues w/ Barry Bonds, to be honest. I really couldn't possibly care less about the man. He's not important to me, but I don't hate him. I call him barroid to be silly. I do, however, hate his showboating. For the record, I don't particularly like it when my boys do it either, but they don't really do it particularly often.

But if you want to think I'm a cretin, be my guest. Just quit acting like you aren't intending to make some sort of moral judgment when you've just done so.

And, uh, the original post was flamebait.

BTW, maybe we didn't ascribe any sort of malicious intent to the event (and I certainly didn't mean any w/ my post) because that's generally not the way the 'Stros (or Russ Springer whilest he's been w/ us) have done things.

And make no mistake - it WAS in purpose. I've watched Russ Springer pitch since he attended my alma mater, LSU, and even caught some of his minor league games, before watching his MLB career, and I can count on both hands the amount of times he;s missed a target by 2 feet. He did it 5 TIMES IN A ROW to Bonds - each time missing toward the batter. I can believe 1 got away, maybe even two, but 5? Gimme a break! If he didn't have any better control than that, he'd have never gotten to AA ball!

And to see the fans cheer that made me sick. And to hear my fellow Stros fans deny the obvious, and make excuses is worse! Don't lower yourself to that liar Bonds' level! And is you still don't believe it was intentional somehow, watch yesterday's Baseball Tonight - Gammons talked to Springer's teammates in Arizona from when Bonds hit a homer against him a few years back. They told Gammons that Springer always talked about how  much he hated Bonds, and how pissed off he was when he let him hit one out. Why would they say that if it wasn't true? I hate Bonds too, but i wouldn't lower myself to hurt him physically. It demeans yourself. It disrespects the game of baseball. It tarnishes a proud Astros tradition in front of the whole country! Why? He's not worth it!