Contreras

[ScotchMIrish]

I'm tired of the drama. He doesn't turn away to avoid being hit. He lets the ball hit plastic shield on his arm. Then the drama starts. That's how he broke his finger. Tried to let the ball hit the shield but instead it hit his hand.

If MLB banned those shields - which they should - he would get out of the way.

[sikeston bulldog2]

Love Contreras. My favorite Card. 4th best IB according to Fangraphs. You have to retaliate. I don't care if it was accident. I pitched and managed. You have to protect your players. If TLR was still here, I guarantee pitchers would do their job.

So forfeit a pitcher when you need innings because a guy who gets hit often, got hit again?

He wasn't even upset till Pivetta started yapping at him

You have to pick your spot. You can even wait until the next game. bull[shirt] on him not being upset. He didn't say anything until Pivetta yapped but he's sick of it. You just can't have the perception your team and staff won't protect its players.

You can't just overreact either. Again, did the Scrubs retaliate for Jizzo?

If part of your game is to get hit now and then, then it’s hard to complain when you do get hit, often.

[Goldfan]

I'm tired of the drama. He doesn't turn away to avoid being hit. He lets the ball hit plastic shield on his arm. Then the drama starts. That's how he broke his finger. Tried to let the ball hit the shield but instead it hit his hand.

If MLB banned those shields - which they should - he would get out of the way.

You must need glasses like me…..

[Melville]

Plunked a MLB best 15 times.

I'm w/OR someone on this staff has to respond or it's going to kept happening until he gets hurt.

He sits alone on an island. Is the issue numerous teams are throwing at him, or is he inducing pitches up and in by his plate posture.

Definitely not his stance, just teams want to take away the inside part of the plate (which is fine).

But NOT when they keep hitting him above the waist.

Too many opportunities for serious injury (wrist, shoulder and of course head if they go that high).

He's the best hitter on the team.

His pitchers need to send a message (which would be heard round the league).

You throw at WillyC, we're throwing the same spot at your best hitter.

This is how MLB teams have policed things for hundreds of years.

I think many of the up and in pitches are a (bleep) shoot as to location. Then add a crowded box you may get knicked more often.

The fact that it’s many teams indicate to me it’s not intentional to hit him but it is part of the pitching strategy to pitch him tight.

Yes, of course.
Contreras not only stands closer to the plate than the majority of players, but he also attempts to cover more of the hitting zone.
He is ready to turn on pitches on the inner half (where pitchers know he can do serious damage).
He is also ready and willing to look for pitches away that he can drive to center or right fields.
If a pitcher comes in when Contreras is guessing away and has his body weight ever so slightly leaning in that direction, he is going to get hit.
He knows that better than anyone on this forum (with maybe one exception).
Ridiculous for anyone here to think he is getting hit by design - other than his own.
Another point worth noting.
Contreras DID NOT get upset after his pad was hit.
The pitcher said something as Contreras started down the line - and Contreras said something in return.
The pitcher then said something else, at which point Contreras yelled something like "what did you say to me".
FACT is, it was the verbal exchange, not the harmless bouncing of the ball off his shield, which spiked a brief moment of tension.

[Jatalk]

St. Louis Cardinals pitchers once again fail to defend Willson Contreras, the club's de facto spark plug, after being hit once again.

All though on accident I agree. You have to send a message. I would have really liked to have seen last batter for Mikolas get plunked.

[Rosthol]

What would Bob Gibson do?

[Melville]

Plunked a MLB best 15 times.

I'm w/OR someone on this staff has to respond or it's going to kept happening until he gets hurt.

He sits alone on an island. Is the issue numerous teams are throwing at him, or is he inducing pitches up and in by his plate posture.

Definitely not his stance, just teams want to take away the inside part of the plate (which is fine).

But NOT when they keep hitting him above the waist.

Too many opportunities for serious injury (wrist, shoulder and of course head if they go that high).

He's the best hitter on the team.

His pitchers need to send a message (which would be heard round the league).

You throw at WillyC, we're throwing the same spot at your best hitter.

This is how MLB teams have policed things for hundreds of years.

He stands extremely close to the plate, he strides in even closer and his elbow was hanging over the edge of the plate when he was hit.
Not sure how you can say his stance has nothing to do with it. How is he supposed to get out of the way on anything inside under the conditions I described. Check out the Cards Website, its the first replay

He was essentially begging for his pitching staff to defend him after being hit so many times.

According to Baseball Savant, Willson Contreras stands 30.1 inches away from home plate, one of the farthest back in the league. It's not like he's sitting on the plate or leaning into pitches often.

Beat me to it OR!

His stance isn't the problem.

My eyes didn’t like small print after turning 50…….but watching the replay now 4-5 times theres no way you can tell me he’s one of “farthest back from plate in league” his rear foot is an inch or 2 from inner box line with his front foot in same spot when he strides while his elbow is out in front of him from there. To contrast a Pujols or Goldy set up farther from inside line and held their arms back above their ear not hanging out in front of them
I guess you’re gonna tell me that Don Baylor didn’t see up close to plate either?? Watch the vid on Cards site

Even STL announcers, who are among the most notorious "homers" in baseball, have commented many times this year on how closely Contreras crowds the plate when he is looking away.

[Melville]

What would Bob Gibson do?

Easy.
The way Contreras reacted, Gibby would have hit him again.
Harder and higher.

[Goldfan]

Plunked a MLB best 15 times.

I'm w/OR someone on this staff has to respond or it's going to kept happening until he gets hurt.

He sits alone on an island. Is the issue numerous teams are throwing at him, or is he inducing pitches up and in by his plate posture.

Definitely not his stance, just teams want to take away the inside part of the plate (which is fine).

But NOT when they keep hitting him above the waist.

Too many opportunities for serious injury (wrist, shoulder and of course head if they go that high).

He's the best hitter on the team.

His pitchers need to send a message (which would be heard round the league).

You throw at WillyC, we're throwing the same spot at your best hitter.

This is how MLB teams have policed things for hundreds of years.

I think many of the up and in pitches are a (bleep) shoot as to location. Then add a crowded box you may get knicked more often.

The fact that it’s many teams indicate to me it’s not intentional to hit him but it is part of the pitching strategy to pitch him tight.

Yes, of course.
Contreras not only stands closer to the plate than the majority of players, but he also attempts to cover more of the hitting zone.
He is ready to turn on pitches on the inner half (where pitchers know he can do serious damage).
He is also ready and willing to look for pitches away that he can drive to center or right fields.
If a pitcher comes in when Contreras is guessing away and has his body weight ever so slightly leaning in that direction, he is going to get hit.
He knows that better than anyone on this forum (with maybe one exception).
Ridiculous for anyone here to think he is getting hit by design - other than his own.
Another point worth noting.
Contreras DID NOT get upset after his pad was hit.
The pitcher said something as Contreras started down the line - and Contreras said something in return.
The pitcher then said something else, at which point Contreras yelled something like "what did you say to me".
FACT is, it was the verbal exchange, not the harmless bouncing of the ball off his shield, which spiked a brief moment of tension.

Mel, I sometimes wonder if I’m watching the same game as other posters…..he’s literally a couple inches from the inside chalk line at his feet, strides even closer when he swings, with his hands and elbow out in front of him. Just watched Pujols HR highlight reel. He was twice as far off plate as WC, hands were held back up high, and he barely strides toward plate if at all…..just an ever slight lift of front foot then bat comes through zone…
I’m all for retaliation pitches and pitching inside but to somehow say WC is responsible for most of his HBP and injuries is laughable.

[ScotchMIrish]

I'm tired of the drama. He doesn't turn away to avoid being hit. He lets the ball hit plastic shield on his arm. Then the drama starts. That's how he broke his finger. Tried to let the ball hit the shield but instead it hit his hand.

If MLB banned those shields - which they should - he would get out of the way.

You must need glasses like me…..

I have glasses - and youtube.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-2uv2W-6MWo

[Goldfan]

What would Bob Gibson do?

I guarantee WC wouldn’t be right on top of plate with hands held in front of him and striding into plate if Gibson were pitching……

[OldRed]

Plunked a MLB best 15 times.

I'm w/OR someone on this staff has to respond or it's going to kept happening until he gets hurt.

He sits alone on an island. Is the issue numerous teams are throwing at him, or is he inducing pitches up and in by his plate posture.

Definitely not his stance, just teams want to take away the inside part of the plate (which is fine).

But NOT when they keep hitting him above the waist.

Too many opportunities for serious injury (wrist, shoulder and of course head if they go that high).

He's the best hitter on the team.

His pitchers need to send a message (which would be heard round the league).

You throw at WillyC, we're throwing the same spot at your best hitter.

This is how MLB teams have policed things for hundreds of years.

I think many of the up and in pitches are a (bleep) shoot as to location. Then add a crowded box you may get knicked more often.

The fact that it’s many teams indicate to me it’s not intentional to hit him but it is part of the pitching strategy to pitch him tight.

Yes, of course.
Contreras not only stands closer to the plate than the majority of players, but he also attempts to cover more of the hitting zone.
He is ready to turn on pitches on the inner half (where pitchers know he can do serious damage).
He is also ready and willing to look for pitches away that he can drive to center or right fields.
If a pitcher comes in when Contreras is guessing away and has his body weight ever so slightly leaning in that direction, he is going to get hit.
He knows that better than anyone on this forum (with maybe one exception).
Ridiculous for anyone here to think he is getting hit by design - other than his own.
Another point worth noting.
Contreras DID NOT get upset after his pad was hit.
The pitcher said something as Contreras started down the line - and Contreras said something in return.
The pitcher then said something else, at which point Contreras yelled something like "what did you say to me".
FACT is, it was the verbal exchange, not the harmless bouncing of the ball off his shield, which spiked a brief moment of tension.

Not really:
https://baseballsavant.mlb.com/visuals/batting-stance

[Goldfan]

I'm tired of the drama. He doesn't turn away to avoid being hit. He lets the ball hit plastic shield on his arm. Then the drama starts. That's how he broke his finger. Tried to let the ball hit the shield but instead it hit his hand.

If MLB banned those shields - which they should - he would get out of the way.

You must need glasses like me…..

I have glasses - and youtube.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-2uv2W-6MWo

No….he isn’t anywhere close to that plate…..and he’d have to be some sort of contortionist to get out of way when entire body is moving towards plate as pitcher starts to throw…..

[OldRed]

https://baseballsavant.mlb.com/visuals/batting-stance

[Goldfan]

https://baseballsavant.mlb.com/visuals/batting-stance

The measurement is his heel…..perhaps he has really large feet

[Goldfan]

https://baseballsavant.mlb.com/visuals/batting-stance

Goldy is almost 4 inches farther away and doesn’t really stride into plate….