Jose Bautista’s bat flip: Fun or disrespectful to the game?

There is no doubt that Jose Bautista’s bat flip was the king of all bat flips, in the Americas at least, but was the flip big enough to change a culture and save baseball?

A little much you think? Well if you read any number of commentaries following the theatrics, you would think so. From players speaking out against it as showing disrespect for the game to those pointing to it as exactly what the game needs to help grow an audience – a younger one, at that – one thing is certain: People are talking about baseball today, and that is a good thing.

My personal feelings on the matter? I got a good chuckle when it happened. Enjoy the moment, Jose. This is what playoff baseball is about, right? This is what October is all about: Memorable moments.

I like to think of myself as old school. I felt physically ill when word came down that lights would be installed at Wrigley Field. I have a huge respect and appreciation for the history of the game and any number of traditions I see up close on a day-to-day basis. Traditions that are passed down from generation to generation of baseball player. I tear up when I hear the James Earl Jones “People will come” speech and want to believe in the good in baseball.

I was completely against the introduction of replay to the game. Baseball is played by humans and humans make mistakes. Baseball reflects life and sometimes the good guys don’t win. Sounds very much like the movies, doesn’t it? Well that’s when a reality check is needed. Baseball is real, not something that is to be kept safely under glass, and as such needs to live, breathe, progress. If technology is available to get a call right, it needs to be used. If emotions come to the surface and they are genuine, not overtly directed at the opposition and not a detriment to the player’s own team, why should they be stifled? In short, no harm, no foul.

When a player hits a big home run, unless there is a history with the pitcher, I have to believe that the first thing on the player’s mind is that he has done something to help his team win, not that he has showed up the pitcher. The disrespect talk to me is actually a little silly. It is not about the pitcher at that point. If it feels right for that player to Jeter it and not show emotion after a big hit, by all means do so. If a fist pump to his own dugout happens, great. If it feels right to do a cartwheel after a home run, well that might be going a little too far, but I just don’t believe that the game is going to fall apart if a little personality sneaks out here and there.

You don’t like it? Great. Discuss it. Debate it. By all means, talk about baseball.

Notes

• All American League and National League Championship Series games with a start time of 5 p.m. or later will be broadcast on 710 ESPN Seattle.

• One former Mariners front office member was not a free agent for long – the Braves have hired Ted Simmons as a special assistant.

• Mariners pitcher James Paxton made his first fall start Wednesday, throwing three innings of scoreless ball for the Peoria Javelinas. He threw 46 pitches, gave up one hit, struck out two and did not walk a batter.

• Former first-round pick D.J. Peterson has had a nice start after a disastrous fall campaign last year. Peterson has gone 4 for 8 with a double and two home runs in his first two games.

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