Reds broadcast delivers truth for all baseball purists after Sal Stewart hit-by-pitch

In case you missed it, Cincinnati Reds rookie Sal Stewart was drilled by a pitch during the bottom of the fourth inning on Saturday. Pittsburgh Pirates starter Braxton Ashcraft came up and in with a 97 mph fastball that struck Stewart on the left elbow. The Reds' slugger was none too pleased, and he let the whole world know about it.

Stewart slammed his bat into the ground and began to take off his protective gear as the boos rained down the crowd in attendance at Great American Ball Park. Reds' head athletic trainer Sean McQueeney and manager Terry Francona came onto the field to make sure Stewart was alright.

Stewart made his way to first base, and despite being in obvious pain, stayed in the game after a brief chat with McQueeney and Francona. It was the third time Stewart has been hit by a pitch this season, and the second time in the last two weeks.

Reds broadcaster says Sal Stewart's teammates have to stick up for their star

Reds' radio broadcaster Jeff Brantley offered an old-school opinion on the hit-by-pitch, and gave some advice to Stewart's teammates — especially the pitching staff — of how to handle the aftermath of such incidents.

"I would say, Tommy (Thrall), as we move along in the career of Sal Stewart, the Reds are going to have to protect him more. You just can't have the opponents knocking down your best RBI guy," Brantely said during Saturday's broadcast.

"I don't care is he's a rookie," he continued. "I don't care if he's brash. He's your teammate, and if they're going to throw that ball in there like that, then somebody on the other team is going to have to pay."

While these words might not land so well with fans who follow the modern game, those who long for the good old days will absolutely love what The Cowboy just said.

That's not to accuse of Ashcraft of any wrongdoing. While you can't judge intent, it's doubtful that he hit Stewart on purpose. But if this were the 1980s, with Brandon Lowe — one of the Pirates best players — set to leadoff the top of the fifth, he'd be wearing one courtesy of Reds' starter Andrew Abbott. That's just the way it worked.

Baseball has strayed away from those tactics nowadays. Heavy fines and suspensions have lessened the retalitory nature of the game from years past. But Brantley's point still stands.

Stewart plays with an edge, and sometimes that can rub the opposition the wrong way. He's also become one of the most productive hitters in the game, and opposing pitchers will soon be forced to come inside more often as they search for ways to get him out.

If that results in more hit-by-pitch, then Reds pitchers better be ready to follow Brantley's advice. You have to protect your teammates, especially one of your best players.

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