April 14th, 2016 at 10:40 am 
by Ron Cervenka Trying to be as polite as possible, Diamondbacks manager Chip Hale is a jerk.
During Wednesday night’s game, Dodgers third baseman Justin Turner was hit by a pitch … twice. The first was a fifth-inning Rubby De La Rosa fastball that hit Turner on what Hall of Fame broadcaster Vin Scully would call “the wallet” – although at 97-MPH, there isn’t a wallet on the market that would cushion that blow. But it was the second one that had the Dodgers both concerned and angry. This one, an 86-MPH Jake Barrett slider in the seventh inning, hit Turner on his left hand and it was immediately obvious that the 31-year-old Long Beach native was in great pain.
Although there was no real proof that either had been done intentionally, when the same guy gets plunked twice – this in addition to Dodgers center fielder Joc Pederson getting hit on his right leg by Dbacks reliever Randall Delgado in the sixth-inning – it not only angers the guy who got hit, but also his teammates and coaches.
According to Dodgers manager Dave Roberts, X-rays were negative on Justin Turner’s left hand but there was “some swelling.” Turner’s status for Thursday night’s game is uncertain.
(Photo credit – Jon SooHoo)
During the somewhat lengthy “injury delay” (as MLB Gameday calls it), several Dodger players began shouting towards the Dbacks dugout from their own dugout expressing their displeasure with them hitting three of their guys, including Turner twice. Naturally, the Dbacks returned the shouting in like. But it’s what Dbacks manager Chip Hale did that suggests that this situation is far from over, with one game remaining in the three-game series and a lot more games remaining this season.
During the back and forth bantering, Hale – who has a history of instability and who has been under fire by the media of late – challenged Dodgers pitching coach Rick Honeycutt to come out and fight with him during the exchange after Honeycutt was vocalizing his anger at the Dbacks pitching ineptitude. But as expected from the ever-professional veteran coach, Honeycutt ignored Hale’s immature junior high school-ish gesture and tempers eventually subsided.
Dbacks manager Chip Hale has a history of being a jerk – especially with the media.
(Video capture courtesy of azcentral.com)
The Dodgers went on to beat the Diamondbacks by a score of 3-1 after brilliant pitching performances by Dodgers left-hander Alex Wood and closer Kenley Jansen, who recorded the first five-out save of his major league career. But it’s what Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said – or almost said – during his post-game interview about the three beanings that suggests that this situation might not be finished.
“As far as (home plate umpire) Brian Gorman issuing a warning to both teams, that’s what he has to do when he hears some jawing back and forth, that’s what they have to do,” Roberts said. “The last one was a breaking ball to JT that hit him in a good spot. The other two, yeah, I mean, they came in and hit JT twice, obviously one was a fastball. But there’s some … they’re pitching in.”
There is absolutely zero doubt that Roberts is far more professional and mature than Chip Hale, but it was that brief pause after “But there’s some…” that leads one to believe that we haven’t heard the last of this. As such, don’t be surprised to see some retaliation by Dodgers pitchers at some point – perhaps in Thursday night’s series finale or at some other time this season. And when it happens, and it will, look for round two (or would it be round three?) of a benches-clearing brawl that began on June 13, 2013 by players who are no longer with the Diamondbacks – excluding Chip Hale, of course.
Stay tuned…
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Hopefully Hale’s obscene gesture was seen and reported by umps, or captured on video somewhere. Nice suspension and fine seems appropriate. For last several years the unprofessional behavior of this team, from managing partner down, has resulted in my nickname of AZ Dirtbacks.
Apparently Hale’s obscene gesture was unsubstantiated (article edited accordingly); however he did challenge Honeycutt to come out and fight with him, which is something that I also think MLB should take a look at and consider disciplinary action for.
Gotta respond to this one:
You say Chip Hale’s behavior was childish and I agree. You suggest that the Dodgers will respond in like manner, which may be correct, but shouldn’t be.
The Dodgers should react like the professionals that they are. Use this incident to light a fire under a team that has been somewhat dormant so far.
Use it as incentive to beat the Snakes bad tonight, then carry it on through the Giants and beyond.
Just my opinion, hope I didn’t offend you again. It’s not my intent.
I don’t think you will you will offend anyone RR. This controversy has been discussed by TBLA posters for quite a few years with both sides represented. Perhaps not equally represented but your stand and mine are a perfect match.
We used the “The Baseball Codes” by Jason Turbow sort of as the Bible on the unwritten rules of the game.
The key line in the book for me is found on page 22: “Part of the beauty of the Code is that there is truly no correct answer.” We are left to draw our own conclusions as to how the game should be played. For me it is play the game within the written rules. Simply put the game can go forever using using only the written rules but can’t go on for one game using only the unwritten rules.
I too hope the Dodgers will react as professionals and respect the game regardless of how the D’Backs play it.
By all means he should be disciplined for disrespecting his opponents and the game.
Regrettably I did offend somebody recently, though certainly not intentionally. If you please, I do not wish to discuss that further.
I will still be reading this site, as you and Mr. Cervenka have some very good articles, but will limit my comments. This is one I just couldn’t ignore.
Enough on that.
If these guys must take the childish approach, why pick on somebody who had nothing to do with it? On the Dodgers site most want them to throw at Goldy. Why pick on an innocent party who everybody seems to agree is a class act? This is the National League.
I figure if pitchers hit batters and it is seen to be intentional, then pitchers should be hit if there must be retribution. Obviously in the AL that is impossible and difficult in the NL because pitchers hit so infrequently. However, if D’Back pitchers hit Dodgers then Dodger pitchers should hit D’Back pitchers.
Are my eyes deceiving me? WTG Harold! I can live with that.
Do you guys recall that idiot Kevin Towers chastising his pitchers for not hitting Dodger batters after the Puig/Uribe banana thing? It truly seems that the entire organization is comprised of thugs – starting from owner Ken Kendrick on down. He was the guy who ordered fans sitting behind home plate to remove their Dodgers attire because it showed up on their television broadcasts. I’m telling you, all of these guys are nuts!
I remember that being part of the discussion when they were hashing out the DH thing years ago. Some felt it would make pitchers too bold if the didn’t have to bat.
“I’m telling you, all of these guys are nuts!”
Yeah… and Zack Greinke chose to sign with them. Just sayin!
Seriously, what was he thinking? Oh, never mind… Mr. Green strikes again.
Occasional hit batters are part of the game, but there are pitchers and teams (notably the Pirates) who hit an inordinate number of hitters during the season. Being professional does not work against those pitchers and/or teams. I believe it is incumbent on pitchers to protect their hitters from being targeted, perhaps for no other reason than intimidation. Then you have pitchers who are expected to regularly pitch inside even though they do not have command of their pitches to keep from hitting batters. At some point, pitchers must also send a hard message to the other team that continued HBP will not be tolerated. JMO.
I’m in your camp SCB.
I get that SCB and kind of understand it and accept at some point it most likely will happen although I don’t like it. I just have trouble with grown men purposely throwing at each other in a way that could injure others, perhaps seriously.
I don’t like it either, but a baseball team is like a band-of-brothers who must have their brothers/teammates backs 100% of the time, to do otherwise is letting your teammate be abused, or even injured because you as the pitcher do not send the message that you shall do no harm to my teammates without putting your teammates in harms way.
Hey, if the D-Gags get to pitch inside, why can’t the Dodgers? I’m all for pitching inside. Send a message. Keep it clean. The problem is that the D-Gags are trying to incite a response, because it’s the only way they’ll make any news this year!
Chin music is a wonderful thing to hear whenever the Dodgers play it.
BTW… if your baseball team has a uniform combination to go with every day of the week, then your team has no hope for the postseason. Why? Because that’s the only way your team can generate additional income due to lack of ticket sales. But don’t worry, you’ll sell out a few games when the Dodgers and their fans come to town!
Did I mention the D-Gags uniforms are fugly? Even Mr. Scully thought so… although he was a bit more diplomatic with his criticism.
I agree that grown men should not throw baseballs at each other.
However….none of us is our “best selves” all the time and we have to remember these are young men, elite athletes that make an exceptional income because of their physical abilities. If someone threatens their already-short-under-the-best-circumstances career by possibly injuring them then I don’t blame them for an extreme reaction.
Yes, ideally the Dodgers will thump them good tonight to the tune of a 6 or 8 run win, but I also will understand if some D-Bag player has to get up out of the dirt looking out the ear hole of his helmet (maybe a couple of them!)