Kyle ‘the Mop’ Farnsworth Goes Headhunting
The Red Sox recently won the second of their two game series against the Yankees in the Bronx. Josh Beckett, demonstrating the difference between a good pitcher and a true ace, pitched 8 strong innings including setting down Jeter, Abreu and Rodriguez in order in the 8th.
The biggest story of the game was Kyle ‘the Mop’ Farnsworth throwing at Manny’s head. Today word came from MLB that Farnsworth would be suspended three games. He’s appealing the ruling which will almost certainly result in a reduction. Yankee fans are up in arms over the decision; many are blaming Bob Watson, Vice President of On-Field Operations for Major League Baseball, for having an axe to grind against his former team. Ironic, considering Red Sox fans constantly accuse Watson of favoring New York. Proof again that two fan bases are mirror images of each other.
Questioning Farnsworth’s intent isn’t worth the time. He threw his first pitch behind the head of a player that has killed the Yankees, even more so recently, in a game that was, barring an impressive comeback, out of reach. He was throwing at Manny. I was a little shocked at the number of Yankee fans choosing to believe the Mop’s assertion that the ball “slipped”, but then I remembered that a good percentage of these same fans believed Joba Chamberlain wasn’t intentionally trying to hit Kevin Youkilis in the head last year. When he did it twice.
In a row.
But why did Farnsworth throw at Manny?
Was Farnsworth giving payback for Aardsma hitting A-Rod in the previous game (this is ignoring that two Red Sox hitters had already been hit by pitches)? That assumes that Aardsma intentionally hit A-Rod. On the fifth pitch of a 2 run game? That makes absolutely no sense. And if it was payback he shouldn’t be going for Manny’s head. If Farnsworth doesn’t have the control to hit a batter in the back the Yankees should choose another washed up pitcher to do their dirty work. And why choose to hit Manny when it’s obvious it will appear to be due to the two home runs he hit earlier in the game?
Was this simply a case of the Yankees claiming the inside part of the plate against the Red Sox; something Yankee fans have wanted for years? You have to pitch inside to be effective, right? Again, no. Pitching inside is effective when included in a pitchers arsenal. Back him off the plate, then hit the outside corner. That’s pitching inside effectively. Throwing behind the hitters head is something completely different.
John Harper of the New York Daily writes:
Maybe Farnsworth didn’t do it in the accepted manner. He should have thrown a fastball up and in, not behind Ramirez’s head, if he wanted to send him sprawling.
But he did proceed to get him out with a ground ball to second base. You think it was a coincidence?
Yes, in fact it was a coincidence Mr Harper. Manny’s great; not quite superman. Did he expect Manny’s third home run of the game? Does Mr. Harper expect Manny to hit 1000 against New York? You’re actually pointing at a ground ball as proof throwing at Manny works? A single at bat? John Harper is an idiot.
Look at this way. When the Yankees and Red Sox play again in a couple of months and Manny is facing the Ghost of Mike Mussina, do you think Mussina will have any advantage because Farnsworth threw behind Manny’s head in a meaningless at bat? No. Making the inside pitch part of your plan against Manny could produce results. Throwing at his head will either make him mad or send him to the hospital.
So we’re left with the only plausible reason Kyle ‘the Mop’ Farnsworth threw behind Manny’s head. The Yankees couldn’t stop Manny, they couldn’t get him out, so they decided to make Manny pay in another way. Farnsworth missed, and attempting to hit Manny again would have been too obvious.
So regardless if you find this a desperate reaction by New York, or you’re old school and approve, he deserves the suspension.
Farnsworth, who’s always been a jackass and is one of the only Yankees I truly hate, had an interesting reaction the the cheers after he threw behind Manny’s head.
I enjoyed it.
Which would be a shocking statement if not coming from a piece of work like Farnsworth. I have news for you Kyle. You could have sent Manny to the hospital on a stretcher and some of those fans would still have been cheering. But you know, take what you can get, right?
Don’t think this will be forgotten, not by Francona and certainly not Beckett.
The seventh-inning brushback didn’t trigger any brawls, but may prompt grudges, judging by the looks on the faces on the Red Sox bench. Josh Beckett, who beat the Yankees for the second time in less than a week, slowly shook his head afterward, and manager Terry Francona looked pained.
Here’s hoping for a Beckett fastball in the middle of Jeter’s back; not the head. A pitcher should never throw at a hitters head. No need to stoop to Farnsworth’s level.
Surprisingly Peter Abraham came across as the voice of reason in Yankee Universe with this comment. Of course he ruins it with this bit of nonsense:
Do you want the Yankees getting in a beanball war with the Red Sox? Because eventually somebody with a temper like Papelbon will throw too far inside and hit Jeter or A-Rod or somebody else in the head. Would that satisfy your bloodlust, Jeter being in the hospital?
Papelbon is certainly intense, but he’s never demonstrated anger of this level so far in his career. It’s reckless for Abraham to insinuate something negative about Papelbon with no roots in reality. Add to this that Papelbon would never be on the mound in a situation that he could afford to hit a batter intentionally and the statement becomes even more ludicrous.
But hey, it’s a start.
I also find it ironic that so many fans are pointing to Manny’s comments regarding Farnsworth as proof the suspension is wrong. These are the same fans that typically portray Manny as some kind of idiot (mistakenly). Regardless, Manny’s comments should have as much bearing on the situation as if he was calling for Farnsworth to be suspended. None.
One last thought: I was happy that Manny ran almost immediately after each home run; no watching the ball, no reason for Yankee fans to complain. I guess it didn’t matter, so here’s hoping Manny takes his time after his next bomb.
