Many times I find myself not watching the MLB Playoffs or
the World Series if the New York Yankees aren’t in it, I can’t help it but the games
just aren’t as interesting for me without a vesting personal interest. This
season I decided to go against the grain a bit and watch as much playoff
baseball as I could, although obviously I’ve missed more than my fair share,
and I see a trend developing that I find to be pretty disturbing, the bat flip
and showing up your opponent apparently is okay again.
I saw it happen in the American League Wild Card Game when
the New York Yankees and the Houston Astros faced off head-to-head. Carlos
Gomez is known to be a confident player, I call it cocky but whatever, and had
a bat flip while Colby Rasmus did as well on what turned out to be the
game-winning home run off Masahiro Tanaka. I didn’t like it as a fan and I’m
sure the Yankees players and Tanaka specifically didn’t appreciate it either,
just a hunch. The bat flipping didn’t stop there though as Jose Bautista did
one as well in Game 5 of the ALDS. I understand that was the biggest postseason
home run since Joe Carter’s walk-off home run against the Philadelphia Phillies
but there is a higher purpose at stake here, it’s called respect.
In Game One of the 2015 World Series the Kansas City Royals
came from behind to beat the New York Mets on a walk-off sacrifice fly by
Royals star Eric Hosmer. Naturally when the winning run crossed the plate in
front of his home crowd an emphatic bat flip and helmet toss came along with
the victory once again. Celebrating is one thing, disrespecting the opposing
team, pitcher and fan base is another and there is a fine line. Bat flips, in
my opinion, are crossing that line.
Come to think of it… the Astros lost the series after their
bat flips. The Blue Jays lost their series against these same Royals after the
Jose Bautista bat flip seen round the world. Are the Royals the next victim of
some instant karma? Guess you’ll have to stay tuned.
