413 replies to this topic

[Markus]

I couldn't care less about a little bat flip and admiration of a moonshot homer (same with someone scoring and spiking the ball and doing the dirty bird or whatever), I think it's fun.

 

But what Bautista did yesterday was on a whole other level.  Here's hoping next year Darvish and Lewis and Hamels an whomever else on the Rangers staff drill Bautista every time he's up to bat against the Rangers.

[BSLChrisStoner]

Thats exactly what you see and are going to see more of at the youth levels. Kids think that bat flip was the greatest thing ever. Will emulate it next spring by throwing the bat as high and far as they can when they hit a ball hard. Hopefully, not killing the kid on deck.

 

You missed the point, or ignored the question...while you are focusing on bat flips...  what about the general emotion you see in baseball, other than MLB?

 

Not all of that (and pretty much none of it at the LL and College levels) is about disrespecting opponents, but is about celebrating their own teams.

 

Why discourage that enthusiasm at the professional level? (And really to specify the US professional level.)

[Markus]

Yeah, just what I want to see at my local Little League Field. Kids flipping bats god knows where and the pitchers staring at the other kid when he strikes them out. Wow. 

 

I actually saw a fair amount of kids flipping their bats and admiring their homers during this past years LLWS games on tv.  That was definitely a bit much and my dad (or any of my coaches) would've dragged me (or anyone else on my teams) off the field by our earlobe had we done the same when we played.

 

Now, if you want to argue they're trying to emulate their big league hero's I can buy that argument that the big boys should tone it down a bit.

 

Because, what's next?  Kids taking out other kids at 2nd base because their big league idol Chase Utley is doing it?

[bnickle]

You missed the point, or ignored the question...while you are focusing on bat flips...  what about the general emotion you see in baseball, other than MLB?

 

Not all of that (and pretty much none of it at the LL and College levels) is about disrespecting opponents, but is about celebrating their own teams.

 

Why discourage that enthusiasm at the professional level? (And really to specify the US professional level.)

I said emotion is fine. Its essential. There has always been a way to express emotion without things like bat flips and staring down opponenets and dancing off the mound.  You're apparently accepting of that behavior. It's not acceptable. 

[BSLChrisStoner]

I couldn't care less about a little bat flip and admiration of a moonshot homer (same with someone scoring and spiking the ball and doing the dirty bird or whatever), I think it's fun.

 

But what Bautista did yesterday was on a whole other level.  Here's hoping next year Darvish and Lewis and Hamels an whomever else on the Rangers staff drill Bautista every time he's up to bat against the Rangers.

 

And if that happens, it happens... and as along as the aim from the Rangers pitchers is not at his head, no issue from me.

 

That's the game policing itself. Again, my point is that even if you didn't like Bautista's antics... they shouldn't be discouraged (which may or may not be the same as encouraging).

 

I personally can't get worked-up over the guy showing off, hitting a bomb in an emotional setting...

 

I'd be more apt to hit him for his comments to Jones, or showing up O'Day... but I don't want him to not do those things either. I want him to be who he is... it's more enjoyable to dislike him, vs. not caring about him and Jays at all.

[Markus]

All this said, at some point next year I hope that when someone homers off a Jays pitcher, he stands there and admires the hell out of his homer, flips his bat 90 feet in the air, and the entire time he's running around the bases he's looking at Joey Bats (maybe even having to run backwards from 2nd to 3rd so he can still look at Bautista) and waving and blowing kisses at him and as he's crossing home plate he does a Rick Flair-esque strut.

[bnickle]

I actually saw a fair amount of kids flipping their bats and admiring their homers during this past years LLWS games on tv.  That was definitely a bit much and my dad (or any of my coaches) would've dragged me (or anyone else on my teams) off the field by our earlobe had we done the same when we played.

 

Now, if you want to argue they're trying to emulate their big league hero's I can buy that argument that the big boys should tone it down a bit.

 

Because, what's next?  Kids taking out other kids at 2nd base because their big league idol Chase Utley is doing it?

The problem is there isn't enough parents that will get in a kids ear. The problem is you're getting parents now that grew up doing the same thing themselves. Again, let me say, I dont expect MLB players or especially kids to be robots. Pump fist, clap, scream,etc. Many ways to show emotions without the over the top, disrespectful,look at me antics. 

[Pedro Cerrano]

If every team in MLB agreed to hit Bautista every time he batted do you think he'd retire?

[You Play to Win the Game]

Haven't we evolved enough as a society by 2015 to find a better way of dealing with conflict than throwing 95 MPH fastball's at human's, and fighting in hockey? It's barbaric.

[Pedro Cerrano]

Haven't we evolved enough as a society by 2015 to find a better way of dealing with conflict than throwing 95 MPH fastball's at human's, and fighting in hockey? It's barbaric.

Apparently you've never hung out on Rt 1 at closing time in CP

[You Play to Win the Game]

Haa... I mean yeah. It's just ridiculous when you really think about it.

[Markus]

Haven't we evolved enough as a society by 2015 to find a better way of dealing with conflict than throwing 95 MPH fastball's at human's, and fighting in hockey? It's barbaric.

 

[DJ MC]

If every team in MLB agreed to hit Bautista every time he batted do you think he'd retire?

 

He'd score a million runs and win the MVP every year. He'd take that in a heartbeat.

[Pedro Cerrano]

He'd score a million runs and win the MVP every year. He'd take that in a heartbeat.

Even being a human pin cushion? He'd get hit, literally, 600 times.

I think he'd retire.

[DJ MC]

Even being a human pin cushion? He'd get hit, literally, 600 times.

I think he'd retire.

 

[SportsGuy]

I would rather see my kid celebrating a big hit than accepting a participation trophy.

[Chris B]

There are too many different arguments going on in this thread.

[SportsGuy]

You can have respect and celebrate at the same time.

[BSLChrisStoner]

There are too many different arguments going on in this thread.

 

It's a grab bag. Just yell louder lol.

[Mackus]

You can have respect and celebrate at the same time.

 

This is what I'd like to aim for.  I'm totally cool with and enjoy watching when players get pumped up and celebrate.  But at some point there is a line when what you are doing is meant to embarrass your opponent instead of celebrating you and you're team's success.

 

I liked the Rangers doing the antlers thing a few years back.  I hated everything the Royals did last year.  I like when pitchers get excited when one of their defenders makes a big play, I like when hitters celebrate while running around the bases, I don't like when they stand in the box and watch it or when pitchers stare down a hitter after a K.  I don't know exactly what the difference is, or how you define it, which makes it difficult to have any sort of rule or guideline.