Following the Red Sox’ 7-5 win over the Tigers, Tuesday night at Fenway Park, Kevin Youkilis spoke about charging Detroit pitcher Rick Porcello and ultimately getting ejected because of it:

(Hear the audio by clicking on the link)

Youk on getting hit: “I just thought it looked like there was intent there. Two days in a row of getting hit. At some point you have to do something to protect yourself as a hitter.”

“I knew I was out of the game. It was a given.”

Rick Porcello maintained afterward that it was definitely NOT intentional.

Youk on never charging before: “It was something I have never done before, and never thought of ever doing but at some point… I lost my control there and let my emotions get the best of me.”

“Two days in a row and the way it was going I had enough of it. At some point you have to protect yourself as a hitter and your teammates. I felt like I had to do what I had to do.”

(Second time Porcello has hit Youkilis) “I don’t remember him hitting me the last time. I’ve been hit a lot. That one just seemed a little odd. The first pitch.”

“I definitely regret it being on TV for the kids out there. It’s not the way you should handle it. Like I said, there comes a point in your life where you have to protect yourself and you can’t just continue to get hit up there.”

(On throwing the helmet at Porcello) “Basically, everything happened so fast, you just don’t realize what you’re doing.”

Youk on the fight motivating his team: “If that’s what guys say and it got them going, hopefully we’ll never have to get a team going like that. Hopefully I can do it playing the game of baseball. It happens in baseball sometimes and hopefully this will be the last time it ever happens.”

“A lot of times guys are trying to pitch inside. There are times I get hit, but the last two days were different. I think there was intent there to hit.”

(On what he was thinking when running toward Porcello) “I don’t think there is any plan. If I was an ultimate fighter I think there would be a plan, but I didn’t plan on that to happen. I was trying to go up there and have a good at-bat and get on base. I got on base but it wasn’t the way I like it.”

17 Comments for “Youkilis talks about brawl”

1. Mario Says:
   August 12th, 2009 at 1:45 am

   Youkilis decision to charge the mound was bull. Rub some dirt on it and take your butt to first place. What is not mentioned here is the fact that Tigers firstbaseman Miguel Cabrera was also hit in both games. He had to come out of the game due to a bruised wrist. I hope that Bob Watson throws the book at him and suspends him for 10 games, especially for throwing his helmet like a little girl. Reallt?!?!? Throw your helmet at the pitcher. That is absolutely the lamest thing I think I have ever seen coming from a guy with a tough persona like Youkilis.

2. Yaztriplecrown Says:
   August 12th, 2009 at 3:04 am

   Joba should be suspended for half his crap and gets away with it, but Youk is definitely going to pay the price for letting his emotions take over.

   Plus, Bob Watson only goes easy on Yankees. OFF WITH YOUR HEAD, Youk… sorta.

3. Jay Says:
   August 12th, 2009 at 3:42 am

   Hey Mario, you want to talk about BULL, how about your entire pathetic, Red Sox hating post. Do you REALLY think there was ANY intent on the part of Junichi Tazawa? A kid in the FIRST inning of his FIRST Major League start? Wasn’t he up 0-2 as well, with two guys on base? I mean really? Are you that stupid that you think the kid said “you know what, I am going to throw it so that Cabrera can swing his hand into my pitch.”

   And I guess in your book it is OK for a guy to throw 95 towards a dudes head (two at bats in a row) and then try to run off the mound like a sally but good forbid a guy do anything back.

   I don’t blame Youkilis one bit. I am sure he is sick and tired of being everyone’s punching bag. Dude got hit 12 times last year and this is #10 this year. Two nights in a row with complete intent, and I didn’t even know that Porcello had hit him in a previous game.

   But seriously, to try and compare Cabrera and Youkilis tonight is absolutely pathetic and laughable. Unless that post was an attempt at comedy. If so, well played.

4. Larry from Newburyport Says:
   August 12th, 2009 at 7:38 am

   Youk has been hit more than any player in baseball and also thrown at(without hitting him)….In his mind enough was enough,it was time to finally do something about it….He did what he had to do!

5. Steve Says:
   August 12th, 2009 at 8:30 am

   Maria…errrr Mario is a girl who knows nothing about the game of baseball. Tazawa’s pitch was not at Cabrera’s head or back. It was over the plate and Cabrera partially turned his hands INTO the pitch so there was obviously no intent. I mean who hits someone on purpose in an 0-2 count with 2 men on base?? Maria…you’re a freakin’ retard. Why don’t you go post on the tiddly winks or pocket pool websites. The latter which I’m sure you’re very well versed.

6. Show some class Says:
   August 12th, 2009 at 8:55 am

   Youk is a tough dude. He’s old school and plays hard-nosed. He puts the team first an displays where Tito tells him. BUT – his constant expression of “Don’t hit me man” is getting really old. Jeter has been hit hundreds of times – he never complains, he goes down the line and shuts his mouth. Get a clue Youk – your angry faces make you look stupid. And last night, you could have hurt your team and if you’re suspended that will hurt too.

7. Steve Says:
   August 12th, 2009 at 9:40 am

   OK…TO ALL THE ENSTEINS THAT SAY YOUK SHOULD JUST SUCK IT UP…HOW MANY TIMES IN A GAME SHOULD SOMEONE EXPECT TO GET PLUNKED BEFORE THEY REACT?? OBVIOUSLY NONE OF YOU THINK HE SHOULD CHARGE THE MOUND AFTER GETTING HIT TWICE IN A GAME. HOW ABOUT 3 TIMES? 4 TIMES? 6 TIMES? WHAT THE EFF DO ANY OF YOU KNOW?? THE ONLY OPINION THAT MATTERS IS YOUK’S AND IF HE THOUGHT IT WAS TIME, GUESS WHAT IDIOTS?? IT WAS TIME.

8. Dave Says:
   August 12th, 2009 at 10:44 am

   Mario, Obviously you are a Detroit fan? Not much of a baseball fan either!! When major league baseball cleans the Clown Crew(umpires) then things will get better. This didn’t happen in the earlier great days of baseball. These overpaid,old, fat the game is about me umps should all be fired. To hell with the union. It’s time for baseball to come to their senses!!

9. Jay Says:
   August 12th, 2009 at 10:54 am

   If you watch the replay Porcello didn’t mean to hit Youk. It was a 2 seamer that ran in on him. As soon as the ball hits Youk you can tell by Porcello’s reaction that he was unhappy the ball got away from him. Which is why when Youk starts running he shrugs his shoulders asking what Youk was doing. If Youk saw that instead of just charging he would have realized there was no intent. Or maybe he did see and just thought Porcello is a spectacular actor.

   The comparison to Jeter is a good one, both of them get hit more due to their hitting style than because of their hitting ability (and the desire for other teams to hit a player of their caliber). People pitch those 2 the same way Farrell described how the Sox try to pitch Cabrera.

   Some advice for Youk, if you are going to charge a 20 year old pitcher who hits you by accident, don’t let him hip toss you to the ground.

10. ken Says:
    August 12th, 2009 at 11:03 am

    Youk is the biggest baby in the MLb. There was no intent when Porcello hit him and no one can say any different. All I know is that Youk should get the book thrown at him for throwing the helmet. He’s a major pansey for that move. LOL and then to get body slammed the way he did. I bet he doesn’t charge the mound again!

11. ken Says:
    August 12th, 2009 at 11:07 am

    Show some class, “Youk is a tough dude.” Yeah real tough. . . I seen that as he got tossed to the ground.

12. Jeff Says:
    August 12th, 2009 at 11:22 am

    Youk would make a good linebacker

13. Yaztriplecrown Says:
    August 12th, 2009 at 12:56 pm

    LOL @ Steve.

    Attack Mario’s opinion all you want. But don’t think women know “nothing about baseball”, my wife follows the game more than some guys and you probably knows baseball better than you numbskull

14. Yaztriplecrown Says:
    August 12th, 2009 at 12:59 pm

    (*edit for typo)

    LOL @ Steve.

    Attack Mario’s opinion all you want. But don’t think women know “nothing about baseball”, my wife follows the game more than some guys and she probably knows baseball better than you numbskull

15. Yaztriplecrown Says:
    August 12th, 2009 at 1:01 pm

    Steve, try pressing off on the Caps Lock button on your keyboard.

16. Andrew Says:
    August 12th, 2009 at 3:05 pm

    Ken: I have to ask you a question. You really don’t have anything better to do with your life than troll a Boston sports site and insult Red Sox players? I feel bad for you.

    And I can also guarantee you that Youk would absolutely destroy you.

17. Show some class Says:
    August 12th, 2009 at 4:00 pm

    As a Yankee fan, I’m glad Youk did it now. Anytime he misses 5 games, he’s helping us out.

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