Here's a list of pitchers, ranked in order of how scary I think it would be to have one of their fastballs soar toward your head.
1. Aroldis Chapman
2. Everyone else
Unfortunately for Rays utility man Mike Brosseau, he had to go up against the No. 1 guy on my list, and almost experienced the unthinkable.
101 miles per hour, whizzing right past the head. That can't be a great feeling. However, Brosseau brushed it off and stepped back up to the plate. It wasn't until after the game was over and Brosseau went down on strikes that he let his emotions get the best of him.
Tensions were high from earlier in the game, as well, as Yankees starter Masahiro Tanaka beaned Joey Wendle in the first inning, to which the announcer literally said "that was on purpose." Wendle doubled down on that sentiment, saying he "has no doubt that he got hit intentionally."
After the game, Rays manager Kevin Cash spoke to the media and wasn't shy about his frustration and disappointment in Chapman and the Yankees for their pitching.
Cash also seemed to threaten the Yankees, referencing the arms he has in his bullpen and rejecting the notion that past history played into tonight's action.
Yankees manager Aaron Boone responded to these comments, calling them scary.
Earlier this season, some questionable pitching led to high tension in another Rays-Yankees contest. Boone and hitting coach Marcus Thames were both thrown out after running out to argue some up-and-in pitching from Rays reliever Andrew Kittredge.
Related
This season's incidents bring to mind those of a past contest, where more accusations of head-hunting had arisen.
The two teams play again on Wednesday night.
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