Quote:
Originally Posted by penbrook
Major league players can 100% tell the difference between a change up and a fastball. I can bet you that. Moose got hit in the knee and the next game Donaldson got hit warnings were called correctly. That change up next did not mean to go near Donaldsons head. Madson hitting Tulo on a 0-2 pitch is not intentional. Sanchez hitting Esky on the knee you could clearly see that was intentional. The umpire knew the situation and handled it well. It's all about situations
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That's why they always hit 'em, eh? The entire purpose of a changeup is to appear to be a fastball and that's what gets hitters way the hell out in front of them. If a pitcher telegraphs them (as many of them will), then yes, the hitter notices that the pitcher's body slowed down on delivery, he hangs in and hits it. Volquez, on the other hand, has developed a nasty damn changeup. He doesn't telegraph it.
No, a changeup coming out of a pitchers hand and traveling near the hitters head is going to look like a fastball in the 1/100th of a second they have to diagnose it and decide. Combine the general nature of a changeup with the fight/flight mechanism associated with a fastball coming at your head and there is no way Donaldson knew that was a changeup when he spun out.
Tulo didn't get hit on purpose Sunday but Moose wasn't hit on purpose Saturday (unless we're back to the "all Royals HBPs are on purpose" thing). If Moose getting hit on accident on Saturday is ample justification for Donaldson getting hit on Sunday, then please tell me why Tulo getting hit on accident on Sunday is not ample justification for Escobar getting hit.