When The Code Goes Kerflooey In Baseball

((HT: MLB/FS Arizona/ROOT Sports))

Diamondbacks stud first baseman Paul Goldschmidt's season is, probably, over with the hit by pitch that Ernesto Frieri gave him in his only at bat on Friday night in their game against the Pirates. There's a bone in his hand that's broken and will eight weeks minimum in getting better.

D-backs manager Kirk Gibson being Kirk Gibson responded Saturday where Bucos star Andrew McCutchen got hit in the back by Randall Delgado in the 9th inning of a 5-1 game


Goldschmidt was more realistic about it Friday night before the diagnosis was final


But it speaks to the larger question as to when managers cross lines...

What Frieri did looks like pitching inside
What Gibson did looks like revenge done poorly

The HQ sees nothing wrong with The Code, but codes take proper judgment in being implemented.
Doesn't look like that was the case here...

USA-Russia WJC Quarters Ends In Monkey Gestures

((HT: TSN/IIHF))

Just when you thought the youth of the world were getting along in the sports world, and the idea that detente was a surviving model of diplomacy forgot to tell the Russian squad at the end of the World Juniors quarterfinal today in Sweden.

Here's the highlights from beginning to end, and the last minute or so are the cute gestures...


To recap, Team USA's Matt Grzelcyk blew a tire and it led to the open-net goal by Russia's Pavel Buchnevich.
Buchnevich decided to rub the USA's nose in it and Blackhawks draftee Ryan Hartman popped him...

Which was nice- although a just-as-violatory move in The Code as the Russian celebration...

And what was the whole "fire hose" move, anyway...???

We know... the HQ just wanted to know if you were paying attention...