Jose Bautista does not need to

[Tacoma]

There has been a lot of debate about that bat flip after the HR but here's one from NBC Sports entitled "Jose Bautista does not need to 'calm that down' and 'respect the game'" that goes to heart of the matter IMO.

Here are snippets in response to what Sam Dyson said about "respecting the game":

"What a bunch of condescending, patronizing paternalistic nonsense. Who in THE HELL is Sam Dyson to tell Jose Bautista what he “needs” to do?"

"Bautista did not choreograph some elaborate touchdown dance here. He did not set out to insult the manliness or integrity of Sam Dyson or the Texas Rangers. He had just hit the second biggest home run in Toronto Blue Jays history... Most definitely the biggest moment of his professional life. If you are the sort of person who thinks that such a thing cannot be celebrated, you should just give up trying to find happiness in life, consult an actuary about exactly how much time you have left until you die and optimize your investments accordingly."

[Randle McMurphy]

Calcaterra nailed it, yeah.

[Duffman100]

Don't know if it was the 2nd biggest home run in Blue Jays history (Alomar, Carter, Sprague), but I agree with what he said.

[Randle McMurphy]

Don't know if it was the 2nd biggest home run in Blue Jays history (Alomar, Carter, Sprague), but I agree with what he said.

It was a series winning home run in a deciding game (and that deciding game was one of the most memorable games in baseball history). I think you can make a pretty good case that it was.

[Duffman100]

Don't know if it was the 2nd biggest home run in Blue Jays history (Alomar, Carter, Sprague), but I agree with what he said.

It was a series winning home run in a deciding game (and that deciding game was one of the most memorable games in baseball history). I think you can make a pretty good case that it was.

Sprague hit a pinch hit home run, in the top of the 9th, on the road, to win game 2 of the World Series.

The Alomar is a debatable, but considering our history and inability to get over the hump and coming back from 6-1, that was a iconic home run in Blue Jays history.

It's close, but I still give those two the edge.

But **** ing hell, that was awesome.

[Dennis 37]

Don't know if it was the 2nd biggest home run in Blue Jays history (Alomar, Carter, Sprague), but I agree with what he said.

It was a series winning home run in a deciding game (and that deciding game was one of the most memorable games in baseball history). I think you can make a pretty good case that it was.

Sprague hit a pinch hit home run, in the top of the 9th, on the road, to win game 2 of the World Series.

The Alomar is a debatable, but considering our history and inability to get over the hump and coming back from 6-1, that was a iconic home run in Blue Jays history.

It's close, but I still give those two the edge.

But **** ing hell, that was awesome.

Because of the events of the seventh inning. The anger the crowd felt. The utter fail of the Rangers defense leading to load the bases, and that it decided the series, this one gets it because of the surrounding events.

I don't know if it was because of better microphones for this broadcast, compared to 1992/93, but the sound of the crowd, the pace of the crescendo, caused one's skeletal system to vibrate. Four Asterisks ing Hell, indeed.

[xAIRNESSx]

But he was "disrespecting the game"....

[LLJ]

Dyson should be the new koala meme

[Geddy]

The old farts that complain about unwritten rules and 'playing the game the right way' are the clowns that are driving kids away from playing and watching baseball. It's nice that finally people are starting to pick that crap apart.

[North_of_Border]

You shoulda seen my pencil flip after i finished my last college exam.

Walked out like a boss.

[Ong_dynasty]

I still can't stop watching it.
Anybody know what happened to the ball? I mean the guys that dropped it must be kicking themselves

[Scott Hall]

Oldie but still a classic

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4lohgU46mRA[/youtube]

[The_Hater]

I think if the bat flip was done by any Jay except for Jose, it wouldn't have been considered a big deal. But Jose is arrogant. Hes animated. He's got that body language that pisses off umpires and opponents alike and there wasn't much a reaction he could have made in that moment that wasn't going to piss a lot of people off.

Did Carlton Fisk show up the pitcher when he was trying to coax a HR ball fair? Is Edwin showing up the pitcher when he does the parrot? MLB players seem to be very inconsistent in choosing which actions are showing up the opposition over the years.

[almatic]

Don't know if it was the 2nd biggest home run in Blue Jays history (Alomar, Carter, Sprague), but I agree with what he said.

That Bautista HR was responsible for ending a 22 year playoff drought for the Blue Jays...

The Blue Jays were only around for like 15 years at the time of those HRs back then & the city had already enjoyed some recent postseason appearances & AL East titles.

Can you imagine if Bautista doesn't get that HR & the Blue Jays went on to lose by a run or so??? This baseball revival in the city might've been ruined by that & a lot of people in the city would be turned off from watching baseball again if a run like that was huge in deciding a series.

...so yea I think the Joey Bats HR makes a pretty good case for #2 overall behind 'Touch Em all Joe!'

[Raps in 4]

I never understood these old school baseball purists. On the one hand, they support dirty play (like Utley's slide and throwing pitches at players' heads). But on the other hand, they're vehemently opposed to any celebratory displays because they "disrespect" the game. I say they're a bunch of idiots.

[Raps_Swingman]

I sad it before in another thread. First thing I would do if I hit a homerun in this series is gently place the bat at home plate and make sure that's ok with the other team.

Jeter used to launch his bat almost to the 3rd row when he got big hits. Who gives a ****. Don't give up a tater in game 5 with a pube beard all over your face and then whine about someone celebrating.

I get the no pimping of homeruns in a blowout. But in professional sports, anything goes. These aren't kids playing the game.

[Raptor_Guy]

The only response needed is that it was the biggest home run of his career.

What I hate is how off base the arguments are when people throw a blanket over it and say "I hate this celebrating blah blah blah" and completely ignore how important it was. If you hate when players do this during the regular season, then sure! Hate it! But again, this was the biggest home run he ever hit, you're allowed to celebrate things some times, let it go.

[Duffman100]

Don't know if it was the 2nd biggest home run in Blue Jays history (Alomar, Carter, Sprague), but I agree with what he said.

That Bautista HR was responsible for ending a 22 year playoff drought for the Blue Jays...

HIs home run in the playoffs was responsible for ending a playoff drought? We were in the playoffs, the ALDS.

It was huge, no doubt. But can really say it was a bigger than a home run, in the top of the 9th, that won a World series game? If Sprague doesn't hit that that home run, who knows if we win the World Series. If we don't win that World Series, who knows if we win the next.

Either way, Bautista has earned his spot in the Level of Excellence in my opinion.

[almatic]

Don't know if it was the 2nd biggest home run in Blue Jays history (Alomar, Carter, Sprague), but I agree with what he said.

That Bautista HR was responsible for ending a 22 year playoff drought for the Blue Jays...

HIs home run in the playoffs was responsible for ending a playoff drought? We were in the playoffs, the ALDS.

It was huge, no doubt. But can really say it was a bigger than a home run, in the top of the 9th, that won a World series game? If Sprague doesn't hit that that home run, who knows if we win the World Series. If we don't win that World Series, who knows if we win the next.

Either way, Bautista has earned his spot in the Level of Excellence in my opinion.

Playoff series win drought, my mistake lol. I'm just at a loss for words, there was a lot of emotion involved & I supposed I may be biased because I was only 3/4 years old during the back-to-back titles.

But I also think that's why that Bautista homer was important as well.. not for the franchise but for Toronto sports culture.
That's the main reason I think that homer was huge, because without the homer to seal that win.. well we'd get that whole negative "Toronto sports curse" vibe again.. but instead today we're talking about the ALCS Game 1. THAT's why I think that it was so important.
Sure, it wasn't a World Series win.... but it was still a really important win that keeps a chance for that moment to happen & hopefully leads to a World Series appearance this year.
Heck... it may have been a riot-stopping home run! Not sure you could say the same about those important homers back then as Toronto sports fans weren't as fickle as they are now.

My generation hasn't seen Toronto sports glory like this & the closest thing I can think of is the Raptors almost making it to the East finals but losing to Philly in a Game 7 by 1 point.



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[Fairview4Life]

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wwrXRdyiPYA[/youtube]