Watch: Why White Sox Fans are Crying
Baseball is supposed to be a game between gentleman. You hit the ball, you run. You strike someone out, you quietly await the next batter. You don’t show the other guy up.
That is why White Sox fans are upset today. In the eighth inning of Friday’s 6-5 game verse the Chicago Cubs, Cubs reliever Pedro Strop struck out both Adam Eaton and Tyler Saladino to stop a late rally. After Strop struck out Saladino he exploded into a celebratory fist pumping that can only be appreciated by watching it.
#CubsTwitter right now. ? pic.twitter.com/W2PEOD5vFu
— #VoteCubs (@Cubs) August 15, 2015
Maybe 30 years ago players would have taken exception to this display, then more than likely retaliate by hitting a Cubs player later in the series. The White Sox players, however, didn’t seem to be all too worried about Pedro’s actions. NBC’s JJ Stankevitz spoke with Eaton on the event.
“It’s part of the game, it really is,” center fielder Adam Eaton said. “I think fan bases like it, I do. I think it brings a little bit of flair to baseball that hasn’t always been there. I think the old-time guys would say ‘Save it, get off the mound.’ But other people, including me, think it could be good for your team and can really push your team to the end. It was a big moment in the game and ended up being a key part. Hats off to him, he made his pitches.”
Sure Eaton doesn’t mind it, but White Sox fans sure are at odds about his actions.
@MLB obnoxious as fuck. Actin like a goddamn ten year old.
— Glen Macklin (@GlenMaffews) August 15, 2015
@MLB fuck that. He's lucky he didn't get one of his players plunked with that bush league bullshit.
— Justin Hooks (@justinhooks) August 15, 2015
https://twitter.com/stinkelton/status/632400206634610689
@CSNMooney @CSNChicago Next time someone Jacks one when Strop is pitching they should stand at the plate shadow box. See what he thinks
— Bogdan Pomazak (@Bogieep) August 15, 2015
White Sox fans werent the only ones upset over Strops celebration, CSN’s Bill Melton was described to be angry about it as well. Thing is, the game has changed, it’s been changed since Ken Griffey Jr was ridiculed for peppering balls off bleachers in home run derbies with his hat backwards.
Check YouTube out and you see million plus viewed videos of crazy bat flips and hitters walking until the reach second base after a long blast. Sure your dad and grandpa might not enjoy the style the game has developed, but this isn’t your grandpa’s game anymore.
Chris Rock once mentioned the reason baseball isn’t played in black communities any longer is because it has no flair. Baseball isn’t cool, and part of that reason is because of the anti-celebration, old school rules that have been passed from generation to generation.
There is a camp out there that wonders why did Strop reacted the way he did. In the eighth inning of a game in August, why put on that big of a celebration?
Well, apparently there was some gamesmanship going on between Strop and White Sox shortstop, Alexei Ramirez. Per NBC’s Stankevitz,
The root of Strop’s celebration seemed to stem from gestures made in his direction by White Sox shortstop Alexei Ramirez, who was on second base during Eaton and Saladino’s at-bats. Strop made a couple of body turns toward second base during his delivery, during which Ramirez said he light-heartedly tried to sign that he was close to the bag and there was no need to keep turning toward him.
While Alexei’s gestures seemed to be rather unnoticed by TV crews, Pedro certainly took exception.
“He kind of stole my attention a little bit on that one when he gave me that ‘No, no, no,’” Strop said. “I feel like he was kind of showing me up. I’m aware of the situation. I just put in my head: I don’t have to get you out. I can get the guy at the plate.
“Nothing personal,” Strop added.
Ramirez says he didn’t mean to show Pedro up, but understands how he could take it that way.
“It wasn’t trying to disrespect him. It was just like, we’re okay, I was close. I don’t know if he took that in a bad way probably because of the intensity of the game. I don’t know what happened there.”
“It was (in) the heat of the game,” Ramirez said. “The moment, we were trying to get some runs. He (got) out of the moment without damage and that was the way he could celebrate that.”
Pedro did have many other supporters on the line, including Cubs TV man, Len Kasper.
https://twitter.com/LenKasper/status/632390968147333120
Perhaps the complainers and Bob Costas should take a look aroubd the Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum, like @robertoneill31 suggests.
My thoughts on Pedro Strop summed up in one image taken at the @baseballhall pic.twitter.com/Dg7tyX5bnq
— Robert O'Neill (@RobertONeill31) August 15, 2015
Hey! Heres another story youre sure to like! Best Moments in the Crosstown Classic
If he was pitching for the Sox it prolly wouldn’t be an issue
That’s what a lot of Cubs fan are saying today. Interesting how Bill Melton, Sox anchor on their post game show and member of the old school club is crying loudest, while Cubs announcer Len Kasper, a leader of the new school thought, differ in their opinions.