Dodgers News: Braves Marcell Ozuna Takes Zero Responsibility for Hitting Will Smith With Backswing
We have a new wrinkle in the Will Smith, Marcell Ozuna drama from Monday night, and it just continues to make Ozuna look worse.
For context, on Monday night, Ozuna clocked Will Smith on the side of the head with his backswing, something he’s done multiple times before to Smith and other catchers in the MLB.
Smith immediately had some words to share with Ozuna because, you know, he smacked him in the head with his bat for the fifth time, according to Smith.
Ozuna didn’t apologize to Smith in the moment, but it did get a little heated. However, on Tuesday, he was asked about it again, and had a chance to apologize and move on. Instead, for some reason, he decided to double down.
Ozuna told reporters that he didn’t mean to hit Smith, and suggested that the Dodgers catch just back up when he comes up to the plate.
No apology. No responsibility taken. Instead, he just told Smith to back up to not get hit with his bat.
I don’t want to get into how disturbing of a response that is from Ozuna, but I think it’s very easy to side with Smith regarding this issue.
For even more context on the situation, Dodgers catcher Austin Barnes was asked about it, and said he’s also been clipped by Ozuna’s backswing before. He told Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic that some players have longer backswings and like to warn the catchers before stepping into the box — but clearly, Ozuna doesn’t feel the need to do that.
Whatever the case, we can hope that Smith is okay, and that he doesn’t get clocked by another Ozuna swing today, especially considering he’s just a month removed from a concussion that sidelined him for two weeks.
Moreover, though, I think the MLB really has to look into this and have some sort of punishment for a batter doing something like this. If a batter gets to go to first base when a catcher’s glove gets in his way on the swing, maybe the batter should be out when he clocks a catcher with his bat at the end of the swing. But that’s neither here not there.
At the very least, Ozuna could have and should have just apologized to Smith. I don’t think he would like it if someone hit him with a baseball bat on the side of his head.
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Sometimes batters get hit in the ribs. They shouldn’t stand so close to the plate. By Ozuna’s measure, it’s his fault if he gets hit in the ribs.
Last night Ozuna’s right foot was clear out of the batters box. He should move up.
I’m glad Ozuna didn’t go after Smith and choke him or something.
I appreciate the Dodgers-lean of this article as Braves fan. I’ll try to keep it simple: Batters have to stand in designated boxes, whereas catchers do not. Fact that Ozuna hit multiple catchers just shows it’s reliably his swing, not evidence of being a “serial backswinger”…LOL. I aldislike Ozuna for a number of reasons even as Braves fan, but yeah, maybe catchers should adjust to/now crowd batters who are swinging. “Cleaning it up” is akin to asking batteries to change their swing. What if a batter asked a pitcher to “clean up” their dirt-pitches because it stings their eyes. It’s a silly request. It’s not pleasant, but it’s the job. Adjust or keep “making requests”.
We have a “Buster Posey” rule to protect catchers. Maybe we also need an “Ozuna” rule too. Perhaps something like this: at the home plate umps discretion, warning, expulsion from game; 10 game suspension; additional lengthy suspensions for each additional incident. The science on head injuries and concussions in particular indicates that sports leagues need to take them more seriously and do much more to protect players. The impact of multiple “minor” concussions is much worse than once understood. Shortened life-spans. Concussion can affect memory, judgment, reflexes, speech, balance and muscle coordination. People with concussions often report a brief period of amnesia,headache, confusion, lack of coordination, memory loss, nausea, vomiting, dizziness, ringing in the ears, sleepiness, and excessive fatigue.
“Moreover, though, I think the MLB really has to look into this and have some sort of punishment for a batter doing something like this. If a batter gets to go to first base when a catcher’s glove gets in his way on the swing, maybe the batter should be out when he clocks a catcher with his bat at the end of the swing.”
MLB is gutless and will do NOTHING until it has another Buster Posey type case.
Where is the comment I just posted?
We protect catchers by not allowing anyone to slide into them at home plate, yet, if you are Marcel Ozuna or a few others, it’s okay to hit the catcher with your bat in an exaggerated finish to your swing. It’s easy to solve this–call the batter out for interference. Add a fine to it. This will make the batters adjust quickly.