Intentionally hitting batters (baseball question)

[Gipper]

We all know that there are times when pitchers intentionally hit batters. The question is: Should a pitcher who intentionally hits a batter be suspended?

[Siren]

No, because...<p>The pitcher should be replaced. The pitcher is just a whiny over-paid baby who holds up the fast-paced action that baseball would have. Instead, the pitcher should be replaced with a pitching machine that pops back into the pitcher's mound, as to let game-play continue unhindered. The machine could be set to insanely fast speeds, and the game would have an alotted time. There would be no walking or balls, thus allowing fast game-play and above-mentioned alotted games. The stars of the game would then be the 1st baseman, and the others to a lesser extent.<p>I wish I had the credit of thinking that idea up. Give kudos to Hunter S. Thompson; I kind of summarized an article of his that said that.

[Gipper]

That takes the whole idea of human error out of the game. Plus, home runs and hits would increase with every pitch in the strike zone, there would be far more swings and hits, therefore MORE time during a game.

[LaconianShot]

Heheheh... Hunter S. Thompson also wanted the runners to be able to run <i>across</i> the field to any base.

[Gipper]

Logical...First to third to second to home...

[Siren]

<blockquote>That takes the whole idea of human error out of the game. </blockquote> <p>I don't know if it's just me, but I don't think the best part of baseball is watching the pitcher screw up. That's for the batter to do.

[Malakai]

Correct me if I'm wrong since baseball isn't my forte, but is seems that the pitcher has the most demanding or difficult role on the field, as he is always involved in every play. I would think that if a pitcher hits a batter on purpose then he should simply be taken out of the game. If you can't win with your wits and physical abilities, then you're not a very good pitcher, are you? And please don't say that hitting the batter is a strategy. That's like saying that slide-tackling the goalie in football/soccer is a 'strategy'. %) You win because you're the better player, not better cheater.