SteveMullins is a journalism seniorSend comments to: smmullins1@juno.com
Like it or not, beanball incidents and purpose pitches are a partof baseball. Coaches know this, players know this and so do fans. Andwhile this practice is not openly condoned, it is reluctantlyaccepted as a part of America’s pastime.
What isn’t a part of the game is throwing at a batter’s head.Especially if that batter is standing nearly 30 feet away from homeplate.
Huh?
In case you haven’t heard, let me fill you in.
Last April 23, Wichita State pitcher Ben Christensen committed themost deplorable on-field action in recent baseball history.Christensen was warming up before a game with Evansville. While hewas completing his warm-up tosses, he sensed that Anthony Molina,Evansville’s leadoff hitter, was timing his pitches. This enragedChristensen so much that he decided to throw at Molina, who wasstanding between his dugout and the on-deck circle. But instead ofbouncing the ball past Molina to make a point, Christensen sent afastball toward Molina’s head.
Because he wasn’t looking, the ball struck Molina near his lefteye. The blow fractured Molina’s socket in three places and opened a1-inch gash that needed to be closed with 23 stitches. Christensenwas immediately ejected from the game and was later suspended for theentire season.
Molina, on the other hand, was not so lucky. As a result of thepurpose pitch, his vision was reduced from 20/10 to 20/160. Lasersurgery has since improved his vision to 20/80, but he is left withtwo permanent blind spots.
While the actual beaning of Molina was by far the most despicableact, it wasn’t the only one in this horrific story.
Last week, a Kansas district attorney decided not to file criminalassault charges against Christensen. While that decision certainlysurprised some across the country, it didn’t surprise Christensen.
In fact, Christensen thinks the entire episode was an accident. Atleast, that’s what he called it seven times in a 15-minute pressconference in June.
“Obviously, it was an accident,” Christensen said. “I’m sorryabout everything that happened. If I could take it back, I would.Hopefully, it won’t ruin me forever. Right now, it’s a one-sidedstory.”
Are you kidding me? A one-sided story.
Your damn right it’s a one-sided story, Ben. That’s because youdon’t have a case.
Of course, don’t mention that to Wichita State’s manager GeneStephenson. After the incident, Stephenson was quoted as saying:”Nobody intentionally hit someone else. Hey, we’re the ones who gothurt out of the deal.”
Unbelievable.
Stephenson should have been fired for such an idiotic utterance.He also should have been fired for not firing his pitching coach,Brent Kemnitz. Because Christensen said it was Kemnitz who teachespitchers to brush back “hitters who stand to close to the plate.”
So what is Christensen doing these days? No he’s not flippingburgers at McDonalds. He’s pitching in the Chicago Cubs organization.Yep, those lovable losers — the Cubbies. Chicago selected thetalented right-hander 26th overall in last June’s baseball draft.They also gave him a deal worth $1.06 million.
“I don’t want anyone to mis-state that we are condoning orlegitimizing what he did,” said Cubs general manager Ed Lynch.
Funny, that’s what it sounds like.
What gets me is the decision by the Kansas DA not to presscharges. What exactly constitutes assault in Wichita? And what wouldhave happened had Christensen killed Molina? Who would get the blamethen?
Although the authorities in Kansas have elected not to presscharges, Molina is still considering filing a civil suit.
Why not? He was permanently maimed and any hopes he had of playingprofessional baseball have effectively been dashed.
Christensen did apologize to Molina — in a letter almost twomonths after the beanball. However, his sincerity has to bequestioned since he has yet to pay for Molina’s medical expenses.
So what’s the moral of the story? If you have ability and youapologize for wrongdoing, you can do whatever you want.
