Youkilis throwing his helmet at Porcello

by Marttisdad on Aug 12, 2009 11:24 AM CDT

So who saw the video last night of the Red Sox and Tigers? I gotta say I was disgusted at Youkilis throwing his helmet at Porcello when he charged the mound. Now, I will admit, I don't like him at all, I can't stand the Red Sox, but shouldn't that warrant a big suspension? Watch the video, Porcello is backing away, afraid to fight, and he throws a rock hard helmet at the kid. He's how much bigger and heavier than him?

Remember the guy mule kicking the catcher, or Delmon Young throwing his bat at the umpire. Sure, this isn't as bad, but it's gotta be outside the usual in baseball doesn't it?

I wanna hear all opinions on this one, and I know they will vary greatly!

This is a FanPost and does not necessarily reflect the views of SB Nation or Al Yellon, managing editor (unless it's a FanPost posted by Al). FanPost opinions are valued expressions of opinion by passionate and knowledgeable baseball fans.

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I like that Porcello threw him down.

Porcello won that one. It wasn’t “Farnsworthesque” though

I think that the helmet throwing is bad, though I don’t blame him from charging the mound. Porcello was throwing at him, however in protection of Cabrera. he had to do it and I suppose that Youkilis knew it.

by jerry morales rules on Aug 12, 2009 11:32 AM CDT reply actions

I was going to say that.

He acted like he was scared and then boom! Baseball was in need of a good brawl.

"Pounding sand since 1982...."

by cubswynn on Aug 12, 2009 11:35 AM CDT up reply actions

I still think...

…it was a poor retaliatory move. Cabrera appeared to be barely hit, and stayed in the game. It wasn’t until later — after the fight I believe — that they decided he was just too injured to stay in the game.

Find something better to retaliate to.

by LeSaboteur on Aug 12, 2009 4:48 PM CDT up reply actions

2nd night in a row

That the Sox hit Cabrera in the hand…

by TuscaniLove on Aug 12, 2009 9:05 PM CDT up reply actions

Youkilis pretty much threw himself down lunging for Porcello

Porcello more or less just held on for the ride

A fanatic is one who can't change his mind and won't change the subject.
--Winston Churchill

by lookingdeadred on Aug 13, 2009 8:14 AM CDT up reply actions

I've been meaning to look for a video of the incident...

…and here’s a fairly lengthy YouTube clip.

I agree that Porcello wins. Y’know I’ve always kinda admired Youk as a player (from a distance), but throwing one’s helmet at the pitcher on the way out to the mound has to be one of the lamest, most cowardly, stupid-looking and generally asinine moves an enraged baseball player can make. I mean, seriously, who throws a helmet? Ridiculous.

Kudos to Porcello on very adeptly using Youk’s momentum to throw him to the ground. Doesn’t even look like anyone got a punch in before the swarm ensued. Good theater.

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by daver on Aug 12, 2009 11:48 AM CDT reply actions

Moises Alou.

That’s who does. Before he became a Cub.

I'm singing, "GO CUBS GO! GO CUBS GO!" -- DrCrawdad on Jun 12, 2009 7:23 AM CDT

Facts are meaningless. You could use facts to prove anything that's even remotely true! -- Homer J. Simpson

by Shanghai Badger on Aug 12, 2009 1:46 PM CDT up reply actions

Ah, Moises. Wasn't aware of that.

Y’know, he could’ve just rubbed his hands all over the guy’s face.

“Ewww, gross! Quit it!”

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by daver on Aug 12, 2009 1:49 PM CDT up reply actions

It was pretty ugly.

Rifled it at Terry Collins, then the Houston manager. Trying to find a link with more detail, but it was from point-blank range.

I'm singing, "GO CUBS GO! GO CUBS GO!" -- DrCrawdad on Jun 12, 2009 7:23 AM CDT

Facts are meaningless. You could use facts to prove anything that's even remotely true! -- Homer J. Simpson

by Shanghai Badger on Aug 12, 2009 1:58 PM CDT up reply actions

Porcello tossed Youkilis the same way Pedro tossed Zimmer

He gets the win for sure, and gets credit for not having to do it against an 80 year old man.

Speaking of Pedro, lets hope the team exacts revenge for the Zimmer fight tonight (by scoring a dozen runs, not charging the mound, obviously).

by Orval Overall on Aug 12, 2009 11:53 AM CDT reply actions

Zimmer apologized after that, FWIW

He felt it was his own fault.

I'm singing, "GO CUBS GO! GO CUBS GO!" -- DrCrawdad on Jun 12, 2009 7:23 AM CDT

Facts are meaningless. You could use facts to prove anything that's even remotely true! -- Homer J. Simpson

by Shanghai Badger on Aug 12, 2009 1:46 PM CDT up reply actions

He shouldn't have gotten in the middle of it

but you can’t exactly say that Pedro was defending himself . . . Zimmer wasn’t much of a threat at that age. Hilarious video/pictures though.

by madcow256 on Aug 12, 2009 1:57 PM CDT up reply actions

SNL did a pretty funny bit on that, too.

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by daver on Aug 12, 2009 1:59 PM CDT up reply actions

My lasting recollection

is of Joe Buck oiling up the old outraged voice and then seeing the replay and basically having to admit Zimmer had it coming to him

There is no such thing as an ugly female breast

by Worf on Aug 12, 2009 2:18 PM CDT up reply actions

Zimmer was an idiot that day

he deserved to get beaten and embarassed.

A fanatic is one who can't change his mind and won't change the subject.
--Winston Churchill

by lookingdeadred on Aug 13, 2009 8:15 AM CDT up reply actions

They both deserve suspensions

They will both be suspended but I hope MLB tacks on a few extra games for Youk. There is never any excuse to use equipment in a brawl. It doesn’t matter if it’s a bat, helmet, ball, or a Chan Ho Park karate kick it shouldn’t happen. I imagine Porcello will get 5 games and Youk will probably get about the same.

by cubfan2201 on Aug 12, 2009 11:54 AM CDT reply actions

In talking to some umpires at the Triple-A level

they think Youkilis could be looking at close to 10 games, because he used equipment in the fight.

I love to play baseball. I'm a baseball player. I've always been a baseball player. I'm still a baseball player. That's who I am. - Ryne Sandberg

by Bill Potter on Aug 12, 2009 1:04 PM CDT up reply actions

Does Porcello really deserve a suspension?

So he drilled him in the back – the pitch didn’t look like it was thrown that hard and, judging by Porcello’s reaction, I think there’s a fair amount of reasonable doubt that it wasn’t intentional. (And even if it was – he plunked him in the middle of the back with an offspeed pitch. No headshot was involved.) Youk is probably just pissed off the Red Sox have sucked lately and looking to: a) take it out on someone, b) fire up his team, and c) teach the kid a lesson.

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by daver on Aug 12, 2009 1:48 PM CDT up reply actions

no

he clearly walked away from the confrontation and then defended himself.

The guy Youk should be charging is the japanese import that drilled Cabrera.

by socalbob on Aug 12, 2009 2:20 PM CDT up reply actions

I actually think Porcello...

Should have stayed in the game.

I have lost all respect for Youk, that was childs play, if you are going to fight then fight. Dont throw your helmet.

"I love this world. I hope hell is as much fun!"

by HIGGY on Aug 12, 2009 3:05 PM CDT up reply actions

Totally agree.

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by daver on Aug 12, 2009 3:22 PM CDT up reply actions

I think you all missed why he threw the helmet.

He didn’t throw the helmet at him to hurt him, in my opinion. He threw it at him so he’d have to block it, and then Youk could spear him. In the end, the pitcher was still able to grab him despite dodging the helmet.

From what I saw, the helmet was meant to be a distraction. If you see most “charge the mound” situations, the batter is at a disadvantage as the charger, and the pitcher often has the high ground. The pitcher can usually get a free punch or kick or even get away from the charging batter. Not saying it’s right to throw the helmet, just saying I don’t think he was throwing it to hurt him. Conversely, I think pitchers get off too lightly for throwing at batters. Yeah, sometimes they get tossed and sometimes they get suspended, but when they throw at a guy on purpose, that can and has ended careers. Traditional in baseball or not. If nailing a batter as revenge is traditional, so is the benches-clearing brawl.

by HanOfTheBluegrass on Aug 12, 2009 11:55 AM CDT reply actions

Ahhhh

Part of a master plan eh??

I think in the heat of the moment a hot-head launched his helmet off. I doubt it was meant as a distraction, and if it was he sure sucks, because it did nothing for distracting Porcello from throwing him to the ground.

IMO, he threw the helmet the same way my sisters kids do, when they are having a meltdown toddler tantrum. I see a big difference in the injury potential from being hit in the ribs or between the shoulder blades, and having a maniac goateed bald man attempt to tackle a guy who looks like a wirey cowboy from an old episode of Rawhide. If Youk had “spear[ed]” him as you suggest he could have broken Porcellos wrist/arm easily from the fall alone – thats not very good for a pitchers career.

"Ask Dad. He'll know. And on the off chance he doesn't, he'll make something up"

by StevenABQ on Aug 12, 2009 12:09 PM CDT up reply actions

So it was strategery!

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by daver on Aug 12, 2009 1:41 PM CDT up reply actions

Baseball is awesome.

"The riches of the game are in the thrills, not the money." --Ernie Banks

by dtpollitt on Aug 12, 2009 12:10 PM CDT reply actions 1 recs

Porcello won

I really like him now. Youkilis charged, and Porcello had him on the ground easily. Throwing his helmet was nuts.

"That pitch wasn’t down and in, that pitch was down and up." Tim McCarver

by wrigleyrocker12 on Aug 12, 2009 12:26 PM CDT reply actions

Should he get a lengthy suspension is the question?

I’m of the opinion he should get 10 games. No one should use their equipment like that.

All this buttoning and unbuttoning

by Marttisdad on Aug 12, 2009 12:34 PM CDT reply actions

Good buddy of mine is a Tigs fan

Sent his a text after this happened and haven’t stopped watching it. Youk knew what he was doing by charging the mound but essentially had no idea what he was going to do. Awesome.

" I hate that lady , but would totally do her. So strange is this mind of mens." - Skisgaar Skwigelf

by Rage and Grace on Aug 12, 2009 12:38 PM CDT reply actions

The next guy to charge the mound with a plan

will be the first

There is no such thing as an ugly female breast

by Worf on Aug 12, 2009 2:19 PM CDT up reply actions

Not what I was saying

" I hate that lady , but would totally do her. So strange is this mind of mens." - Skisgaar Skwigelf

by Rage and Grace on Aug 12, 2009 4:20 PM CDT up reply actions

No, but it IS what I was saying

You said Youklis didn’t have a plan. I said those guys never do.

There is no such thing as an ugly female breast

by Worf on Aug 12, 2009 4:31 PM CDT up reply actions

You mean like Robin Ventura's plan when he charged Nolan Ryan?

Unfortunately Ventura’s plan to punch Ryan in the fist with his face was deeply flawed.

Actually, I think Youkilis went to the plate knowing it was likely he would get at least get knocked down if not actually hit, so I think he did come up with a plan of sorts to charge the mound.

A fanatic is one who can't change his mind and won't change the subject.
--Winston Churchill

by lookingdeadred on Aug 13, 2009 8:29 AM CDT up reply actions

Oh, I tend to agree

I think some guys, whether it’s looking to fire the team up or just generally being pissed at the world that day, plan to charge the mound if the pitch is anywhere near them.

I just don’t think they put a lot of thought in exactly what they will do when they get there.

There is no such thing as an ugly female breast

by Worf on Aug 13, 2009 11:33 AM CDT up reply actions

It seems as if most baseball players either

do not want to fight, or have no clue how to fight … Kyle Farnsworth excepted.

A fanatic is one who can't change his mind and won't change the subject.
--Winston Churchill

by lookingdeadred on Aug 13, 2009 12:56 PM CDT up reply actions

I'm not too sure

Porcello intentionally threw at him, and the commentators broadcasting that game agree with me. His reaction after hitting Youk proves my point. And when you throw at somebody on purpose, the ball is usually aimed high. This may not be the case here, but all indications point towards an accident. Great fight though, they always seem to make the season that much better.

"The more i practice, the luckier i seem to get" -Yogi Berra

by ChiCubsFever on Aug 12, 2009 1:29 PM CDT reply actions

The absolute best...

Was when Pete Rose shoved the umpire. I’m pretty sure he was given a 30 game suspension for that. Anyone have a video clip of that?

by cubfanwill on Aug 12, 2009 1:50 PM CDT reply actions

I loved the Baseball Tonight commentary

Calling out all the guys for bad fighting etiquette

a) Raburn for whiffing in protecting his pitcher
b) Porcello for being stupid and not drifting towards his dugout
c) Youkilis for bad form in throwing the helmet

All that said, I’m sure Youk was simply frustrated having been hit in back to back games. The pitch that bothered me more was Porcello throwing at Victor Martinez’s chest. That’s extremely dangerous. Now, he’ll simply say he was throwing inside, but it was plain as day that he was targeting Victor after Miggy got hit (gotta say … Miggy sort of deserved that one, he was draped all over the plate, Tazawa has to be able to throw inside, and Miggy turned into the pitch). You want to hit someone, go for a safe spot and make your point. On that note, Porcello needs to be smart enough to know that the Tigers need his arm in the rotation, and to let someone else make the point. I’m pretty sure most of his teammates would’ve understood – it’s nice to stand up for your guy … but winning is more important.

by toonsterwu on Aug 12, 2009 2:38 PM CDT reply actions

Here's the latest, white hot off the Twitter telegraph ticker:

@beckjason: Porcello, Youkilis suspended 5 games each. Both filed appeals.

Jason Beck is the Tigers beat reporter for mlb.com.

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by daver on Aug 12, 2009 2:45 PM CDT reply actions

Hard to believe they got the same number of games

Porcello may or may not have thrown a purpose pitch and then got physical only after backing away didn’t work. Youkilis charged the mound, threw equipment, and was the first to initiate physical contact. Doesn’t seem all that equal to me.

by madcow256 on Aug 12, 2009 3:18 PM CDT up reply actions

By games it is equal

But in reality Porcello will only miss 1 start (or probably only moved back 1 day) where Youkilis will miss 5 days.

by srwilly on Aug 12, 2009 3:24 PM CDT up reply actions

For whatever reason I believed Porcello was a reliever

That makes a lot more sense.

by madcow256 on Aug 12, 2009 3:27 PM CDT up reply actions

personally

I think Porcello deserved more games (beyond the noted reason below that pitchers missing 5 games doesn’t mean much). That was plain as day a purpose pitch to me … after missing Victor Martinez, particularly when factoring in the control Porcello has shown this year. Sure, a pitch or two can escape even the great control pitchers, but following the Victor pitch? I don’t blame Youk for getting upset – he got tagged in back to back games. Not excusing his conduct, but you throw a purpose pitch after nearly hitting another guy? That’s just not good … particularly, as I noted above, since the Tigers need Porcello.

Actually, I blame Miggy Cabrera for hanging all over the plate. A pitcher’s gotta be able to throw inside. And as noted, I actually have a bigger problem with Porcello’s pitch to Victor.

by toonsterwu on Aug 12, 2009 6:20 PM CDT up reply actions

More breaking news RIPPED from the Twitterfeed:

@AmalieBenjamin: Youkilis to take his suspension starting today. Kotchman into lineup. #redsox

Ms. Benjamin is the Red Sox beat reporter for the Boston Globe. Haven’t seen anything on Porcello yet – lemme check again.

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by daver on Aug 12, 2009 3:24 PM CDT reply actions

Interesting.

I’m guessing he found out he wouldn’t have gotten a reduction.

"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra

by Al Yellon on Aug 12, 2009 3:32 PM CDT up reply actions

makes sense

they have enough corner options that Youk might as well heal his body and get ready for the stretch run.

by toonsterwu on Aug 12, 2009 6:20 PM CDT up reply actions

Hm, again - strategery on Youk's part!

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by daver on Aug 13, 2009 9:32 AM CDT up reply actions

Nothing on Porcello yet but...

@MLB: Anything Kevin Youkilis in social media is a fake, according to Youk. Having to tweet it constantly so please spread word.

Youk don’t tweet!

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by daver on Aug 12, 2009 3:40 PM CDT reply actions