Pirates manager Clint Hurdle was asked about a possible retaliation for Anthony Rizzo’s takeout slide of catcher Elias Diaz and he didn’t deny it. In fact he pointed out how much Rizzo gets hit with pitches.
“He was hit 30 times two years ago, 24 times last year. You need to pitch him hard inside and if you ding him pitching hard inside tonight, who knows where it goes?”
So let me get this straight, Hurdle isn’t a fan of the takeout slide, but has no problem with the hit by a pitch as a form of retaliation? You’re either with “player safety” or you’re not.
You don’t get to have it both ways. If Rizzo gets hit by a pitch I hope he charges the mound and kicks the pitcher’s ass.
