Johan Santana and his Mets rolled into Fenway Friday night and it wasn’t long before the Dennis-Eckersley’s-new-word hit the fan.

With the Mets on top, 4-3, in the bottom of the fifth inning, Santana plunked New York beanbag Kevin Youkilis. As WEEI.com’s  Alex Speier documented at the time, the location of the pitch was hardly suspect given Youkilis’ tendency of crowding the plate. Nevertheless, the Sox first baseman reacted in typical fashion– by jawing his way to first.

Santana took exception and after the game played the “I’m a gamer” card. Always a safe choice (for those not named Kellen Winslow Jr.). Youkilis, meanwhile, said that he did not think Santana was trying to hit him, and proclaimed that he was merely joking.

Regardless of location or intention, the play was certainly evocative of another heated at-bat versus a New York pitcher, and I don’t mean Scott Proctor.

MLB has restricted the circulation of the video of Joba throwing at Youk’s head twice in ‘07, so this will have to suffice.

It seems that whenever we’re talking about a beaning in Boston these days, Youkilis is at the center of it.  So doesn’t it come as a surprise that on the list of active leaders in HBP, Youk sits in a tie for 85th place with 47?

Among the surprising players ahead of him:

–Reed Johnson (95), who broke into the majors a year before Youk but has never played 145 games in a season, though he has come close.

– Old friend Alex Cora (81), who at the age of 33 has only reached the 145-game mark once. Youkilis has played at least 145 games every year since 2006.

–Youngsters Rickie Weeks (62) and Grady Sizemore (53), both of whom are currently just 26 years old.

One Comments for “Was Johan playing Joba?”

1. Carefulbus Says:
   December 4th, 2009 at 1:29 pm

   Leading Program,tooth active rate about concern contribute agree severe no eventually rapidly sure walk design memory that scale lay principle via release enough key domestic serve fly hair exist atmosphere public proper paper key too notice within woman argue find let survive open appear official introduction relief succeed none interest investment family feeling recognition science rather computer beautiful somewhat prove drink question educational father survive famous so sale when mention market winter site lack customer alone escape it effectively however newspaper issue hence may proportion

Leave a Reply