Jose Bautista: Are you flipping kidding me?

[Hoopstarr]

I have a theory that the tension between pitchers and hitters is all about control. A hitter has a bat with which he can send a pitcher's ball a long way in spectacular fashion. A pitcher can throw it 100mph and it can quickly turn into 110mph going 400ft behind him. There's no equivalent of that for a pitcher. He can get a big strikeout but how spectacular and memorable are those in comparison? And what can a pitcher do to celebrate but bark and pump his fist? So it's just a bunch of butthurt nonsense made up to account for this perceived inequity. Everyone should be allowed to taunt and celebrate as they please and risk looking like tools if it's done over something meaningless. Jose's bat flip, however, could not have been more earned as a bow on what will go down as a historic postseason inning.

[C Court]

I have absolutely no problem with Bautista's bat flip. None. Zero.

It is a classic moment/image that will go down in Jays history.

[James_Raptors]

You have to remember what it was like at that moment. There's "the play" with Martin and Choo, and you think to yourself "no ******* way. We're actually going to lose this ****** series over a play like that?". The fans are going nuts. It almost feels like we might have a mini-canadian bacon riot on our hands if we lose this one. Bagged milk is sloshing. I can hear it! The mounted police are moving in. A woman looks ready to launch a plate of poutine. And then it happens. The breath leaves the stadium for a brief millisecond, followed by a collective fanatical fan base flipping out as the ball goes into the stands for a home run!

And in return for all that anxiety, anger, frustration , Jose Bautista flipped a bat from his clenched hands. WOOPITY DOO. He's human. Who knew? He expressed emotion. Yay! He was in the moment, feeding off the energy of one of the most heart stopping sports moments in Toronto history.

He flipped a bat.
Deal with it.

[Boogie!]

i especially like the part he brought up about it not being a country club game... again, some people are just ignorant and are closed-minded... or xenophobic... just no acceptance of anything different... but its so true man, a lot of these dominicans play baseball as a life or death thing... its their one way out... who are these suburban silver-spooned kids to tell them that theyre not allowed to have fun, or be passionate or intense or be cocky or whatever the case may be... **** em all... its joey **** bats.

[protothe]

I could give 2 poops about what people thought about Bautista being "disrespectful".

His stare downs and subsequent home runs are one of the reasons I will tune in to every at bat when he's up.
I hope he **** up every pitcher and team. Everytime he hits one, I'm probably way more disrespectful than him.

Why do people want baseball players to play like pansies? Every other sport (NFL doesn't count) encourages celebrations, and they almost become trademarks of players. Let them celebrate.

Picture a Westbrook dunk in the NBA and then him calmly walking off after....

[James_Raptors]

i especially like the part he brought up about it not being a country club game... again, some people are just ignorant and are closed-minded... or xenophobic... just no acceptance of anything different... but its so true man, a lot of these dominicans play baseball as a life or death thing... its their one way out... who are these suburban silver-spooned kids to tell them that theyre not allowed to have fun, or be passionate or intense or be cocky or whatever the case may be... **** em all... its joey **** bats.

I literally, almost NEVER agree with any word that comes out of Stephen A Smith's mouth, but I agreed (to an extent) with what he was saying in this clip

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gkzgi73YjhI[/youtube]

[The_Hater]

All this is fine but the thing missing with Jose is his past reputation. Unlike Fisk, Carter and most others the bat flip was just an extension of the reputation Jose has created for himself over time. He argues with umpires, he argues with opposing players, he glares at opposing players. He was already one of the most hated (if not the most hated) players in MLB with opposing fans and players long before he hit that HR. And if he wasn't a Toronto Blue Jay for the past 7 years, just about every Jays fan would hate him too.

So yes, most players could have flipped their bat in that moment and nobody would have cared. David Ortiz did it for years but he's one of the most popular players in baseball so nobody called it showboating. But everything Jose does gets analyzed and criticized more than most players. Let it go Jose and just continue to play the part of the bad guy you took years to mold. It will be much easier.

[James_Raptors]

All this is fine but the thing missing with Jose is his past reputation. Unlike Fisk, Carter and most others the bat flip was just an extension of the reputation Jose has created for himself over time. He argues with umpires, he argues with opposing players, he glares at opposing players. He was already one of the most hated (if not the most hated) players in MLB with opposing fans and players long before he hit that HR. And if he wasn't a Toronto Blue Jay for the past 7 years, just about every Jays fan would hate him too.

So yes, most players could have flipped their bat in that moment and nobody would have cared. David Ortiz did it for years but he's one of the most popular players in baseball so nobody called it showboating. But everything Jose does gets analyzed and criticized more than most players. Let it go Jose and just continue to play the part of the bad guy you took years to mold. It will be much easier.

Jose has also stated many times in the past that he is fueled by the emotions (and anger). I don't really care what makes him tick to be frank. I do care that he likes to hit bombs in game 5 that (basically) clinch a series for us, however.

[UN-Owen]

All this is fine but the thing missing with Jose is his past reputation. Unlike Fisk, Carter and most others the bat flip was just an extension of the reputation Jose has created for himself over time. He argues with umpires, he argues with opposing players, he glares at opposing players. He was already one of the most hated (if not the most hated) players in MLB with opposing fans and players long before he hit that HR. And if he wasn't a Toronto Blue Jay for the past 7 years, just about every Jays fan would hate him too.

So yes, most players could have flipped their bat in that moment and nobody would have cared. David Ortiz did it for years but he's one of the most popular players in baseball so nobody called it showboating. But everything Jose does gets analyzed and criticized more than most players. Let it go Jose and just continue to play the part of the bad guy you took years to mold. It will be much easier.

That's pretty much my take, especially when it comes to arguing with umpires and opposing players. He comes across as an unhappy jerk

He never looks like he's having fun out there. The only emotion he shows tends to be when he's angry or "showboating"

Like I said earlier, I don't care if he does cartwheels around the bases after a homerun, but do it with a smile


It seems like most are defending his right to be cocky, while at the same time criticizing those who have the right to be annoyed by it

[The_Hater]

All this is fine but the thing missing with Jose is his past reputation. Unlike Fisk, Carter and most others the bat flip was just an extension of the reputation Jose has created for himself over time. He argues with umpires, he argues with opposing players, he glares at opposing players. He was already one of the most hated (if not the most hated) players in MLB with opposing fans and players long before he hit that HR. And if he wasn't a Toronto Blue Jay for the past 7 years, just about every Jays fan would hate him too.

So yes, most players could have flipped their bat in that moment and nobody would have cared. David Ortiz did it for years but he's one of the most popular players in baseball so nobody called it showboating. But everything Jose does gets analyzed and criticized more than most players. Let it go Jose and just continue to play the part of the bad guy you took years to mold. It will be much easier.

Jose has also stated many times in the past that he is fueled by the emotions (and anger). I don't really care what makes him tick to be frank. I do care that he likes to hit bombs in game 5 that (basically) clinch a series for us, however.

Exactly. This is what works for him. And it's exactly why he's never going to round the bases with a smile on his face. He's highly competitive and I'm glad he's on our side.

[James_Raptors]

All this is fine but the thing missing with Jose is his past reputation. Unlike Fisk, Carter and most others the bat flip was just an extension of the reputation Jose has created for himself over time. He argues with umpires, he argues with opposing players, he glares at opposing players. He was already one of the most hated (if not the most hated) players in MLB with opposing fans and players long before he hit that HR. And if he wasn't a Toronto Blue Jay for the past 7 years, just about every Jays fan would hate him too.

So yes, most players could have flipped their bat in that moment and nobody would have cared. David Ortiz did it for years but he's one of the most popular players in baseball so nobody called it showboating. But everything Jose does gets analyzed and criticized more than most players. Let it go Jose and just continue to play the part of the bad guy you took years to mold. It will be much easier.

That's pretty much my take, especially when it comes to arguing with umpires and opposing players. He comes across as an unhappy jerk

He never looks like he's having fun out there. The only emotion he shows tends to be when he's angry or "showboating"

Like I said earlier, I don't care if he does cartwheels around the bases after a homerun, but do it with a smile


It seems like most are defending his right to be cocky, while at the same time criticizing those who have the right to be annoyed by it

I think he wears his heart on his sleeve. I also think he has a great eye at the plate, often better judgement on the pitch than the umpire, and instead of biting his lip he's vocal about it (or demonstrative when he probably shouldn't be). I also can understand that his attitude might rub people the wrong way, even to us polite bagged milk drinkin' Canucks. He would likely annoy the hell out of me if he played for another team. But that specific moment of that particular bat flip, after that near hour long inning and all the emotion and drama, bench clearing, fans going nuts, etc. His bat flip was a huge EXHALE and honestly, let's be frank, I've literally seen thousands of more offensive demonstrations across all sports since I've been following them (I'm almost 45), let's get real about this. It wasn't the worst thing we've seen, or even the worst thing Jose has ever done. He showed emotion at a time when it called for it. Honestly, to act all stoic like nothing happened in that moment would've been comically nuts. I'm glad he did and I don't really like at it as anything but an in the moment minor thing that doesn't disrespect the game whatsoever. These guys aren't robots without human emotion for goodness sakes.

[James_Raptors]

All this is fine but the thing missing with Jose is his past reputation. Unlike Fisk, Carter and most others the bat flip was just an extension of the reputation Jose has created for himself over time. He argues with umpires, he argues with opposing players, he glares at opposing players. He was already one of the most hated (if not the most hated) players in MLB with opposing fans and players long before he hit that HR. And if he wasn't a Toronto Blue Jay for the past 7 years, just about every Jays fan would hate him too.

So yes, most players could have flipped their bat in that moment and nobody would have cared. David Ortiz did it for years but he's one of the most popular players in baseball so nobody called it showboating. But everything Jose does gets analyzed and criticized more than most players. Let it go Jose and just continue to play the part of the bad guy you took years to mold. It will be much easier.

Jose has also stated many times in the past that he is fueled by the emotions (and anger). I don't really care what makes him tick to be frank. I do care that he likes to hit bombs in game 5 that (basically) clinch a series for us, however.

Exactly. This is what works for him. And it's exactly why he's never going to round the bases with a smile on his face. He's highly competitive and I'm glad he's on our side.

I'll take it a step further. Tulo looks, every single day, like someone pissed in his cornflakes. This "look" has been well documented. He eats, sleeps and lives baseball and wants to win so badly. He's ultra Mr Serious out there and to some it may seem like he's just never happy, or maybe he's somehow a clubhouse problem, or doesn't want to be a Blue Jay (oh no!). Or maybe this is just the way some players use their tools in the moment to find some way to bring out the best in themselves and JUST WIN BABY. Not everyone can be cut out of the same mold, with their "ever so classic!" means of expression and catch phrase answers. As long as they're not breaking any rules on/off the field , I want them to be heavy contributors to the teams success. If they have to balance spinning plates on their heads to achieve that, I don't care.

[s e n s i]

[tweet]https://twitter.com/MapleLeafs/status/664259526884007944[/tweet]

[EastBayBoy]

[tweet]https://twitter.com/MapleLeafs/status/664259526884007944[/tweet]

*drops mic*

[Randle McMurphy]

[tweet]https://twitter.com/MapleLeafs/status/664259526884007944[/tweet]

And then the Leafs actually won the game. It's gotta hurt.

[Fairview4Life]

Jose Bautista can get the Leafs to win. Let that sink in.

[King of Canada]

My 7 year old son woke up after having a nightmare (night terror) just as Bautista got to the plate. We paused the game until he came around, and then I let him watch the rest of the inning. It was pretty awesome that he got to witness that. He'll probably remember it for the rest of his life. My wife and I were both jumping up and down in our living room and he was looking at us all confused. lol

[Santoki]

My 7 year old son woke up after having a nightmare (night terror) just as Bautista got to the plate. We paused the game until he came around, and then I let him watch the rest of the inning. It was pretty awesome that he got to witness that. He'll probably remember it for the rest of his life. My wife and I were both jumping up and down in our living room and he was looking at us all confused. lol

Does your son normally go to sleep in the middle of the day? The 7th inning would have ended around 6-630pm (or I guess 7-730 if you're out in Halifax).

[King of Canada]

My 7 year old son woke up after having a nightmare (night terror) just as Bautista got to the plate. We paused the game until he came around, and then I let him watch the rest of the inning. It was pretty awesome that he got to witness that. He'll probably remember it for the rest of his life. My wife and I were both jumping up and down in our living room and he was looking at us all confused. lol

Does your son normally go to sleep in the middle of the day? The 7th inning would have ended around 6-630pm (or I guess 7-730 if you're out in Halifax).

We had it DVRd because it was bath night

My kids are 9, 7, and 5.

And yes - we're an hour later here. I HATE Atlantic time as a sports fan. Every game gets over so much later here.

[Santoki]

My 7 year old son woke up after having a nightmare (night terror) just as Bautista got to the plate. We paused the game until he came around, and then I let him watch the rest of the inning. It was pretty awesome that he got to witness that. He'll probably remember it for the rest of his life. My wife and I were both jumping up and down in our living room and he was looking at us all confused. lol

Does your son normally go to sleep in the middle of the day? The 7th inning would have ended around 6-630pm (or I guess 7-730 if you're out in Halifax).

We had it DVRd because it was bath night

My kids are 9, 7, and 5.

And yes - we're an hour later here. I HATE Atlantic time as a sports fan. Every game gets over so much later here.

Damn so they're going down at like 6pm? I used to hate when my parents wouldn't let me stay up for the 3rd period of the Leafs game when bedtime was 9pm when I was that age.