The Brawls Come Early This Year

Dad --

Unfortunately your hope for another win with Beckett on the mound would not come to pass. But it wasn't his fault. It was Okajima's. He was the one who gave up the insurance run the Angels needed to take the win and the series. But I don't want to talk about that.

I want to talk about the benches clearing pseudo-brawl that took place in the first inning. Did you see it? I don't know who to blame. Maybe it was Bobby Abreu. Maybe it was Beckett. All I know is Beckett took a long time to throw to Abreu because he was keeping an eye on Chone Figgins at 2nd. For what seemed like a good five minutes Beckett didn't look like a pitcher, but rather a spectator at a tennis match shaking his head back and forth between the batter's box and 2nd base. Finally Abreu had had enough and called time. Unfortunately Abreu made this decision at the same moment Beckett decided to go into his windup.

As you know, Dad, plenty of pitchers before have been in the middle of their windup when time has been called. And as you also know, it's much safer for the pitcher to follow through with the throw than stop mid-pitch. What isn't safe (or in my opinion, wise) is to throw the ball at the batter's head. But that's exactly what Beckett did: he followed through with his pitch and tossed it right at Abreu's chin.

Abreu and the rest of the Angels team were shocked by this aggressive move and came out onto the field. Then the Red Sox dugout followed suit. And since no player wants to be left out of the excitement, both bullpens also joined the melee. Now no punches were thrown and I don't believe there was any pushing, but there was a lot of finger pointing and a whole hell of a lot of yelling.

By the time the smoke cleared, four Angels had been thrown out of the game: center fielder Torii Hunter, relief pitcher Justin Speier, batting coach Mickey Hatcher, and finally, Angels manager Mike Scioscia. Amazingly, and quite surprisingly, not a single Red Sock was tossed. Even Beckett who'd started the whole thing and kept it going with his jawing was left in the game.

Yes, the Sox unfortunately went on to lose the game, but the fact that they got to keep all their players on the field and in the dugout makes me believe they won the battle. Too bad they're in last place with a record of 2 and 4. Here's hoping they can turn that around tonight when they face the Oakland A's. And if they can do it without another benches-clearing endeavor, even better.

XO

Jenn