SHOULD MAJOR-LEAGUE BASEBALL HAVE A STANDARD GUIDELINE FOR SUSPENDING PITCHERS WHO APPEAR TO INTENTIONALLY HIT BATTERS?
To hit or not to hit? That is the question. On Tuesday, the subject reared its ugly head again when Tigers right-hander Rick Porcello plunked Boston’s Kevin Youkilis, causing benches and bullpens to clear, and each player was suspended five games. In baseball, there always has been an unwritten code to retaliation. Players know that if a an opposing player is hit (especially a star), then somebody on their team (probably the star) is going to get a pitch throw at him. For the most part, players and coaches don’t have a problem with it as long as nobody is getting hit in the head. Getting hit by a pitch is an emotional, macho part of the game. It’s why earlier this year the Marlins’ Hanley Ramirez was upset when he was plunked in Toronto and nobody on his side took a retaliatory shot at a Blue Jays player. And it’s why Ramirez applauded teammate Burke Badenhop after he was hit in Los Angeles and Badenhop backed him by hitting another Dodgers player. The problem isn’t just that hit batsm