Yahoo Sports Tim Anderson's bat throw and plunking has MLB players arguing about the unwritten rules
Should bat flips be celebrated? Or do players who show too much emotion deserve to be drilled?
If you’ve spent any time on social media, you know baseball fans have hot opinions on the topic. But for as much as fans love to yell into the Twitter void, they can’t directly influence what happens during games. That falls to the players.
Following Tim Anderson’s demonstrative bat throw and subsequent drilling, a couple Major League Baseball players — both current and retired — decided to weigh in on the topic.
Much like the Chicago White Sox and Kansas City Royals, the players had differing opinions on whether bat flips are acceptable.
Toronto Blue Jays outfielder Randal Grichuk came out the strongest. Shortly after Anderson’s bat throw, Grichuk let everyone know he thought players were pimping home runs too much.
Guys are getting a little excessive on pimping HRs, on meaningless HRs too. Act like you have done it before, one time.
— Randal Grichuk (@RGrich15) April 17, 2019
Grichuk must not have felt too strongly about those tough words. He immediately backed down once Anderson called him out.
😂 Put a name on so we can see who you talking bout bra💯
— T A 7 (@TimAnderson7) April 18, 2019
Guy, are you really responding to my tweet... SMH. It wasn’t intended for anyone specific but clearly you responding shows you’re guilty of something 💯
— Randal Grichuk (@RGrich15) April 18, 2019
Cincinnati Reds pitcher Amir Garrett had a different take: Batters can celebrate as long as they are good with him celebrating too.
My take. He batflips cool. You take it to the chin and wear it. But next time you face him. Strike him out, and do whatever you gotta do. Fist pump, moonwalk, cartwheel. Do whatever. I’m all for it. Both ways. lol
— CountOnAG (@Amir_Garrett) April 18, 2019
Grichuk’s teammate, Marcus Stroman, took the same approach.
FACTS. But when I shimmy or dance after a big strikeout, they have to be ok with it! Lol https://t.co/6uTL7ZrqQZ
— Marcus Stroman (@MStrooo6) April 18, 2019
Former Milwaukee Brewers slugger Prince Fielder also got in on the conversation. Fielder responded to an Instagram post from MLB. Fielder’s tag is @officialprince84.
As you might expect from someone who hit monstrous moonshots throughout his career, Fielder was in favor of bat flips.
The only thing this proves is that the unwritten rules are stupid. If those rules dictate putting the go-ahead run on first base during a tie game, there’s no debate.
That won’t stop players from arguing about them for all eternity, but that’s pretty fitting for the Internet.
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Chris Cwik is a writer for Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at christophercwik@yahoo.com or follow him on Twitter! Follow @Chris_Cwik
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