Saying that there are many rules in the game of baseball is a complete understatement. Even hardcore fans cannot indicate all of baseball’s guidelines. However, the unwritten rules in baseball are something hardcore fans understand, yet casual fans sometimes fail to comprehend. It is in a sense a foreign language to those who aren’t familiar with the game. These rules are not seen ever in the official rulebook but are understood as players and coaches try their best to respect these initiatives. These rules can include for example, not discussing a no-hitter in progress, don’t steal third with two outs, and never going against the percentages.
Nevertheless, there are a few unwritten rules that have been the focus in the media lately that always reaches the headlines and stirs up much controversy which is when a batter stands at home admiring their homerun. Now this sounds quite innocent but, the unwritten rules of the game suggest that this is actually disrespectful.
In late 2013 when then Milwaukee Brewers outfielder Carlos Gomez hit a homerun in the first inning off of Atlanta Braves pitcher Paul Maholm, Gomez flipped his bat in an aggressive matter. As Gomez rounded the bases he started yelling at the Braves infielders and eventually ended up meeting with then Braves catcher Brian McCann who confronted Gomez before the outfielder had a chance to touch home plate which of course, lead to a major brawl between the two teams.
In addition, there will always be an expectation that the star of the opposing team will at some time get thrown at following a player disrespecting the other team. Also in 2013, Atlanta Braves pitcher Julio Teheran threw at Washington Nationals star outfielder Bryce Harper after Harper earlier in the game hit a long homerun. The following game, Nationals pitcher Stephen Strasburg hit then Braves outfielder Justin Upton. Later in that same game, Strasburg threw two balls behind then Braves shortstop Andrelton Simmons and Strasburg was then ejected.
Commissioner Rob Manfred commented on the game’s changing culture in a meeting with the Associated Press Sports Editors on Thursday April 21 saying, “I think to the extent that you believe, and I actually do, that Bryce Harper is a spokesperson for our generation, I suspect that you will see more exuberance from our players on the field.”
Manfred went on to say, “I think that to the extent that you’re trying to market to a younger audience, our younger players taking control of the definition of those unwritten rules is a lot better than some guy who’s 67 years old (directed towards Goose Gossage) saying I did it that way and you ought do it the same way.”
Manfred is responding of course to the recent comments made by both Hall of Fame reliever Goose Gossage and one of today’s biggest stars Bryce Harper.
Harper was the first to comment on the current situation stating, “Baseball’s tired. It’s a tired sport, because you can’t express yourself. You can’t do what people in other sports do. I’m not saying baseball is, you know, boring or anything like that, but it’s the excitement of the young guys who are coming into the game now who have flair. If that’s Matt Harvey or Jacob deGrom or Manny Machado or Joc Pederson or Andrew McCutchen or Yasiel Puig – there’s so many guys in the game now who are so much fun.”
Gossage responded to the topic on ESPN’s 1000 Chicago radio station saying, “I can’t stand to watch this game, the way it’s changed and the way guys act… If I see one more pie in somebody’s face, I’m gonna break my TV.”
No matter how you may feel about the game’s unwritten values, baseball is steadily changing. There is still concern over viewers tuning in to watch the nation’s pastime so maybe this new approach to the game where Harper, Trout, Kershaw and others shine may be quite helpful to attract youngsters to the game in a new way.
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