Sunday: Culberson fractured a bone in his cheek on the play, tweets David O’Brien of the Athletic. While he won’t require surgery, he will miss the remainder of the season.
Saturday: A very heated scene ensued in D.C. this afternoon after a fastball from Washington’s Fernando Rodney struck Atlanta’s Charlie Culberson squarely in the face. Though Culberson, 30, was turned to bunt when at-bat in the top of the seventh, Rodney’s fastball apparently got away from him and connected near Culberson’s eye. Culberson was placed onto a medical cart by the Atlanta training staff and eventually motioned a “thumbs-up” to the crowd, but manager Brian Snitker would soon follow him off of the playing field after an ejection. Apparently incensed that home plate umpire Tim Timmons called the pitch a strike, Snitker vociferously mirrored much of the Twitter community’s feeling that, despite the fact that Culberson was indeed squared to bunt when the pitch hit him, the umpire should have spared the strike call in consideration of the bloody scene. Atlanta’s Fox Sports affiliate has video of the incident which shows both the aftermath of the HBP and Snitker’s ejection (Twitter links).
As for the potential, on-field ramifications of this incident, Atlanta can ill-afford to lose more position player depth. Johan Camargo was just this week felled by a fractured shin, and a lengthy absence for Culberson would further test Atlanta’s bench corps as the group gears up for postseason play.
Since the beginning of 2018, Culberson has provided the Braves with 466 plate appearances in which he has recorded a .267/.316/.457 slash line with 17 home runs and 65 RBI. Even more usefully, Snitker has employed the veteran at every position save for center field and catcher over the last two years, including some garbage-time relief pitching work. Further updates on Culberson’s injury will be provided as they become available.
September has been a gruesome month of baseball so far.
One comes back, someone else goes down. Looks like it is time for Riley to shine because the once strong depth, is fading fast.
Most incredibly stupid and insensitive comment by a play-by-play guy ever,
“Nobody feels worse than Fernando Rodney.”
Really!?!
He was assuming Rodney didn’t do it on purpose, and it’s said meaning no one on the field at that time. Obviously CC had been taken off the field by that point.
take it from a tigers fan who watched the Fernando Rodney dumpster fire show on many a uneasy summer night.he didn’t hit him on purpose he has control issues then and now.
this dude knows his shizniz
So your takeaway from all this is to get upset with a broadcaster for using a common saying to describe a guy who unintentionally hit another human being in the face with a fastball.
yeah im sure Rodney wanted to injure Culberson.
Not saying he intentionally wanted to hit Culberson, just that I am pretty sure that there is at least one person who feels worse than Rodney. In fact, I am positive of that observation.
Don’t be so obtuse. You know full well that it’s a different type of feeling. It’s often easier to get over being hurt than it is to get over hurting someone else.
Shawshank is one of my favorite films as well.
Toasty,
It’s an expression, like god bless you after you sneeze, and RIP, and in your thoughts and prayers. They’re all pretty lame, but people use them and will continue to use them. Not that sinful.
Hurt? No. Hit? Yes. It’s what your taught as a pitcher when a batter shows bunt.
You’re taught as a pitcher to hit the batter if they’re running a suicide squeeze, not sacrificing. It would be asinine to hit a batter who is literally giving himself up to move a runner into scoring position. All you do in that case is move the runner into scoring position, put another runner on base, and forfeit an out. Stupid comment.
Totally agree, Judd. That is what I was taught and that is what I did. Although we were taught to knock the batter down in the event of a suicide squeeze, not hit him. They always got out of the way.
Um, the Braves announcers say actually terrible things all the time
umm, no they dont what are you talking about?
Chip can be a moron and say stupid stuff
Stupid? Sure. Terrible? No.
Anyone that rips on announcers, I’d like to hear them do an inning, let alone a 3 hour game and see how brutal it’d be.
I enjoy Chip and think he does a fine job just like his grandpa and dad did before him.
Chip is nowhere near the stupidity level of Joe Buck.
I’m sure Culberson feels worst, especially his face!
One of Atlanta’s pitchers needs to bean Tim Timmons, what a chode
Atlanta has something to play for, suspensions will hinder that. Not worth it for Atlanta.
Why Timmons. Should be Dave Martinez that catches crap for being classless in that situation and asking Timmons to check with Welke. Who argues for a strike call there?
He bunted at the ball. I’m not for either team. He obviously bunted at the ball therefore a strike was the correct call. Do you want them to suspend common sense because he bunted badly?
For one he didn’t offer at the ball so arguably not a strike and two, dude how do you suggest that he “bunted badly” when he didn’t even have time to react to a ball that would hit him in the face? If you read my initial comment I wasn’t suggesting that a strike not be called. I was simply saying that Martinez is a tool for appealing and asking for the strike when they just carted a guy off the field who’s baseball career at that point was in question. No class.
For getting the call right?
All I’m saying is sometimes you need to place more importance on showing RESPECT for another player or team over arguing to get a call right. Had Martinez simply “put that argument in his pocket” he would have shown superb class in that situation. Instead he ended up looking like a donkey.
The umpires got the call right, regardless of whether or not any of us think it’s wrong. the ML rule book is cut and dried and states word for word – If the batter clearly tried to make contact or if the umpire feels he he made an attempt to make contact, it is called a strike. If the hitter has the bat extended out for a bunt and the pitch hits him, it is called a strike.
The rule isn’t that cut and dry in all honesty. What I’ve learned over many occasions is the bat being left out doesn’t constitute an attempt. Especially as his body is moving backwards.
The umpire may have felt he “stabbed” at it, but it wasn’t an attempt.
In this case the umpire was wrong and Snitcker was entirely correct. He can stand frozen in a bunt stance never move his bat, and never “attempt” a bunt.
Maybe there was no attempt as the ball was coming in on him but Culberson or any batter not intending to lay a bunt usually pulls the bat back.
Had Culberson raised his bat, or jabbed at the pitch I say it should be a strike. He did neither. Generally, umps give the hitter the benefit of doubt when a pitch is coming at the head of hitter. There is no hard and fast rule regarding avoiding a pitch to the head just hope the hitter can find out away to avoid it. A strike call there was unnecessary and I seriously doubt if the Nats would have argued otherwise.
But the Nats via classless Dave Martinez DID argue otherwise by asking Timmons to check with Welke on appeal for the strike call. I have no issue with it being called a strike—most likely was according to rule. I take issue with a classless manager taking that moment to appeal for a strike call when an opposing player was carted off the field after a very scary and potentially career changing situation. Showed zero respect for Culberson and the Braves. Brian was correct to lose his Snit. Don’t bother calling him to check on Charlie, Dave. Rings hollow dude.
He didn’t stab at it. He tried to bunt it. Watch it again.
He continued to make an attempt to make contact with the ball right up to the moment it passed the bat. It was a strike. Correct call by the ump.
https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_fill,w_912,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/shape/cover/sport/Screen-Shot-2019-09-14-at-80659-PM-b0d029dab6b68acd7d08623129b911db.jpg
Whether it’s a rule or not what makes it controversial is the fact that most likely it would’ve been ruled a HBP if Dave Martinez hadn’t yelled to have it challenged by the 1b umpire all while Culberson was bleeding all over home plate. Kinda crappy move by the Nationals manager just to get a slight advantage, But then he quickly erased that advantage by leaving his visibly shaken pitcher in there another 8 batters to blow the game wide open.
That’s not the rule. The rule is he has to offer. Having a bat extended across the plate is not an attempt..
https://forum.officiating.com/baseball/26541-bunt-attempt-strike.html
Just as there is no specific rule regarding the definition of a check-swing, there is no specific rule for what constitutes a bunt attempt that misses. Therefore, whatever judgment the umpires make, they are correct. 100% of the time. Without exception.
8.02
Any umpire’s decision which involves judgment, such as, but not limited to, whether a batted ball is fair or foul, whether a pitch is a strike or a ball, or whether a runner is safe or out, is final. No player, manager, coach or substitute shall object to any such judgment decisions.
The manager or the catcher may request the plate umpire to ask his partner for help on a half swing when the plate umpire calls the pitch a ball, but not when the pitch is called a strike. The manager may not complain that the umpire made an improper call, but only that he did not ask his partner for help. Field umpires must be alerted to the request from the plate umpire and quickly respond. Managers may not protest the call of a ball or strike on the pretense they are asking for information about a half swing
Bat was not extended over the plate.
Wait, you cite a discussion board to reinforce your false understanding of what a bunt attempt is?
It’s an umpiring message board. These are some of the best at various levels, including those into the lower levels of pro-ball. I showed it because of the way they explain it. These umpires had to make a call based on what they saw, when it happened. I’d guess they weren’t even thinking about that when it happened. No, in an academic sense, it is not a reliable source, but as a former umpire and current coach, their statements are correct.
The rule that would be cited is simply the one of what constitutes a strike. It does not give a situation like this. I might could find the info in a case book.
A very reasoned response. I apologize for the tenor of my comment.
Attempting to make contact with the ball is an offer. That is what he did.
https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_fill,w_912,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/shape/cover/sport/Screen-Shot-2019-09-14-at-80659-PM-b0d029dab6b68acd7d08623129b911db.jpg
Sorry , you’re wrong. If the hitter has the bat extended out for a bunt and the pitch hits him, it is called a strike.. The key word is “extended”. The bat was not extended at all..
Posted the photo a few times below. He extended the bat. It was a strike. A brutal result that you never want to see, but the correct call by the ump.
He didn’t offer at the ball. He pulled the bat back and in front of his face to try and shield himself which happens quite often and isnt called a strike. They got it wrong and had the chance to correct it and had to much pride to do so. Says alot about the character of the umpire and National’s manager for requesting it. The look on every Nationals players face as the game continued tells you everything about whether it was the right call.
You are incorrect – I have watched the replay a dozen times – the ML rule book notes that if he “offers” at the ball, he DID NOT OFFER… Point of fact if you are so “smart” as you think you are you would have been reviewing replays of the supposed bunt, slowed down, and saw that the bat was not moving forward but back as he was attempting to “back away” from the pitch. It amazes me some of the “armchair” umps who think they know everything. Do you have a copy of the MLB rule book? I actually do because I have a cousin who is an ump. BTW – the Ump after the game noted that after seeing the replay several times that HE WAS WRONG. And this is from the ump who made the call that it was a strike. Please, please, please check your facts, and if you are going to quote from a rule book know what you are quoting. If you think the ump is correct, it is very easy with today’s technology through smart TVs, computers, etc. to replay the event and even slow it down to see what really happened. Martinez did do the right thing as the manager of the other team to appeal, I am not mad at him for the call, nor am I mad at the umpire, he made it in the spur of the moment based on what he perceived at the time of the play. I was very PROUD of Snitker standing up for his player… He is a class act.
He offered. He was attempting to put the bat on the ball until the very last moment.
https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_fill,w_912,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/shape/cover/sport/Screen-Shot-2019-09-14-at-80659-PM-b0d029dab6b68acd7d08623129b911db.jpg
There is absolutely no question about it.
Snitker asking for enforcement of the “boo boo” rule, which umps used to call time out and cause the Yanks a game earlier this year.
The average number of posts it takes to turn any MLBTR thread into a discussion of the Yankees has to be under 10.
The average number of posts about the Yankees before someone complains about it is 1. Yankees have the biggest market; believe it or not, they are going to be a popular topic of conversation.
And this is entirely on point. That game caused a discussion about how umps should rule on injury plays.
There’s 30 teams, not 1. Yankees have 1 title in 20 years, why do we even care about them, they’re not even good.
You have a lot of your own threads.
God bless you, Charlie, and cover you with Love, and Comfort, and Healing.
oh please Snitker. that’s not how rules work.
You get run for your guy in that spot, even if he doesn’t think it should changed, you get tossed there. First, to stand up for your guy, and second because that team had just had all the energy sucked out of them seeing that. You fire them up, which he did, and make sure your team gets the win. It would have been real easy for that team to lose stomach for the game for the day, and instead they rallied around it.
+1. Snit did exactly what he should have. I’m sure the argument has less to do with the strike and more to do with standing up for a very well liked member of the team. Managers have a few unconventional jobs, that’s one
He didn’t want mercy. The argument was the pitch was up and in and Culbertson froze trying to get out of the way without attempting to bunt the ball. I can go to the plate, put my bat out over the plate and leave it there as the pitch goes by. It’s not a swinging strike because I didn’t offer at the ball. That’s basically what he was arguing.
He “froze”? That’s not in the rule book. He offered at the pitch. Snitker made an emotional fool of himself.
Offering would include moving the bat toward the ball in an attempt to bunt it, not having the ball across the plate.
If the hitter has the bat extended out for a bunt and the pitch hits him, it is called a strike.. The bat was not extended, hence not a strike.
Dave Martinez made a tactical decision to argue he offered to avoid a baserunner. Brian Snitker made a tactical decision to get run to fire up his guys.
Dave Martinez successfully avoided the baserunner, as Adam Duvall finished the at-bat and made an out.
Brian Snitker’s Braves then proceeded to hang NINE RUNS on Dave’s team, taking a 1-1 game in the 7th and winning it 10-1.
Who’s tactical decision turned out better?
If it’s a strike, it’s a strike. Now Managers are arguing that the Umpires shouldn’t follow the rules? Yeesh, make up your mind.
The pitch was not in the zone, and it didn’t appear that Culberson made an active attempt to bunt the ball. It was an up and in pitch and he froze his bat as he tried to get out of the way, so he did not attempt to bunt the ball. Should have been a HBP under the rules.
Jarrowood, let me guess. You’re at Atlanta fan? Because only a homey would not see that he tried to bunt the ball.
Next, you’ll argue that a foul ball off a bunt shouldn’t be a strike because you were in his head and you know he wasn’t actually trying to make contact.
He was showing bunt, he didn’t pull out of showing bunt on delivery, and there is no way you can show he had other plans. It’s simple homer-ism on your part.
He did offer up. He was trying to put the bat on the ball until the last moment. . https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_fill,w_912,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/shape/cover/sport/Screen-Shot-2019-09-14-at-80659-PM-b0d029dab6b68acd7d08623129b911db.jpg
The ump got this one correct. It was a strike under the rules.
This explain it: https://forum.officiating.com/baseball/26541-bunt-attempt-strike.html
Jarro,
You’ve cited an unreliable source twice. That’s making you look bad.
Do you actually know what happened, or are you just ignorant. It has to be the latter.
We’ve lost all infield depth. If we sign Scooter Gennett or someone else, are they eligible for the postseason?
Unfortunately no, can only use players in the system before Sept 1st.
Felt very bad for Charlie, not intentional but could have ended his career. Maybe if Rodney would fix his cap, he should get hit for that look.
I’ve watched the replay a dozen times and I’m not sure he even saw the pitch. He doesn’t react at all and the bat is nearly a foot too low — he must have thought it was going to break, but there sure looks like a deer-in-headlights thing going on there.
Rodney wears his cap like that in remembrance of his dad, who passed away. His dad always wore his cap that way. Rodney is a good guy– he just simply threw a bad pitch.
Joe Simpson, what do you also think of his pregame attire?
@bobby cox
That was a little Joe Simpson ish, good call. I know Rodney wears the hate to honor his late father doesn’t mean it looks good.
He’s also ugly should we fault him for that too? I’m sure you’re angry but his hat has nothing to do with it. A lot of Latin players are wearing their hats like that
So he should be hit for a look that honors his deceased father, because you don’t like said look?? Your family must be proud.
He can wear his cap any way he wants to. And he has been doing it for 20 years.
Prayers for Charlie and Rodney, I hope they both recover soon.
Sucks for Rodney. Give him a few save chances to break Francisco Cordero’s record, and then get him out. He’s played long enough.
Best wishes to Culberson.. fractured cheek bone is awful. But not nearly as bad as breaking the orbital bone that protects the eye.
And while many may not like the strike call, it was correct. First, the batter has to try and avoid the HBP. Culberson froze – completely understandable. Perhaps that part of the rule needs to change. Second, because he froze he did not pull his bat back.
Personally I wish MLB would change the HBP rule. Right now it is silly. For example, if your jersey is loose and pitch barely touches the jersey but not the player, it is an HBP.
I’ve complained all year that the Braves dont bunt enough in key situations to gain momentum in a ball game and now this happens..
This up and in stuff is getting a little out of hand and all the more reason to wear the face shield “Jason Heyward” helmet.
Does this changed baseball seem to be an issue not only staying in the park but staying in the pitchers hand? Can anyone else comment on how it seems more players were hit in the face with pitches this year?
The only thing worse that Martinez could have done was to physically kick Culberson while he was bleeding all over the plate. And the umpire is a POS.
You’re a childish homey. TRY to watch the play from an unbiased perspective (I’m a Twins fan, have no dog in the fight) and you will that he tried to bunt the ball and the umpired called it a strike. That’s the rule, and the umpire did his job. Now you need to wake up from your dream.
The argument about the strike call shouldn’t overshadow the fact that Culberson took one in the face. Nobody wants to see that. Nobody who plays the game, watches it, or officiates it. Hope Charlie will recover completely and quickly.
BTW, a “medical cart” is used for wheeling medical equipment and supplies. People are wheeled on a gurney.
I agree with you! All those complaining about it being a strike are taking away from the injury by placing blame on Martinez and the umpire. It’s shameful, in fact.
I think the writer means the golf cart that they use for transporting the gurney. So it is a “medical cart”
If that’s the case then it’s a gurney on a golf cart. I’ve seen the term “medical cart” used incorrectly here a couple of times recently. With a little luck the issue won’t come up again this season but when it does the correct word will still be gurney, whether or not it gets put on a golf cart.
They used the same term in the Washington Post and AJC. The NFL calls them injury carts. I would assume they are like NFL carts and are more than just golf carts with gurneys in that they carry medical supplies as well. But at the end of the day hopefully they don’t need to be mentioned in an article for the rest of the season.
100% guarantee that Timmons does not care , as long as he gets paid.
He offered at the ball. It’s a strike. Ump got this one right. https://www.foxsports.com/south/video/1603376707641
There are a tremendous amount of stills of the ball a few inches from Culberson’s face and the bat is extended in an attempt to put the bat on the ball. There is no question about it.
https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_fill,w_912,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/shape/cover/sport/Screen-Shot-2019-09-14-at-80659-PM-b0d029dab6b68acd7d08623129b911db.jpg.
Terrible result in terms of him getting hit. Good call by the ump.