There are people who will suggest to you, in your life, that “Violence is not the answer.” Those people are right, provided the question is something to the effect of, “What is the best way to resolve a conflict?”

That said, there are some questions to which “violence” is the answer — like, for example, “What is a means by which the Houston Astros field ground balls to the pitcher’s left?” “Violence” was the answer to that question on August 7th. It was also the answer to that question during the bottom of the fourth of the Astros’ game against the Mets today.

Regard, Fernando Abad and Jason Castro getting physical on R.A. Dickey’s unintentional bunt situation:

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Is Charlie Blackmon just 3-for-21 since his recall this past Saturday (to replace Carlos Gonzalez, who’s on the bereavement list) — or is he 1-for-1 in an at-bat that will repeat ad infinitum?

Renowned hitmaker Edwin Encarnacion, born in the Dominican Republic, fluent in Spanish, spoke to Japan’s Yu Darvish Friday night without saying a word. Encarnacion’s bat flip — after a mighty  home run, a “no-doubter,” as the kids say — did all the talking. Nothing else needed to be said.

In eight at-bats against Darvish, Encarnacion has five hits, two of them home runs. It’s obvious to me, and anyone who visits FanGraphs: Encarnacion irrefutably  has Darvish’s number.

When winter is upon us up here in Toronto next month, and I look back on the Blue Jays’ 2012 season, one in which they will likely finish behind the Baltimore Orioles in the standings, I’ll remember Encarnacion’s T-Rexing ways, and his bat flips, as bright lights amid the darkness.

Gracias, Señor Encarnacion.

All praise be upon my friend Ian, @BlueJayHunter, for the GIF. Check out the latest on his Tumblr account — The Evolution of Edwin Encarnacion’s Bat Flip — and visit his website, The Blue Jay Hunter.

As Dave Cameron noted during his most recent appearance on FanGraphs Audio this week, Kelvin Herrera’s changeup is likely the best pitch right now that no one is going completely bananas about. Among its (i.e. that changeup’s) credentials are how it has a 25.0% swinging-strike rate (while league average is ca 15% for a change, according to Harry Pavlidis) and a 77.8% ground-ball rate (whereas ca 50% is average for a change). It’s not surprising, then, that Herrera’s changeup has been better in terms of runs above average than almost every other reliever’s.

Here’s Herrera throwing the changeup to Nate McLouth during his most recent appearance (box). The Baltimore center-field camera allows for a particularly clear view of the pitch’s movement.

Over at the Home for All Baseball Fans, I briefly celebrated the 28th anniversary of the greatest donnybrook of them all — one in which crimson masks surely abounded. The fact is that sometimes gentlemen must settle disputes over the phrasing of certain contractual elements with their fists and chunky cocks. The resulting bruises are as black as Bibles, but, lo, those bruises clarify.

How do you know a given fracas is right-wise? First, civilians are conscripted …

Second, Ed Whitson is bestripped of tunic and as affronted as a hornet who is not only wet but also cuckolded and accused of a crime he did not commit and overcharged for a lousy seafood dinner …

Twenty-eight years ago, some men saw to some business.

So, that happened Friday night, in beautiful San Francisco. AT&T Park, man. One of the best.

I’ve always assumed that it would be easier to support a mediocre baseball team if the stadium in which it played wasn’t a soulless slab of mostly concrete. Not that the Giants are mediocre — not at all. But I imagine 2005 through 2008 were more bearable for Giants fans because of AT&T Park.

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R.A. Dickey doesn’t always throw his slow knuckleball. But when he does, he chooses to make an impression.

Update: This pitch was called a ball. It left his hand at 60.7 mph, and crossed the plate at 55.5 mph. It was classified a curveball. It’s possible it was a curveball, but it had six inches of ‘rise,’ which isn’t usual for a curve. This is what Dickey does to classification systems. And viewers, apparently.

It was a wild ride at Rangers Ballpark in Arlington last night. The visiting Angels took a 10-7 lead in the top of the tenth inning capped by a two-run Albert Pujols shot.

The home team was not to be out-done. Their rally began in the bottom of the tenth with a mammoth solo HR by Nelson Cruz, who was met back in the dugout by an excited Elvis Andrus:

Elvis Andrus nodding approvingly and enthusiastically, arms akimbo and wagging, yawping endearingly, and, finally, clapping one time

Andrus himself would later hit a walk-off single as the Rangers went on to win 11-10. Isn’t it joyous? Isn’t he handsome?

[If the above GIF is running slow, check out the video I made.]

In his very exciting debut, Matt Harvey threw only six changeups — and, per Texas Leaguers’ PITCHf/x data, received zero swings and misses on same.

Through one inning in San Francisco tonight, Matt Harvey had recorded at least two whiffs on his change — against a hitter, in San Francisco’s Melky Cabrera, who has posted just a 5.5% swinging-strike rate and the sixth-most linear-weight runs above average against changeups.

Regard, with an 0-1 count:

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In the great Win a Watch with Time Lincecum’s Face on It GIF Contest 2012, we have some finalists. You’ll have to jump to see em. Your vote counts (in that it’ll be one of a certain number of votes).

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