While still hungover – figuratively – from N.C. State’s third NCAA win and eighth-straight victory, it dawned on me that today is the fifth Saturday of the month and no one was scheduled to write an article today.
For me, these early-season articles are the toughest ones to write. What has happened that isn’t already covered in the Gut Reaction?
Back in December of 2017, an article here quoted psychiatrist Victor Frankl and that quote seems to be appropriate again today, given the feeling around the Rhys Hoskins–Jeff McNeil incident yesterday. Frankl said:
Between stimulus and response there is a space. In that space is our power to choose our response. In our response lies our growth and our freedom.
The stimulus – obviously – is Hoskins being a jerk. In a couple of hours, we get to see what the Mets’ response is. And since the latest incident happened around 20 hours ago, we have more space than sometimes we get with negative stimulus. Which hopefully leads to an intelligent, productive response.
It seems especially important what the response is, with the Mets having a new manager, one who has never led an MLB club before. How will Carlos Mendoza react? One thought jumps immediately to mind and that involved Buck Showalter in his first season leading the Mets. It’s not exactly apples-to-apples, as Showalter had many years of MLB managerial experience under his belt. Still, it seemed like an excellent response.
The Mets were getting hit an inordinate amount of times at the beginning of 2022. And then Francisco Lindor was plunked with a pitch near his head. What did the then-66-year-old Showalter do? Without a moment of hesitation, the old guy flew out of the dugout and charged to home plate. He didn’t hit anyone; he didn’t have to resort to violence at all.
That sprint from the dugout – in my subjective opinion – said everything that needed to be said. Showalter let it be known that he was sick and tired of his players getting hit and made that perfectly clear with his response, no violence necessary. Was that a pre-meditated response? My guess is yes. But even if it was completely spontaneous, in my opinion it set the tone for what turned out to be a 101-win season.
Does Mendoza have a response ready for Hoskins and the Brewers? If so, what is it? Will a younger man with fewer years of experience have a situation-appropriate response in his toolbox, ready to deploy at the exact right time?
Many people want Hoskins to be on the receiving end of a fastball to the ribs. I understand the sentiment. But in a society where far too many people look to solve problems with guns, we need to find solutions without violence wherever possible. Even on a baseball field.
Here’s hoping Mendoza and the Mets can channel Showalter and find the perfect response to a negative stimulus.
Then there is the response of n e v e r hitting an opponent. Never sending a message and always being the target. Respect is not given, it’s earned. Enough if being bullied by a-holes. Sometimes you need to show that you will stand up for yourself.
There’s a song by Kenny Rogers: Coward of the County; I’m sure everyone has heard it.
Agree with TexasGus and with the announcers…this “inaction” tells me it is going to be a long season and I was not impressed with the response ny Mendoza. You take action immediately and set the tone for the season.
The slide was dangerous but ” technically” legal. Was it legal? The rule was instituted to avoid injuries. That was the intent of the rule. It wasn’t the “intent” to let players to slide late, grabbed the base and to takeout the defensive player. The umpires should have ruled a double play. Mendoza should have argued this point even if he was thrown out of the game. He would have shown his team that he would have their backs.
In the next game, Ramirez pitch was nowhere near Hoskins but he was thrown out of a game because of his “intent”. Mendoza should have been all over the umpires. If a player slides, then a umpire can’t rule intent, even if there was contact. But a pitch that wasn’t even close can be ruled to have “intent”. Mendoza should have argued more than he did .
Hoskins should have been ruled a DP. Ramirez rightfully was ejected. Intending to hurt another player should not be tolerated in baseball.
So Hoskins is an ass but if we would score some runs it would be just another game. The slide was late but no one got hurt. It’s l all amplified by how the Mets are playing. But if they were going to throw at him and I believe they were doing so and sending a message, you don’t throw near the head instead hit him the ribs. Might as well earn that suspension. Poor starting pitching and a lack of timely hitting is no recipe to
make the playoffs. Already thinking my 88 win projection is going by the wayside.
What Frankl said is reminiscent to the advice I give some students who have trouble in controlling their fits of temper.
Leaders tend to be decisive people, and most of the time, a strong leader will react quickly and correctly. But there are (an admittedly small amount of) times when the best reaction is to do nothing – sometimes, the situation will resolve itself