Two Opposing Views On Baseball

Oh its fun debating things about the world of sports isn't it? Baseball is no different. Everybody has opinions on the game and how it should be played. Some guys like the way the game has been structured, while others feel that there isn't enough fun and emotion being shown in the game. You know things are getting heated when Bryce Harper and Goose Gossage are weighing in on the issue. Goose thinks the game has become a disgrace, while Harper feels there isn't enough fun in the game anymore.

Here's the quote from Goose Gossage. This was told by Goose, according to ESPN:

"Bautista is a f---ing disgrace to the game," Gossage told ESPN. "He's embarrassing to all the Latin players, whoever played before him. Throwing his bat and acting like a fool, like all those guys in Toronto. [Yoenis] Cespedes, same thing. It is a joke. The game is becoming a freaking joke because of the nerds who are running it. I'll tell you what has happened, these guys played rotisserie baseball at Harvard or wherever the f--- they went, and they thought they figured the f---ing game out. They don't know s---.A bunch of f---ing nerds running the game. You can't slide into second base. You can't take out the f---ing catcher because [Buster] Posey was in the wrong position and they are going to change all the rules. You can't pitch inside anymore. I'd like to knock some of these f---ers on their ass and see how they would do against pitchers in the old days. Ryan Braun is a f---ing steroid user. He gets a standing ovation on Opening Day in Milwaukee. How do you explain that to your kid after throwing people under the bus and lying through his f---ing teeth? They don't have anyone passing the f---ing torch to these people. If I had acted like that, you don't go in that f---ing dugout. There are going to be 20 f---ing guys waiting for you."

Goose was making the comments about Jose Bautista and his bat flip antics during the playoffs. He went out and took shots at the establishment in the game today. There's a lot to look at here from Goose's point of view, but we'll get into that in a little while.

Now here's the viewpoint from the other end of the spectrum. Bryce Harper had made comments on the game of baseball today, and here's what he had to say:

“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. Jose Fernandez is a great example. Jose Fernandez will strike you out and stare you down into the dugout and pump his fist. And if you hit a homer and pimp it? He doesn’t care. Because you got him. That’s part of the game. It’s not the old feeling—hoorah ... if you pimp a homer, I’m going to hit you right in the teeth. No. If a guy pimps a homer for a game-winning shot ... I mean—sorry. Look at those players—Steph Curry, LeBron James. It’s exciting to see those players in those sports. Cam Newton—I love the way Cam goes about it. He smiles, he laughs. It’s that flair. The dramatic.”

As far as these two points of view go, I can see both sides of the argument. Looking from Goose perspective, he does have something to rant about. Players are getting hurt because they have been out of positions at times. Yes the game is changing its rules he is right about that. But at the same time, he needs to realize that the game has changed a lot since he toed the rubber at the old Yankee Stadium. He does have an argument that its getting tougher for a pitcher to go inside on a hitter, I'll agree with him on that.  He has an argument about Ryan Braun, who did cheat the year he won MVP. He did overstep his bounds in some of his arguments. Posey was an accident and they had to try and save catchers from getting run over. Same thing too with guys sliding into 2nd base. You need to be able to try and protect your fielders. Over time, players are going to adapt quickly and play without a problem with the new rules. Its going to take time for everybody to get used to it, sure. Any good baseball player, or athlete for that matter, should be able to adapt to the changing rules and will be just fine.

As far as Bryce Harper, he has a point too. Most players in the game of baseball don't show that much emotion. You get guys like Joey Bats, Joba Chamberlain when he was with the Yankees, and many others who celebrate after making a big play. It makes the game fun to watch to see the look of joy on a players face when they make a big play. It's dramatic flair when guys like Jose Bautista do the bat flip in the playoffs, that's awesome. At the same time though I can see the other side of the coin with the Bryce argument. I know players are going to be excited and happy when they make a big play, but can it be toned down a little bit. Don't get me wrong I have no problem with a guy celebrating a big play, but you have to know the situation a little better before celebrating. There's a difference between being confident and being cocky and some people need to know when to cross it and when not to. Its a hard thing to figure out I know, but it can be done.

So who's right in this situation, Bryce or Goose?