Coach Perspective

Not sure how many people saw or have seen since the Toronto Blue Jays/Texas Rangers game when Jose Bautista’s home run and bat flip… I did!

What a game… There was a lot of just about everything in that game. Looked a little like a little league game. Catcher throws ball back to pitcher but hits the bat of the batter. An alert base-runner scores from third. Then in the bottom of that inning, 3 consecutive plays have errors on the play. Then the home run! What a game.

From a coach’s perspective this game had everything in it. The one thing that I want to focus in on is the bat flip and the fallout afterwards.

Those for the that flip:

• It is great for the game. The raw emotion of the moment and celebration of doing some great – is something that is missing in the game today.
• TV ratings would improve with more of that.
• It is time to stop all the old “code” for how to behave when you do something. If a hitter hits a home run he needs to not show up the pitcher or the other team. Of course, no one is commenting on when the pitcher has a strike out and pumps is fist and yells out something. Unwritten rules are for dummies.

Those against the that flip:

• The game polices itself. No showing up the other team or pitcher. The “code” needs to be followed.
• What about the kids. Kids are more likely to copy the pros. This is not good for the game when more and more players will be doing this.

As a coach, my thoughts are:

• When you do something special (home run, strike out, great catch, great throw or whatever) – show some emotion. How often does that really happen during a game? It is about time to put some FUN back in the game. I think the kids need to enjoy the games they play.
• Any discussion on an unwritten code should be stopped today. If you don’t want it to happen, then make sure to put it in the rules. NFL has plenty of rules around celebrations – especially when those celebrations were getting out of hand.
• The bottom line: If you don’t want to see a celebration, then make sure that your level of play is better than your opponent. Pitcher does not want to see a hitter flip his bat – then don’t give him a pitcher to hit out of the park. If a hitter does not want to see a pitcher fist pump after he strikes you out, then hit the ball.