I don't think head is ever called for and I question whether Barnes was aiming at his head, even though it got up there. He was clearly trying to hit him because he said he was looking to go inside and Vazquez was set up low and away. So I think the truth is he was aiming at his ribs or back and it got up and away. Or he was aiming waaay behind his head and it got too close. But it appears they were trying to hit him last AB.
I believe the level of the player they messed with dictates where the hbp is going to be. But I don't agree with going at a head.
For reasons that had to do with pitcher management, it didn't make sense to get either starter thrown out in the first inning of either Sat or Sun game. And if you hit him with Wright's best fastball, everyone knows Machado gets off easy. I would think that was Farrell's call. "Not before the 6th" or something like that.
And yes I know its stupid.
Side story, a friend of mine pitched for Clemson when Brian Roberts was at UNC. In their last college series one year, Roberts did something to show him up. Pimped a hit, stole 2nd and 3rd with a big lead. Something like that. My friend says "unwritten rules". So its much later and they are teammates trying out for the USA team. Roommates at night, and my friend tells him the night before a scrimmage, he's going to hit him in the scrimmage the next day (first AB since the incident). Roberts begs, says we're on the same team, its team USA tryouts, etc., etc. Friend says "unwritten rules" plugs him in the shin and puts him out of the game. When he told me this story I kept pressing him, taking Roberts' side. He kept saying "unwritten rules". That was about all he'd say to explain it. Yeah, its stupid, but it is what it is.