Sunday's extra-inning affair between
the Brewers and Giants was everything you could ask for in a September
baseball game. A little bit of history, the Brewers turned a
triple-play for the first time since 1999. The game had plenty of
drama, too, ultimately being decided on a 12th inning walk-off blast by
Prince Fielder. The loss knocked the Giants two games behind the
Rockies in the Wild Card race. So why am I writing about this on Monday?
Upon rounding the bases after his game-winning homer, Fielder untucked his uniform, seemingly setting things up to toss his helmet as he approached home plate, a popular and accepted form of celebration in recent years. However, the Brewers went against the grain, using a choreographed celebration where when Fielder touched the plate, he extended his arms to the sky and his teammates fell to the ground around him. With even veterans like Craig Counsell taking part, it was a ridiculous piece of theatre that won't be forgotten by the Giants any time soon.
"Did you see that celebration?" bench coach Ron Wotus asked. "You would like to think professionals would have a lot more respect for the game and their opponents. That was choreographed."
Yet, if you were to read the recaps this morning, you'll see the incident celebrated in pictures and highlights. I'm no Yankees fan, but imagine if this was Alex Rodriguez? The criticism would be overwhelming. Fielder is getting a pass today. No bones about it.
Surely the Brewers may have thought twice about doing this if they were going to face the Giants again on Monday, but don't be surprised to see Fielder catch one in the back or worse when he faces them next season.
Upon rounding the bases after his game-winning homer, Fielder untucked his uniform, seemingly setting things up to toss his helmet as he approached home plate, a popular and accepted form of celebration in recent years. However, the Brewers went against the grain, using a choreographed celebration where when Fielder touched the plate, he extended his arms to the sky and his teammates fell to the ground around him. With even veterans like Craig Counsell taking part, it was a ridiculous piece of theatre that won't be forgotten by the Giants any time soon.
"Did you see that celebration?" bench coach Ron Wotus asked. "You would like to think professionals would have a lot more respect for the game and their opponents. That was choreographed."
Yet, if you were to read the recaps this morning, you'll see the incident celebrated in pictures and highlights. I'm no Yankees fan, but imagine if this was Alex Rodriguez? The criticism would be overwhelming. Fielder is getting a pass today. No bones about it.
Surely the Brewers may have thought twice about doing this if they were going to face the Giants again on Monday, but don't be surprised to see Fielder catch one in the back or worse when he faces them next season.


10 stories and 12 comments at the time I counted the D.J.Short stories. Basically tells me that no one cares what this guy has to say or what his opinion might be on any topic.
Is he from San Fran?
Oh yes, looks like another winner for the dwindling impact of NBC.
are you kidding me, what ever happened to playing the game for fun. Everyone wants to critisize these athletes for being all about money these days. then when some has a little fun people have to critisize them. Did anyone critsize King james or Shaq???
What the Brewer players did was just plan fun!
I agree, this commentary is a waste of internet space
What's wrong with celebrating a little... especially when victories are becoming fewer and fewer. This is baseball, not ballet class. Grow a pair.
I thought it was pretty amusing myself. Reminded me of the "fun bunch" from the Washington Redskins of old.
After watching the replay of it, Fielder reached home, jumped in the air, and when he landed, everyone fell down, kinda like he shook the ground. The way Short makes it sound was like he walked up to the plate, put his hands up and everyone went down. I also thought it was fun and amusing. As for the Giants, if you don't like it, don't give up a walk off homerun in the 12th. More respect for the game and the opponents? Then I never want to see more than just handshakes from the Giants if they win a game, no jumping, no cheering, nothing. Give me a break.
I thought this was the funniest thing I've seen on a baseball field since the last time I saw Yuniesky Betancourt do his version of "playing shortcut."
It's fantastic to see players having fun on the field. The fact that the Brewers are on the furthest fringes of the playoff hunt makes it all the more remarkable and all the more fun.
Move on. There's nothing to look at here.
I thought this was the funniest thing I've seen on a baseball field since the last time I saw Yuniesky Betancourt do his version of "playing shortstop."
It's fantastic to see players having fun on the field. The fact that the Brewers are on the furthest fringes of the playoff hunt makes it all the more remarkable and all the more fun.
Move on. There's nothing to look at here.
It was all in good fun..I had a good laugh.
You mental midgets have never played the game because if you had you'd know that that kinda stuff is for little leaguers. Expect Fielder to get one between the shoulder blades the next time those two teams play and he and every other 3 year old on that team deserve it. They can have fun in the bar after the game. Doing that kind of juvenile, preplanned crap was beyond showing a team up and they should be embarrassed. And to rip the author for this shows how clueless you are because he at least knows enough about baseball to point out that kind of Mickey Mouse crap has no place in the game. I'm embarrassed for the Brewers. Grow up, this is the Bigs, not high school.
Egad, you want the players to grow up and then advocate intentionally pitching to hit a player! Maybe you ought to grow up first.
Pranks and funny crap like that IS part of baseball. I sure hope that when you played you enjoyed every moment of it. Don't take yourself too seriously.
Maybe the little leaguers need to see this so they can see that the big leaguers are all about being a team too. They celebrate like this in high school sports all the time. It is all about being a team "together".
Actually they don't celebrate like that in high school. In high school you aren't even allowed to touch the hitter until after he touches the plate. In high school all you will see is high fives and jumping around. Even high schoolers have more respect for the game then the Brewers.
I completely agree with Chuck. If any of you guys had played baseball, you would know that Fielder should expect to get drilled in the back his next at bat against the Giants. There's a reason you don't see that kind of celebration during the game - and it's because players know what they could expect their next at bat. The celebration may have been in good fun, and does show that they were having a good time - while being 14 games out in their division. And to Marti - intentionally throwing at hitters IS part of the game. Ask pretty much any pitcher who wants to protect his hitters (ie - Pedro), or even coaches like Ozzie Guillen who said he was tired of his players getting beaned, and there not being any retribution.
Anyone who plays baseball knows the one line that fit's "act like you have been there before". Very simple, 15 games under 500 , " act like you have been there before"
What did the Brewers do today against the Cardinals. Got 1 hit. Didn't see them showboating today. I bet the first time up next season against the Giants, good ole Prince better have his helmet secured because the first one will be right under his chin. Could you imagine him batting against Bob Gibson next time. LOL Gibson would bury him next to the plate.
For reals? It's a celebration! Team celebration. Like spiking the football after a touchdown. Anyone who says Fielder should look out is very very small minded intellect. He hurt no one. Beaning someone is endagering one's career. No harm here. Not even close. Making the most were the Brewers. And I hate the Brewers. Good grief people it's a game. It's made for fun. Else none of these overpaid millionaires would be playing it. DUH!
Nobody who cares about baseball wants it to become professional basketball. Shaq and King James have nothing to do with the game of baseball. Pro basketball is the epitome of classlessness. They've done everything they can to immulate pro wrestling. MLB players have fun, and they make great money, and get to live a dream. Expecting them to maintain some class and professionalism isn't unreasonable. This is a team that has taken nose-dive in the past two months. They need to work on their baseball skill, not their choreography.
Larin,
They won. Walk off homerun. Truly a reason to celebrate. Nothing unclassy about celebrating something good after a drought. What's not classy is someone advocating a bean ball for it. If thats what it takes to win and NOBODY gets hurt then whats wrong? The Giants were heading to the locker room before Fielder let go of the bat. They could care less. Funny how grown men who don't know how to have fun have a problem with those that do.
Professional sports is ENTERTAINMENT! What's wrong with a little show biz on the field of dreams? I think sports would be more entertaining and just plain fun if we saw a little more spontaneous enjoyment by the players in situations like this.
Classlessness would be the Giants throwing at Fielder the next time they play.
I thought the celebration was pretty damn funny. And many of the people may be right- Prince might want to tread lightly when he steps in the batter's box if and when the Brewers play against the Giants. It could get ugly.
I thought the celebration was pretty damn funny. And many of the people may be right- Prince might want to tread lightly when he steps in the batter's box if and when the Brewers play against the Giants. It could get ugly.
You load up sports with that particular culture and this is what you get. No respect for the game. The same thing goes on in football and basketball. You rarely see any off this type of garbage in hockey!
Ah "Nuts". With all the crap in the world - the economy in the tank - and every neighborhood with atleast one vacant Foreclosed home are you so stilted that you believe that Fielder should take one in the back because of this silliness. Every Sport has it's share of crazies and far too few signs that the players are really enjoying the game and their wins or accomplishments. Again- "nuts".
Play on Mr. Fielder enjoy the game and for the moment just torn off the media.
No, throwing at Fielder would be baseball, not classless. Or, have you never seen the game? There are unwritten rules in sports. Before throwing them out and trying to makes things more entertaining, you might think about the fact that the game has been around for over a century. Ill-timed choreographed celebrations aren't part of baseball history. Nor should they be. By the way, Ozzies back flips weren't great play or game winning celebrations. They were openening, pre-game introductions to another season. Big difference if you ask me!
I don't see how what they did is any different than a team mobbing a guy in the middle of the infield after a walk-off seeing-eye-single. Are teams not allowed to celebrate a hard-fought win? Plus, they were in Milwaukee; It's not like they were showing up the Giants in front of their own fans. Let the guys have some fun.
And about throwing at Fielder: throwing inside/at batters IS part of the game, but only when it's used correctly. The only time I find it acceptable to do so is if the other team is intentionally hitting your batters, if the batter is playing dirty to gain an advantage on you (looking back at the catcher's signs, timing you in the on-deck circle, stealing your signs while he's on second), or if a player made an obviously dirty play on one of your fielders and injured them. The bean ball is for protecting your players and keeping the batter from gaining an 'unfair advantage'.
All other reasons, including hitting someone for 'showboating' is immature and dangerous. Throwing at someone who hit a walkoff home run and then celebrated it is the epitome of poor-sportsmanship. Fielder didn't call out the Giants pitcher and he shouldn't be called out for celebrating at his home park with his teammates.
MAYBE THEY SHOULD DROP TO A KNEE AND PRAY..................
CELEBRATING, THESE GUYS HAVE CLEARLY LOST THEIR MIND.........
BASEBALL IS NOT SUPPOSED TO BE FUN............
IS THERE ANYTHING THE REST AMERICA CAN DO TO MAKE YOU LIFE
COMFORTABLE IN CHUCKS WORLD ??
DUDE, U R A LOSER.............
GET A LIFE
BY THE WAY IT IS 2009...........AND THE GAMES ARE BROADCAST IN
COLOR NOW..........WAKE UP !!!
AFTER THE PITCHER DRILLS HIM, FIELDER SHOULD VISIT THE MOUND FOR MORE FORMAL INTRODUCTION OF HIS FIST TO THE PITCHERS FACE.
NOTHING WRONG WITH THAT, RIGHT ?
RESPECT FOR THE GAME, THIS ISNT THE 1900'S SO GET OVER YOURSELVES
AND IF YOU DON'T LIKE IT TURN OFF YOUR TV AND GO SKIP ROPE, THEY
DON'T CELEBRATE, THE GIRLS ARE VERY FORMAL. YOU CAN TRY HOPSCOTCH
AS WELL BUT BE ADVISED YOU WILL SWEAT. BUH BYE LADIES
NO, THAT IS RESPECT, HIT SOMEONE, TEACH THIS TO THE LITTLE KIDS,
BECAUSE ONLY WINNING MATTERS.
Hey Joshua, this is what you do, if that big kid hits one out I
want you to DRILL the SKINNY KID,we have to teach him a lesson.
WHAT A BUNCH OF MORONS ............
I LOVE THESE UNWRITTEN RULES ......
"I don't see how what they did is any different than a team mobbing a guy in the middle of the infield after a walk-off seeing-eye-single. Are teams not allowed to celebrate a hard-fought win? Plus, they were in Milwaukee; It's not like they were showing up the Giants in front of their own fans. Let the guys have some fun."
There is a marked difference between an impromptu celebration and a choreographed one.
And it's okay to have fun.
But next year, if the Giants hit a walk-off HR against the Brewers, and the entire team stands in front of the Brewers' bench, to do a little dance, then the Brewers have no choice but to accept it.
Watch pro football. See some 300 pounder tackle the QB and watch him pound his chest like some hairy ape. Or you could watch some wide reciever catch a ball all alone in the end zone , then he goes into a dance around the goal posts and finally dunks the ball into the stands.
Showboating is part and parcel of pro sports. Some even enjoy it.
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