Much to do about nothing!

Last night, the Dodgers and the Diamond Backs played hardball - real hardball. As you know, Ian Kennedy skinned Puig on the nose and later, Greinke struck back, hitting the batter in the small of the back - exactly as one should if sending a message. Ian Kennedy decided to hit Greinke and benches cleared.

When one watches the video, but more importantly, the game, one can discern intent from the rabid perception of rabid fans - Ian Kennedy hit Yasiel Puig in the nose, a skin job if you will. The pitch was high and tight and Puig's beak got hit.

Ian Kennedy was not trying to hit, much less, hurt Puig. It was a scary scene and scary thought, but again, look at Mr. Kennedy through out the entire event. He was not trying to intentionally hit Yasiel Puig.

Zack Greinke, on the other hand, was doing what he was supposed to do: protect his teammates. Yes, I said it: protect his teammates. Believing as I do that Kennedy's pitch got away, you still need to send the message that you can't get away with stupid stuff. Yeah, it is stupid logic, but it is how the game is played. If you want (speaking as a pitcher) to hitters to score for you, they need to know that you have their collective bats. Greinke does and did - on the second pitch, he hit C Miguel Montero in the small of the back - exactly where you are to hit someone when you are sending a message.

The Diamond Backs knew this, and they expected it. As a matter of fact, in baseball terms, Greinke was rather professional about it: not at the head, but behind the hitter. THAT is the way you are supposed to do it. The umpires handled it exactly as it should have been handled. No warnings issued until Greinke nailed Montero. All is fair in love and war and both teams are even.

Nope, there aren't. Ian Kennedy decides to plunk Greinke and sure, I was surprised by that because Pitchers usually don't go after Pitchers. Fine, but what was not cool was the Kennedy plunked Greinke in the Helmet. Sure, people should have their bells rung from time to time, but again, throwing at someone's head is fine to back 'em off the plate, not to hit the batter as Kennedy did.

Kennedy, THAT was stupid. Further, your team was winning and you gave the Dodgers reason, an emotional reason to beat the crap out of the Diamond Backs. You lost your head Kennedy, and you lost the game for your team.