IGT 04/27 - NYM @ STL

[Edgy MD]

That seems odd, but I think it's in the right spirit.



Other sports contain brawls with a simple but effective rule — anyone who leaves the bench to join in a melee has committed a violation and automatically incurs whatever punishment. It may be an ejection, a fine, or a suspension, depending on the rules, but there's no judgment call for the umps. You're getting dinged.



This way, clearing the bench for a brawl is such a consequential act that nobody is going to go out there for an inconsequential reason such as "Everybody else was out there and I had to watch my guys' backs."



This happened to the Knicks some years ago when a bunch of players left the bench during an on-court fight (in Miami?) and automatically incurred a two-game suspension — during the playoffs. Their actions doomed their chances, but no other team (as far as I know) has made the same mistake.



This way, the peacemakers have space to separate the two to four initial combatants without side-scrums breaking out as dozens of players in three waves rush to the same point and collide with each other and step on each other's feet and legs.



This works, but it's problematic in baseball, as the nature of the game pits two sides with unequal numbers of players on the field. The defense has nine guys, but the batter is out there with only whatever runner might be on base and one or two crusty coaches.



But the same rule can work if the offensive players who are currently in the lineup to go out there but the other players have to stay put. They may be a beat slower than the defense's infielders in getting to the point of action, but they'll be faster than the outfielders, and some of them will have helmets on. And the offense is always second on the field anyhow.



So what do you say? Nine on nine beats 30 on 30, right?



Mets AA pitcher Marcel Renteria hit a guy the other day. (I think I already shared this link.) I don't know if it was intentional or not, but in the ensuing scrum, he ended up under a lot of guys, and he came out of it with (I think) his rotator cuff torn and his season is over and probably his career.



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[Johnny Lunchbucket]

The Islanders-Capitals game had some good violence last night. Our defenseman Aho got boarded pretty bad. Pelech got 4 for repeatedly cross-checking a guy right in front of the ref-- he probably earned 8--and Wahlstrom drew a game misconduct in an attempt to avenge the boarding when he threw his stick to the ice and straight out tackled the offender on open ice. Isles won, they have a good chance to qualify as the best team not to make the playoffs this year. 👍