After Saturday’s 8-2 loss to the Cubs, Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher Jeff Locke suggested that Jake Arrieta had hit Jung Ho Kang on purpose. Essentially, Locke believed that Arrieta has pinpoint command and any time a pitcher like him hits a guy, it must have been intentional.
Prior to Sunday’s matchup between the two teams, Cubs manager Joe Maddon felt Locke may be wise to think twice about just how well Arrieta was commanding his pitches.
“I think Jake walked Locke on four consecutive pitches,” Maddon said. “I really don’t think Jake was pitching around Locke. My point is it could happen at any time that a really exceptional pitcher could lose command of his pitches.