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* Bat-tossing: Harmless fun, harm to the game or no big deal either way?
posted by Rich Miller
Thursday, Apr 18, 19 @ 9:28 am
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That bat toss might go down as the highlight of the season for the sox.
Comment by Flat Bed Ford Thursday, Apr 18, 19 @ 9:30 am
I’d rather not see it, but it’s not that big of a deal. Hitters who do it can’t complain if the pitcher fans them later and gets demonstrative about it.
Comment by Ron Burgundy Thursday, Apr 18, 19 @ 9:32 am
Depends on the circumstances.
Solo shot to left in the 2nd - harm to the game.
Walk-off grand slam in the bottom of the 9th - harmless fun.
Comment by L.A. Thursday, Apr 18, 19 @ 9:32 am
It’s a form of taunting and happens in most major sports (end zone celebrations, chest-thumping in the NBA, etc.) It’s part of the current ‘look at me’ culture. I don’t like it but have a feeling it’s not going away anytime soon.
Comment by Cubs in '16 Thursday, Apr 18, 19 @ 9:33 am
Torn on it. I like the idea of making the game look fun and exciting to play, but whether intentional or not, it’s kind of disrespectful when done by just anybody all the time. Those that say pitchers are being babies about it probably wouldn’t have said the same thing to Bob Gibson or Sandy Koufax.
Comment by Stark Thursday, Apr 18, 19 @ 9:34 am
Let them play. Don’t be a snowflake.
Comment by Former Downstater Thursday, Apr 18, 19 @ 9:34 am
Its not a big deal. When a pitcher shows emotion after a big strike out by yelling and pumping his fists, should the batter charge the mound? Im a big “less is more” kind of guy, so I would not rather not see bat flips; but taking it as some sort of an affront to the pitcher, hitting the batter the next time he is up to bat or having a bench clearing brawl is just crazy.
Comment by Red Ranger Thursday, Apr 18, 19 @ 9:36 am
Emotions are part of the game. I like players who give it their all. It’s like Ricky said, if you don’t like it, get him out.
Comment by 47th Ward Thursday, Apr 18, 19 @ 9:36 am
Harmless fun. Timmy also crushed that homer, so the bat flip was appropriate. If it was a line drive that just got over the wall, the bat flip would may be too much, but that was a no doubter.
Comment by Three Dimensional Checkers Thursday, Apr 18, 19 @ 9:37 am
I’m pretty much old-school, so I think the bat-flipping celebrations should be saved for a walk-off hit, be it single or homer. Otherwise I look at it as showing up the opposition, punishable be chin music or plunk in the ribs.
Comment by Big Joe Thursday, Apr 18, 19 @ 9:37 am
Sometimes a pitch gets away. . .
Comment by Dock Ellis Thursday, Apr 18, 19 @ 9:38 am
A guy strikes out and the catcher throws it around the horn. That’s been part of the game forever. How is that so different than tossing a bat?
Comment by 47th Ward Thursday, Apr 18, 19 @ 9:38 am
No big deal. As long as someone doesn’t get hit. If they do the player should expect consequences.
Comment by Been There Thursday, Apr 18, 19 @ 9:39 am
Act like you have been there before, it is a team sport don’t be a prima donna
Comment by JS Mill Thursday, Apr 18, 19 @ 9:39 am
Let ‘em play and be human. No big deal.
Comment by Lt Guv Thursday, Apr 18, 19 @ 9:40 am
I’m pro-bat flip but even if you are anti-bat flip, throwing a baseball at 90+ mph at someone risking injury is a dangerous retaliation and should be fined out of the game.
Comment by ChicagoVinny Thursday, Apr 18, 19 @ 9:40 am
Get over it and get em out. But then again…hitters…you don’t get to be mad at getting hit in the gluteus maximus. Take your base. UP n IN…yeah…you can be mad…
Comment by Exit 59 Thursday, Apr 18, 19 @ 9:42 am
Love a good bat flip and people having fun. Hate bean balls. A bully throwing a 90mph ball at a man 60ft 6in away should be assault and the bully should be arrested.
Comment by Jose Abreu's Next Homerun Thursday, Apr 18, 19 @ 9:43 am
It’s no different than having Brad Keller pump his arm after a decisive Tim Anderson strike out.
Comment by Jocko Thursday, Apr 18, 19 @ 9:44 am
No big deal. Non-verbal trash talking. I agree, let them play.
Comment by stateandlake Thursday, Apr 18, 19 @ 9:44 am
I’ve never understood why anyone would begrudge a player having fun. It’s not necessarily about showing anyone up. If you’re on the other team and bothered by it, that probably says more about you than the bat flipper. It’s a *game*, it ain’t life.
Comment by Joe Bidenopolous Thursday, Apr 18, 19 @ 9:46 am
On a seperate note related to sports Chet Coppock died in a car crash.
Comment by Regular democrat Thursday, Apr 18, 19 @ 9:48 am
MLB’s “Let the Kids Play” campaign seems like it is a reminder to old white guys not to be racist.
Comment by g Thursday, Apr 18, 19 @ 9:49 am
I blame espn.
Comment by Blue Dog Dem Thursday, Apr 18, 19 @ 9:52 am
the answer to a bat toss should be a devastating strikeout, not a beaning - save the beaning for guys who slide spikes up, aka danger for danger
Comment by sewer thoughts Thursday, Apr 18, 19 @ 9:53 am
The Sox are starting to roll two series in arrow!! Hey cub fans we’re rebuilding…. what’s wrong with your cubbies
Comment by Gohawks123 Thursday, Apr 18, 19 @ 9:54 am
I’m on the side of the bat-flippers but the controversy itself is fun. I want some other people mad about celebrations, it makes them that much more satisfying. The iconic Jose Bautista batflip, for example, wouldn’t have had the same oopmph if it weren’t an act of defiance.
Comment by vern Thursday, Apr 18, 19 @ 9:55 am
Few things:
–MLB is actively promoting what old-timers would call “bush” (see link). Part of the effort to shake the “too long, too little action,” feedback they’re getting from focus groups and fan surveys.
– Pitchers aren’t on board with the new marketing plan, or the speed-up efforts. Managers, too (Clint Hurdle is an old-timey headhunter).
–Anderson is lucky the likes of Bob Gibson and Don Drysdale aren’t around. They’d have separated his head from his neck, not plunked him in the tukkus.
–Anderson is off to a heckuva start. Maybe a South Side El Mago will put some fannies in the seats.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VZfEv4JqxHQ
Comment by wordslinger Thursday, Apr 18, 19 @ 9:55 am
I mean, let’s be honest here, Joe West is the problem. Toss the guy who got plunked, who was standing on first base the during the entire fracas?
Bat flips are fine. The “unspoken rules” need to go.
Comment by ChrisB Thursday, Apr 18, 19 @ 9:58 am
Seemingly lost in all of this is that the Sox lost.
Bat flip, moonwalk, do whatever you want.
But maybe back it up with a win.
Comment by Michelle Flaherty Thursday, Apr 18, 19 @ 9:59 am
Harmless fun, baseball needs to get over itself with some of this stuff.
Let these kids have some fun with the game man, lord knows personality makes the NFL better in many ways why not have a bit of personality in baseball. Same holds true in hockey.
Too many old-time grumps…
Comment by OneMan Thursday, Apr 18, 19 @ 10:03 am
Back in the day when I played sports, I never celebrated too hard when we won or if I made a good play for fear of showing up my opponent. I’m a White Sox fan and like Tim Anderson (particularly with his success this season) but if you show up the pitcher you can expect some retaliation. Part of the game.
Comment by Stones Thursday, Apr 18, 19 @ 10:04 am
Tim tossed it at his own team. that said, he should expect to be plunked. fine. but why was he tossed? and, hilarious to watch the onscreen list of Sox players and managers tossed through the years by….Joe West. and that right there is a big reason yesterday happened because Joe West is the Mike Dean of the MLB. (that’s for you, football fans.)
Comment by Amalia Thursday, Apr 18, 19 @ 10:07 am
met Chet many times…always a gentleman and yes he could be over-the-top, but that was his “schtik”. Very kind to people with disabilities
Comment by 10th Ward Thursday, Apr 18, 19 @ 10:09 am
Imagine being upset over a bat flip… ‘unspoken rules’ need to hit the road. Let the kids play as they say.
Comment by LOL Thursday, Apr 18, 19 @ 10:11 am
Too many old-time grumps…..says who?
Comment by Blue Dog Dem Thursday, Apr 18, 19 @ 10:13 am
derson did the taunt and was willing to pay the price. The KC spin that he couldn’t bark a little while taking first and West’s ejecting him is the kind of calcified old-timer reaction that hurts the game’s future.
Comment by lake county democrat Thursday, Apr 18, 19 @ 10:13 am
I guess the Blackhawks should stop playing the organ and Chelsea Dagger after they score. They’re hurting the feelings of the other team.
Comment by Jose Abreu's Next Homerun Thursday, Apr 18, 19 @ 10:17 am
My problem is with not pinch-hitting for Palka. Sheesh
Comment by James the Intolerant Thursday, Apr 18, 19 @ 10:28 am
Maybe this would help cool things off …
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VNxVrUq6XiQ
Comment by Anyone Remember Thursday, Apr 18, 19 @ 10:29 am
Harmless fun. They’re grown men doing a job. Either way athletes shouldn’t be expected to be role models. Moreover, half the game is getting into your opponent’s head.
Comment by Mr.Black Thursday, Apr 18, 19 @ 10:41 am
–met Chet many times…–
Back in the 90s, I had the unexpected good luck to be at the table for a very long, boozy luncheon on the company dime at Maggianos with Chet, Kup and Brick telling Chicago sports stories. Among the three of them, they knew everybody going back to the Stone Age.
The one thing I remember for sure is that all three of them emphatically agreed that Dick Butkus would kick Mike Ditka’s tail in a bar fight.
Tavern talk has been that Chet controlled an enormous bloc of Bears season tickets collected over the years, going back to the days when his father was pals with old man Halas, and he made serious bank off them.
Comment by wordslinger Thursday, Apr 18, 19 @ 10:42 am
Harmless fun. Baseball needs more fun and exuberance.
Caveat: Do it at your own risk in the 2nd inning, though. It’ll look pretty stupid when you lose to a terrible team a few innings later.
PS Cubs started terribly, but have now won 7 of 10, and starting pitching looks pretty solid. Feeling better about the season, but still concerned about that pen and KB…
Comment by JB13 Thursday, Apr 18, 19 @ 10:47 am
We don’t need political correctness on the diamond.
Comment by Wensicia Thursday, Apr 18, 19 @ 10:52 am
Joe West does not like Timmy for some reason. This is not the first time West’s taken it way overboard on an umpire call just to prove that he can. Joe’s temperament has done more harm to the integrity and tradition of baseball over recent years than a few celebratory bat flips ever will.
Comment by Responsa Thursday, Apr 18, 19 @ 10:52 am
Amen
- Cubs in ‘16 - Thursday, Apr 18, 19 @ 9:33 am:
It’s a form of taunting and happens in most major sports (end zone celebrations, chest-thumping in the NBA, etc.) It’s part of the current ‘look at me’ culture. I don’t like it but have a feeling it’s not going away anytime soon.
Comment by Illinifan Thursday, Apr 18, 19 @ 10:56 am
“Let the kids play” isn’t about the fans. It is “kids” retaliating against “kids”. The players are doing it, not the fans. Players need to be convinced
Look at basketball. Every dunk is followed by a blood curdling
Scream and a arm flex or beating on the chest
Look at me!
Comment by illinifan Thursday, Apr 18, 19 @ 11:01 am
Times change, I suppose. In Little League, we were ordered to set the bat down next to home plate when we got a hit. Any bat-throwing was punished. In high school, dunking was strictly outlawed during basketball games. And, of course, no end-zone spiking in football.
Comment by Rich Miller Thursday, Apr 18, 19 @ 11:09 am
I take it the baseball season has started??
Comment by Flapdoodle Thursday, Apr 18, 19 @ 11:12 am
–We don’t need political correctness on the diamond.–
Huh?
Comment by wordslinger Thursday, Apr 18, 19 @ 11:14 am
===dunking was strictly outlawed===
Good thing too. My 5′8″ self would’ve rocked some rims.
On a serious note, I guess I’m willing to accept the changes in professional sports but I don’t have to like it. I agree with the commenter who said showboating shouldn’t have a place in team sports.
Comment by Cubs in '16 Thursday, Apr 18, 19 @ 11:18 am
Sorry, hit ‘Say It’ too soon…
I also agree that players should be allowed to have fun playing a game but everyone, especially adults, should be able to have fun without disrespecting, showing up, or taunting the opponent.
Comment by Cubs in '16 Thursday, Apr 18, 19 @ 11:25 am
Good for the game! But know that you will likely get drilled.
Comment by Cubs in 2024 Thursday, Apr 18, 19 @ 11:25 am
===In Little League,…Any bat-throwing was punished.===
I recall that as a safety measure, mostly to protect the umpires from excited 10-year-olds chucking the bat when they got a hit.
I played in the Bonfield-Limestone LL, back when the field was next to the Lehigh quarries. There wasn’t a “no sliding” rule, but there was so much gravel in the dirt that most kids went into second base standing up, lol.
Comment by 47th Ward Thursday, Apr 18, 19 @ 11:48 am
Anybody seen the start Chris Sale is off to?
He has the most physically self-abusive delivery I’ve ever seen. Highly effective, but how long can it last?
Maybe the miles are catching up to him.
Comment by wordslinger Thursday, Apr 18, 19 @ 2:45 pm
===most physically self-abusive delivery I’ve ever seen===
First time I saw him pitch in person I thought he was gonna lose his arm.
Comment by Rich Miller Thursday, Apr 18, 19 @ 2:50 pm
Bat-flips are good for the game. Sports are supposed to be fun. I’ll never understand other baseball fans that see a player get hyped and think that’s a bad thing for the sport.
And to those man-babies on the mound that get so affronted at a batflip that they need to toss a ball 90 mphs at a batter’s tukus, suck it up and pitch better next time they’re up. Giving up the long-ball is more detrimental to your teammates than an opponent’s bit of fun.
Comment by Chicago_Downstater Thursday, Apr 18, 19 @ 2:50 pm
MLB just suspended Tim Anderson.
Um, what now?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VZfEv4JqxHQ
Comment by wordslinger Friday, Apr 19, 19 @ 1:06 pm