Gonzalez, Valentine Unhappy With 'Quick-Pitch'
BOSTON (CBS) - Both Adrian Gonzalez and Bobby Valentine didn't get to see the end of the Red Sox' 5-3 loss to the Orioles Wednesday night, but it was not by choice.
The Sox first baseman and manager were both ejected in the top of the eighth inning by home plate umpire Mike Everitt following Gonzalez grounding out to second.
With Boston trailing 5-3, Gonzalez said he was not ready at the plate when Baltimore reliever Pedro Strop delivered a pitch. He said he was shocked he even put the ball in play, and let his displeasure of the "quick-pitch " known as he walked back to the Boston dugout. Everitt tossed Gonzalez shortly after.
"When the pitcher comes set I get into my position to hit, and I was still in a position that I wasn't ready to hit," said Gonzalez. "My argument to it was the fact they called the same play a ball on Frankie Morales earlier this year. He does the same thing and the umpire said the hitter wasn't ready to hit, it's a ball. It needs to be universal, it can't be interpreted by each individual one."
Gonzalez On Ejection:
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"If they want to allow it, allow it to everyone," he said.
Gonzalez said he shared a less than flattering opinion with Everitt, which got him run. It was Gonzalez' second career ejection and first with the Red Sox.
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For Valentine, it was his fourth ejection of the season, and 41st of his career.
"Adrian told him what he thought and I reiterated it," Valentine said after the game.
"The reason they don't have the quick-pitch is because it's dangerous," said Valentine. "It's been allowed, I don't know how long now. My first time I've really seen it being over-used. If the hitter is not ready and the ball's at his head, he's not going to get out of the way. That's why they have the rule in the book. I guess the hitter has to step out or drop his bat or something but with two strikes, you're going to leave it up to the umpire to call you on strike three so you're playing survival."
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"There's about seven guys in this league that do it," said Valentine. "I've seen it called it a ball a few times too, a no pitch, when the umpire determined that the hitter wasn't ready. If the hitter's not ready, it's a ball. Automatic."
