I don’t for a minute think that the game should be played without emotion—however I do think that the emotion displayed should not be overblown and should only directed at your own team or teammates. I have no problem with a pitcher having the emotion of a fist pump after an inning changing strikeout or great defensive play. What this video shows is both childish and reeks of entitlement. That’s a no-go in my book. I feel basically the same way about a hitter’s emotion. Just a home run—act like you’ve been there before. A momentum changing dinger or game winner I’m fine with the hitter charging up his team/teammates. Reasonable limits here also—emotion leaving the batter’s box, fine—carrying the bat halfway down the first base line and then cutting loose—not so much. Screaming at the opposition while rounding the bases—uh, no.
I'm a big fan of line drives back up the middle for wahoos like this. Never want to see anyone get hurt but its very rewarding to see a pitcher duck out of the way and then next pitch see the uncertainly in their eye. Point is it can go both ways. Hitting a batter is always much easier but timing one up straight back from where it came always has a different feel to it hoping you didn't just maim someone in return. It should be up to each team how they respond. I'm glad Clempsom got their reward.
Great post! As a hitter I would much more fear a pitcher who just mowed down the batter in front of me and then just stood on the mound with the ball in his hand and looking at me as if to say “next”. Instead of some clown doing some chicken excrement antics around the mound like a fool. Hitters have watched too many Harper clips. The bat toss/flip nonsense is stupid. Again, just act like you’ve been there and done it before. That’s far-far more impressive, to me, and how you earn respect.
Back in our day that look you’re referring to was called a “gunfighter’s stare”……I thought it worked well.
This is the type of thing I’d expect from a modern Tennessee team. South Cackalacky should be embarrassed. “Act like you’ve been there before” sums it up. There’s a fine line between being a competitor and having emotion/fire and being a jackass. Hard to define, but we all know it when we see it. Unfortunately, the more prevalent this becomes the more the umps are gonna intervene in more minor stuff… allowing them to shape the outcome to their liking. $$$$$. Good to see this clown got his comeuppance.
Emotion is good but going outside the normal acts following that emotion should be warned like taunting in nfl or nba. No difference.
The only time I did something remotely like that was when I was pitching Little League ball. The nine hole hitter had a 3-0 count against me and the opposing manager called time to talk to his hitter. I was 100% sure that he told him not to swing. I grooved three straight fastballs over the middle of the plate and then stared at the opposing manager with contempt. Not gloating but just that he was taking all the fun out of the game for that poor kid. What a jerk.
I would do monkey rolls after a K. @74nole would just yell at the batter “get the hell outta my box “