Zach Duke pitched poorly again last night, as the Pirates lost to the Los Angeles Dodgers 5-1. What else is new?
I don't even mind him pitching poorly anymore. I'm used to it. All of Pittsburgh is used to it.
But after several Pirate players were hit by or brushed back by pitches from Dodger pitchers, Duke humiliated himself and his team by refusing to retaliate.
"I had to step up and retaliate," Duke said. "I dropped the ball."
The truth is, most Pittsburghers would rather see a pitcher lose 25 games every year but do things right, than be an average pitcher who also happens to be a chicken $hit.
Thanks for making us proud, Zach!
NOTE: This should be interesting. Will Jim and/or Bird defend Zach Duke? You know...will they do for Zach what he wouldn't do for his own teammates?
UPDATE (5-3-2010): Neal Huntington on Duke's cowardly performance: "We're better off just handling things behind closed doors and quietly, making a statement with how we go about things rather than publicly in the paper." Oh, to be a fly on the wall...
The whole "retribution" thing in baseball is so tiring. Multiple guys weren't hit intentionally. The two hit guys earlier were cause the Dodger starter had no control. McCutchen may have been thrown at but who knows.
ReplyDeleteShould Duke have thrown behind the pitcher just to "do the right thing?" If that will make the teammates happy, I guess he should have. But let's not pretend he humiliated himself. Its a meaningless thing that will be forgotten by this afternoon.
Also, Duke pitched did not pitch "poorly" last night. He was solid if unspectacular (like most times). For the second night in a row, a pirate starter got one of his few bad pitches hit for a three run homer that was the difference while the Bucs hit line drives at fielders. Good times.
Say Duke had retaliated... would the outcome have been any different? I agree with Brian; this is something that will be forgotten by today's game. If not, then it just adds fuel to a rivalry that has no hopes of getting off the ground.
ReplyDeleteNext time Duke pitches, the Pirate batters might not be so comfortable at the plate. There's no risk in brushing off Pirate hitters.
ReplyDeleteI can remember giving basketball teammates a hard time in like 5th grade for not taking a charge. I can only imagine how Duke's teammates feel about him right now.
It might be forgotten by this afternoon, but it will be fresh in Pirate hitters heads next time Zach pitches.
I hear Pedro is still looking for a gig and he has no problem with this sort of thing
ReplyDeleteRyan, I'd rather have Don Zimmer than Zach Duke. At least Don tries to do what's right for his guys.
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