Photo Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports

Photo Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports

Every once in a while, it’s really great having Larry Bowa back. Like last night, when Darin Ruf got quick-pitched and Bowa threw a shit-fit.

The main complaint of Bowa (and Jeff Francoeur) wasn’t that Ruf got quick-pitched, it’s that his head was down. The ump called time as the pitch was being thrown because Ruf wasn’t set, and wasn’t even looking at the pitcher. That can be dangerous. If that ball comes inside, and Ruf doesn’t see it, that’s bad news. Or, to put it in the words of Frenchy:

“Let the fucking guy step in the box. That’s all I ask. … We saw [Jeurys] Familia quick-pitch, but the guy was ready. We played against [Joel] Peralta. LaTroy [Hawkins] did it to me earlier this year in Toronto. That’s my whole thing. Ruffy had one foot in the box. That’s chicken shit. That’s what it is. I never met the guy and I have no problem with him.”

Even Mets catcher Travis d’Arnaud knew it was the wrong move. “I just know the guy’s head was down,” d’Arnaud said after the game. “I think the rule is you can’t throw it until at least they’re looking at him. So I was telling him to wait. He threw it. You never know what could happen in that situation when you’re looking down and something like that happens.”

When you re-watch the video (after the jump), Ruf actually was looking, and you can hear the umpire yelling “Jeff, sit down” as Frenchy hops out of the dugout. So, quick pitch? Sure. Dangerous? Maybe not. But it’s the Mets, so it doesn’t take much.