Quote:
Originally Posted by DJ's left nut
Let's remember though - that's the point of a changeup. When Donaldson spun out of the box and looked at Escobar, he didn't know it was a changeup - it's disguised as a fastball; that's the point. And he didn't charge the guy, he spun out angry and pretty quickly recovered. A bat flip? Christ, you're calling out a dude for flipping his bat? He was still pissed and he still wouldn't have known it was a changeup. Again, right in that moment, he things Volquez buzzed the tower.
No it does not, but it didn't make sense for Cain to get hit by a slider in the early innings of a tie game but Cain and his teammates lost their shit and Royals fans were right there ready to back him. And again, from Donaldson's perspective, he's standing in the on deck circle when the new face of the franchise got hit in the hand; the kind of thing that can end a season. Of course he's going to be riled up especially with the backdrop of his last AB. Then when he gets another ball by his chin he turned and barked at the umpire. WTF is the problem with that?
Intentional or not - run or not - Royals fans lose their mind after their guy gets hit every time and yet they don't extend that same thought to Donaldson who had pretty much had his fill of that shit on that day - and you would to.
Like I said at the very beginning - I can absolutely see why the Royals would be nonplussed; from there perspective nothing untoward happened. My issue is with the idea that Donaldson was completely unjustified in his frustration - oh bullshit. That said - let's also be very clear here - 'nonplussed' isn't exactly what happened there either. Volquez spent the whole day looking for a fight (both times walking towards the batter after the HBP and then the walk) and the Royals had their whole team out of that dugout before anything actually started...evidently just in case. Volquez did a lot to incite that crap and as soon as guy were on the field, he and Cain were looking to elevate things....again.
It's the double standard that is laughable here.
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I'm just talking about the situation and the umpire's actions. Anyone looking back in hindsight and calling shenanigans on Wolf is being silly.
I don't have a problem with Donaldson being fired up and looking at the umpire or even complaining. I do think he went too far with the show he put on (walking to the backstop, continuing to jaw at the ump, etc). He's lucky he didn't get run for that (and Wolf, to his credit, gave him some significant rope, likely because of the situation and Wolf's awareness).
What slider are you referring to with Cain? The Kazmir pitch (because that wasn't a slider).
The Royals have a rep at this point. Things had been quiet for a few months, prior to this series, so I think they've settled down a little bit, but it's still a factor and still something the team needs to be careful about moving forward. Can't let it become a negative factor in the team's performance.