Greatest Moment In Marlins History: #150 Protect Your Pitcher!

June 15, 2012; St. Petersburg, FL, USA; Miami Marlins first baseman Gaby Sanchez (15) workout prior to the game against the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

Let’s start the countdown off with a bang (so to speak)! Here is moment 150 in the Greatest Marlins Moments. Let me start off by saying I do not condone violence, but I’m old fashion and when you break an unwritten rule in baseball a bench clearing brawl might be expected (sometimes).

On September 1, 2010 the Marlins were up against the Nationals. The previous night Nyjer Morgan separated Brett Hayes shoulder with a collision at home in the 10^th inning. Whether this was hustle baseball or dirty tactics, it’s not for me to say. In the 4th inning of the September 1^st game Chris Volstad plunked Morgan and Morgan walked down to first. He then proceeded to steal second and then third base. These were some nice plays, but shouldn’t be done when you’re down 11 runs according to an unwritten rule somewhere. Again, it’s not my place to say if it was hustle or dirty.

So how does Volstad respond to this? In Volstad’s first pitch in the 6^th inning to Morgan he throws the ball a good 2 feet behind him. Morgan’s reaction? Charge the mound! Ok, Morgan is 5’10 185 lbs and Volstad is 6’8 230 lbs. If you want to charge him be my guest, but this is baseball and I follow the rule of always protecting my pitcher. In comes 6’1 230 lbs Gaby Sanchez running full speed from first base and clotheslines Morgan knocking him to the ground.

Watching this game on TV and again online it is an amazing thing to watch. Violence isn’t the answer to solving your problems and the only reason this on the list is because it shows 2 teammates standing up for their fellow teammate. Join us next time when you see what moment 149 is. Till next time… Let’s Go Marlins!

Nyjer Morgan gets clotheslined