2020 Around the MLB Thread

[Derek]

How long should a celebration go on? Is it it OK to stare out or back at the opponent....gesture at the pitcher or hitter as part of your own pumped up celebration? None of it is illegal, of course, so it becomes a matter of standards... what is reasonable? Not every "celebration" is equal...of course not. Not every bat flip or scream is the same.

I too spend a good bit of time coaching kids/young adults. In volleyball there is a celebration on nearly every play (not an exaggeration), but after a particularly big hit or block, with guys in particular, it sometimes leaves the realm of celebrating your accomplishment and heads towards letting the other guy know about it. In volleyball in particular, the big expression is part of the culture, but we coach them to celebrate on our side of the net, not celebrate "at" the opponent. This is the norm through pros and Olympians....take my word for it -- the other team has a clear sense of what just happened to them.

I think the line between celebrating and taunting can be difficult to place sometimes, but as I mentioned in the post you quoted, a lot of it has to do with where it's directed. I think I was pretty clear about me being ok with celebrations that aren't directed toward the opponent.

Yeah, if you toss the bat in the pitcher's direction, stare him down, or make a gesture toward him, that's pretty clearly taunting. However, if a guy wants to look like an a-hole, let him. Throwing at somebody just makes you the bigger a-hole.

 

[Out of the Rafters at the Q]

I think the line between celebrating and taunting can be difficult to place sometimes, but as I mentioned in the post you quoted, a lot of it has to do with where it's directed. I think I was pretty clear about me being ok with celebrations that aren't directed toward the opponent.

Yeah, if you toss the bat in the pitcher's direction, stare him down, or make a gesture toward him, that's pretty clearly taunting. However, if a guy wants to look like an a-hole, let him. Throwing at somebody just makes you the bigger a-hole.

Someone's shitty thing (taunting) doesn't justify your shitty thing (throwing a projectile 90+ mph at his head).

It just shows you're willing to give into your emotions to commit a bad action.

 

[LL3]

I think the line between celebrating and taunting can be difficult to place sometimes, but as I mentioned in the post you quoted, a lot of it has to do with where it's directed. I think I was pretty clear about me being ok with celebrations that aren't directed toward the opponent.

Yeah, if you toss the bat in the pitcher's direction, stare him down, or make a gesture toward him, that's pretty clearly taunting. However, if a guy wants to look like an a-hole, let him. Throwing at somebody just makes you the bigger a-hole.

I am absolutely opposed to throwing at batters, and the same with malicious slides, etc.. As to the rest, it can be a fine line and taunting is not always obvious, but on measure, go ahead and flip those bats...pump those fists.

 

[Derek]

I am absolutely opposed to throwing at batters, and the same with malicious slides, etc.. As to the rest, it can be a fine line and taunting is not always obvious, but on measure, go ahead and flip those bats...pump those fists.

I know this about you. I hope it didn't come across like I thought you were advocating for it.

 

[Derek]

Buxton to the IL with shoulder inflammation. Had been playing through pain lately and finally shut it down.

 

[CDAV45]

I guess excessive is in the eye of the beholder. I’m not advocating taunting, which is disrespectful, and I don’t believe bat flips or admiring a HR qualifies as such.

Those actions don’t disrespect your opponent at all, in my opinion. It’s a personal celebration. It’s not directed at anybody.

There’s nothing malicious about a bat flip or admiring a HR. If someone is offended by those actions, yeah, I think that’s pretty damn soft. I don’t think the actions I mentioned are any different than a fist pump or a team-wide celebration at home plate following a HR. They’re joyful celebrations for an individual/team and aren’t directed toward the opponent.

I’ve just always been of the mindset of if I get beat, and I’m upset about it, I should work to do better next time. Yeah, seeing someone bat flip after hitting a piss missile off me would be upsetting, but not because I’d feel disrespected, but because I’d be disappointed that I allowed it to happen. Resorting to violence (throwing at someone) in those moments of frustration is just a sign of immaturity, in my opinion.

To clarify my perspective a little further, I work with kids for a living, both academically and athletically. Helping those kids deal with adversity is a large part of my job. I'm a big believer in the E+R=O concept from the book, Above the Line. We can't always control the events that happen around us, but we can control how we respond to them, which will help dictate more positive outcomes for all. I'm a very positive and enthusiastic person, who loves to encourage others and celebrate successes.

Then I think we've misunderstood each other on this matter because I agree with just about everything you stated here.

 

[The Human Q-Tip]

Then I think we've misunderstood each other on this matter because I agree with just about everything you stated here.

Dogs and cats living together, in my forum....

I fucking knew it.

 

[Derek]

Then I think we've misunderstood each other on this matter because I agree with just about everything you stated here.

I love you?

 

[CDAV45]

I love you?

The love is reciprocated my friend.

 

[CDAV45]

Someone's shitty thing (taunting) doesn't justify your shitty thing (throwing a projectile 90+ mph at his head).

It just shows you're willing to give into your emotions to commit a bad action.

Do you think that there is an unwritten rule about a pitcher retaliating? Something like you never throw at anyone's f'n head. I only ask because that's how I feel about the matter. Regardless of the offense, a pitcher deliberately throwing at someone's head deserves severe penalty IMO and should never be tolerated. I am not against putting a FB on one of the hitter's butt cheeks though.

 

[Lee]

Bill Burr has a bit about this where he talks about Black athletes, slavery and Hitler too, not racist, but one of his points is he finds it hilarious when some ends their career on air with stupidity like this. I agree its, hilarious, I am still laughing, not because using derogatory terms is funny, but its hilarious how stupid people are when they didn't know their mike was on.

Who says that type of shit in 2020? Hilarious, and not even a little bit shocking he was fired immediately.

 

[Lee]

I am absolutely opposed to throwing at batters, and the same with malicious slides, etc.. As to the rest, it can be a fine line and taunting is not always obvious, but on measure, go ahead and flip those bats...pump those fists.

Agreed. People have died by being hit in the head with a baseball. There is zero times it is ok to throw at someone, I hate it. Unwritten rules in baseball suck, the unwritten rule that says you should basically threaten someone's life by throwing at them if they show you up in any way? Its bullshit and needs to be stopped yesterday.

 

[sportscoach]

Agreed. People have died by being hit in the head with a baseball. There is zero times it is ok to throw at someone, I hate it. Unwritten rules in baseball suck, the unwritten rule that says you should basically threaten someone's life by throwing at them if they show you up in any way? Its bullshit and needs to be stopped yesterday.

Technically the unwritten rule is throw at someone, but never at their head.

I am for baseball traditions and you do need to throw inside, but you should never purposely throw at someone regardless

 

[Out of the Rafters at the Q]

Do you think that there is an unwritten rule about a pitcher retaliating? Something like you never throw at anyone's f'n head. I only ask because that's how I feel about the matter. Regardless of the offense, a pitcher deliberately throwing at someone's head deserves severe penalty IMO and should never be tolerated. I am not against putting a FB on one of the hitter's butt cheeks though.

I think the concept of unwritten rules is more or less silly.

Just be a good person. If you need an "unwritten rule" to stop you from doing something shitty, then I think that speaks to a deficiency of character.

Throwing at someone's head is never okay.

 

[CDAV45]

I think the concept of unwritten rules is more or less silly.

Just be a good person. If you need an "unwritten rule" to stop you from doing something shitty, then I think that speaks to a deficiency of character.

Throwing at someone's head is never okay.

So quit using the words "unwritten rules". Just think of them as guidelines and consequences. Look, we can both have different ideas on the matter, but the fact is they are there and always have been. Sometimes it takes something shitty to stop something shitty. You saying "hey you can't do that" isn't effective with assholes.