Berry Tramel of the Oklahoman writes that MLB has become the new “No Fun” league with the way players like Joba Chamberlain are berated for showing too much emotion on the field.
All three high crimes occurred in recent days. The high court of baseball has charged each with violating the game’s unwritten rules, all of which can be boiled down to this.
No fun allowed. Whatever you do, don’t have a good time on the diamond. There’s no joy in Mudville and there’s no joy in any burg that houses baseball.But little boys don’t act like monastery monks. To pass muster in baseball, apparently you’ve got to be an iceman. A stoic. To meet the baseball standard, you’ve got to play with all the passion of celery.
In the clubhouse, act as goofy and juvenile as you wish, as the White Sox and their infamous blowup doll proved. Act like a 12-year-old there and that’s baseball.
Tramel makes an interesting point. Aren’t sporting events supposed to be about emotion? As long as you’re not purposely trying to upstage your opponent, what’s wrong with a fist pump on the mound after a strikeout? What happens when a batter hits a walk off to win the game? His teammates jump up and down on him at home plate like he just won the lottery. How is that type of tradition acceptable, but a fist pump by a pitcher isn’t?
Look, fans don’t want to see planned celebrations like in the NFL, but I don’t think players like Chamberlain need to be crucified by guys like Goose Gossage just because he showed emotion after a good play.
