This is more debatable than the unwritten rules debate.
My initial opinion is that if baseball didn't want its players to be so self-centric, then they shouldn't have designed such an individualistic sport. This isn't like basketball. A hitter stands at the plate alone, with nobody there to help him, looking out at a field of players who are all against him. There is no team strategy in baseball as a hitter anymore. A hitter does what is best for themselves, and that is all they do. It used to be more common to 'take one for the team' via something like a sac bunt or an intentional ground ball for a hit and run play, but that type of thing is nearing extinction, not because of individualistic players, but because of the analytical realities of the sport.
In my opinion, this element of the game (that it's just more efficient for hitters to play for themselves than to do any kind of team oriented strategy) makes it more acceptable in this sport to be individualistic as a player than it would be in football or basketball, where players rely on teammates for help. Ironically, this line of reasoning means I'm much more sympathetic for individualism from hitters than pitchers, because unlike hitters, pitchers often rely on the skills of their teammates.
This sympathy I have for baseball individualism brings me to the real point here: that it still has to be about winning. By this I mean players should be themselves when choosing their stance on celebration. I am entirely against these silly dances that players are supposed to do whenever they get a hit, because everybody on the team does it, or the silly dugout HR celebrations that every player is forced to participate in. I'm against all that.
If a player works best being extraverted, and bombastic, and has a big ego, then they should be like that on the field, because holding it in would compromise their optimal mindset, and make them worse as a baseball player. If a player works best by remaining even keeled and keeping their emotions in check all the time, they should be like that on the field.
In short, I wholeheartedly agree with the philosophy that players should be themselves, and stick to the mindset that makes them play the game of baseball at their best. For some this is a bombastic celebration. For others it's a quiet trip around the bases. Let's not paint everybody with the same brush. If a player who performs their best by being stable emotionally all of a sudden whips out a massive bat flip, that's wrong, but if a bombastic personality quietly trots around the bases, that's wrong as well.
Thanks for your thoughtful comments Robbie. My opinion is that the players themselves know where the lines are crossed and can police themselves better than MLB officials. If a guy does too much he will be informed one way or the other!
Doesn't that seem childish to you? How are we going to act like it's okay to hit a man with a pitch for hurting your feelings? We're professionals here. We've got to have a bit thicker skin than that.
In my opinion, I wish we could have a judgement call where if you hit a batter because your feelings are hurt, the ejection would be immediate, but if you hit him either by accident or because he's standing too close to the plate then the pitcher could stay in. Of course, this could never ever actually happen, because how can an umpire tell a pitcher's feelings, but it'd be a great way to officiate it for me.
I do agree that the league (any league) should take a hands off approach towards celebration. The NFL tries to put their hands on the celebrations all the time, and in my opinion all it does is teach kids to disobey the law. There's nothing respectful being taught by seeing your favourite players on TV constantly breaking the law, which is what happens when celebrations are regulated. You're not teaching the kids sportsmanship or whatever they claim they're doing. Just let it roll.
Thanks Justin and I appreciate your thoughts. As an even older baseball fan I do think about baseball the way it used to be even if I know I am romanticizing at times. The about-me stuff as you put it bugs me too but less than it used to. I'd also like players to be able to do the little things we remember players doing years ago. The playoffs and World Series often are the times we see the 'old' approaches come into play.
Great article and to the point. It has become about ‘Me’ and not ‘The Team’. If it was about the team, players would lay down bunts with ease rather than popping up for double plays in big situations like Minnesota’s Ryan Jeffers did in the 12th inning with two men on and no outs last night against Miami. Jeffers is a lifetime .230 hitter and bunting should be his specialty by now.
I think the reference to Sutton put it all in perspective. If it’s a spontaneous celebration, then at least it feels unchoreographed. But, today, between the props, the slamming the bat on the ground after a game-tying homer in the 4th inning in June, to even shaking your ass after every hit as the Dodgers have done for the past two years. I don’t care if it’s a take on Freddie Freeman’s dance moves. It’s stupid and watching players as respected as Shohei and Freddie doing it, makes it worse. It doesn’t look natural because it’s not. And that’s the problem with sports today, especially in MLB. Everything is planned, even on field interviews to distract players while they are trying, or should be trying, to focus on their jobs on the field.
Baseball is hitting the danger zone of losing a lot of old school fans (which sadly is even those like myself in their early 40s) because we all witnessed what team baseball and true emotional moments were before all of today’s planned shenanigans. That’s why very few moments in today’s game go down as epic anymore. We don’t know what’s real and what isn’t.
How about this MLB players. Stop getting injured, practice fundamentals such as bunting and proper sliding on the basepaths (watch Shohei if you want to see proper sliding techniques that won’t end your season because of a head or shoulder injury) and stop acting like fans are entertained by your Randy Arozarena-like poses, especially if your team doesn’t win. We’re entertained more by success than your ‘All about me’ bullshit.
Good post. I think the true baseball fans think about that all the time and get fired up as I am getting right now. More fans need to speak up and boo these characters off the field when it happens.
This is more debatable than the unwritten rules debate.
My initial opinion is that if baseball didn't want its players to be so self-centric, then they shouldn't have designed such an individualistic sport. This isn't like basketball. A hitter stands at the plate alone, with nobody there to help him, looking out at a field of players who are all against him. There is no team strategy in baseball as a hitter anymore. A hitter does what is best for themselves, and that is all they do. It used to be more common to 'take one for the team' via something like a sac bunt or an intentional ground ball for a hit and run play, but that type of thing is nearing extinction, not because of individualistic players, but because of the analytical realities of the sport.
In my opinion, this element of the game (that it's just more efficient for hitters to play for themselves than to do any kind of team oriented strategy) makes it more acceptable in this sport to be individualistic as a player than it would be in football or basketball, where players rely on teammates for help. Ironically, this line of reasoning means I'm much more sympathetic for individualism from hitters than pitchers, because unlike hitters, pitchers often rely on the skills of their teammates.
This sympathy I have for baseball individualism brings me to the real point here: that it still has to be about winning. By this I mean players should be themselves when choosing their stance on celebration. I am entirely against these silly dances that players are supposed to do whenever they get a hit, because everybody on the team does it, or the silly dugout HR celebrations that every player is forced to participate in. I'm against all that.
If a player works best being extraverted, and bombastic, and has a big ego, then they should be like that on the field, because holding it in would compromise their optimal mindset, and make them worse as a baseball player. If a player works best by remaining even keeled and keeping their emotions in check all the time, they should be like that on the field.
In short, I wholeheartedly agree with the philosophy that players should be themselves, and stick to the mindset that makes them play the game of baseball at their best. For some this is a bombastic celebration. For others it's a quiet trip around the bases. Let's not paint everybody with the same brush. If a player who performs their best by being stable emotionally all of a sudden whips out a massive bat flip, that's wrong, but if a bombastic personality quietly trots around the bases, that's wrong as well.
Thanks for your thoughtful comments Robbie. My opinion is that the players themselves know where the lines are crossed and can police themselves better than MLB officials. If a guy does too much he will be informed one way or the other!
Doesn't that seem childish to you? How are we going to act like it's okay to hit a man with a pitch for hurting your feelings? We're professionals here. We've got to have a bit thicker skin than that.
In my opinion, I wish we could have a judgement call where if you hit a batter because your feelings are hurt, the ejection would be immediate, but if you hit him either by accident or because he's standing too close to the plate then the pitcher could stay in. Of course, this could never ever actually happen, because how can an umpire tell a pitcher's feelings, but it'd be a great way to officiate it for me.
I do agree that the league (any league) should take a hands off approach towards celebration. The NFL tries to put their hands on the celebrations all the time, and in my opinion all it does is teach kids to disobey the law. There's nothing respectful being taught by seeing your favourite players on TV constantly breaking the law, which is what happens when celebrations are regulated. You're not teaching the kids sportsmanship or whatever they claim they're doing. Just let it roll.
True. Glad the postseason begins soon. Should be fun.
Thanks Justin and I appreciate your thoughts. As an even older baseball fan I do think about baseball the way it used to be even if I know I am romanticizing at times. The about-me stuff as you put it bugs me too but less than it used to. I'd also like players to be able to do the little things we remember players doing years ago. The playoffs and World Series often are the times we see the 'old' approaches come into play.
Great article and to the point. It has become about ‘Me’ and not ‘The Team’. If it was about the team, players would lay down bunts with ease rather than popping up for double plays in big situations like Minnesota’s Ryan Jeffers did in the 12th inning with two men on and no outs last night against Miami. Jeffers is a lifetime .230 hitter and bunting should be his specialty by now.
I think the reference to Sutton put it all in perspective. If it’s a spontaneous celebration, then at least it feels unchoreographed. But, today, between the props, the slamming the bat on the ground after a game-tying homer in the 4th inning in June, to even shaking your ass after every hit as the Dodgers have done for the past two years. I don’t care if it’s a take on Freddie Freeman’s dance moves. It’s stupid and watching players as respected as Shohei and Freddie doing it, makes it worse. It doesn’t look natural because it’s not. And that’s the problem with sports today, especially in MLB. Everything is planned, even on field interviews to distract players while they are trying, or should be trying, to focus on their jobs on the field.
Baseball is hitting the danger zone of losing a lot of old school fans (which sadly is even those like myself in their early 40s) because we all witnessed what team baseball and true emotional moments were before all of today’s planned shenanigans. That’s why very few moments in today’s game go down as epic anymore. We don’t know what’s real and what isn’t.
How about this MLB players. Stop getting injured, practice fundamentals such as bunting and proper sliding on the basepaths (watch Shohei if you want to see proper sliding techniques that won’t end your season because of a head or shoulder injury) and stop acting like fans are entertained by your Randy Arozarena-like poses, especially if your team doesn’t win. We’re entertained more by success than your ‘All about me’ bullshit.
Good post. I think the true baseball fans think about that all the time and get fired up as I am getting right now. More fans need to speak up and boo these characters off the field when it happens.