I think in one of my other posts I touched on this a bit (Old Pirates), but I'll use this post to get into it. Here are a few scenarios that we see often and note emotion shown by players:
- Pitcher gives up a lead by surrendering a big fly
- Batter gives his team the lead by hitting a bomb
- Fielder makes a sensational web gem, saving the pitcher's tuchus
See, I think players are mostly taught to only hide emotion when things are going badly for them. The only exception I know to that is Joba Chamberlain's crazy fist pump after an inning ending K. He was heavily criticized from the likes of Derek Jeter and Goose Gossage.
Other than that, players today are granted free parking passes to sit in the batters box after a home run. I haven't heard much critique for that, and I don't know when it has become acceptable. I know in olden times (probably even just 10-15 years ago) if you stood up a pitcher, you knew that a pitch was coming at you high and tight.
Pitchers tend to have different reactions when they are saved by an outstanding effort from a fielder. Check out the "atta boy" from Phil Coke to Brett Gardner.
There are definitely times that its hard to stop the emotion from showing. You can try to conceal it, but I'll share a story of mine that got me pumped.
I'm catching, man on third and the batter walks. Our coach had made us practice this play in practice a few times and when I recognized the situation, I walked slowly to my pitcher, not wanting to totally leave home plate vacant. I told him that if the batter jogs around first and turns for two, he runs to cover home. Sure enough the batter takes off and I sprint towards the batter (now past first base) as the pitcher covers home. As I close in on him, my middle infielders yell "four" to let me know that the other runner broke for home. I turn, throw home and nail the runner at the plate. I got down nice and low to the ground and almost punched a hole right through it. Well, almost.
The trend in modern baseball is definitely veering towards more emotion-showing and showboating, but I just hope it doesn't get to that point where a pitcher pulls out a sharpie and signs the ball as his celebration. Or something from one of these.
I think that, as a pitcher, letting your players know that you feel "in control" or even "energized" is a great thing for the team. Everybody knows that I get very excited on the mound especially when one of my fielders makes a great play. To share a story- after getting my first, (and YU's first?) pickoff at second base, I practically danced on the mound. Again, just the other day my shortstop jumped about 4 feet and grabbed a liner out of the air ending the inning and saving two runs from scoring.
ReplyDeleteNow admittedly these are pretty small compared to hiding a cellphone in the protective padding of the goalpost, but I do think that celebration should be allowed. I think that there is a difference between celebration and trying to embarrass your opponent- of which there is no place for in professional sports. I'm reminded of that scene in coach carter, and I would recommend checking out what he says there but I can't find a clip so...
At the same time if a pitcher is energized b/c of past plays he might overthrow the pitch. Therefore, I believe that a little emotion is good but any more then that and the catcher should call time and get everyone's mind ready for the next pitch.
ReplyDeleteTo Shaya,
ReplyDeleteI was actually at the game you picked someone off second base. If you don't mind me saying (in front of all these people who read my blog) that was not a good reaction to have. You could be pumped, but yelling and dancing around, thats just not classy. You know what else isn't classy- yelling back at the dugout for chattering about your dance.
I don't mean to rail on you. It happens. Everybody is different, some guys can't control it, or get more pumped up more easily. There will always be players who do that, but its a matter of controlling before the other team just gets fed up with you.
Did shaya get thrown at his next ab?
ReplyDeleteExcuse me. Please fix that post, Anonymous. Having Shaya in the same sentence as 'at bat' is really uncalled for. You are wasting time here.
ReplyDelete