I think there are a few things that are contributing to why people were so irked by last night, even if Buck did veer off the deep end a bit towards the end of his rant.
First, unfairly or not, Vlad is going to be measured against last year when he was the best player in baseball save for a unicorn. There have been more ups and downs this year, his stats are down, and some of those habits from 2020 seep in at the plate at times. He's still really good! And has 30 HRs and is playing better defense than any of us could have hoped for a couple years ago, but the measuring stick is last year, and with people disappointed in his play more broadly, the small mental mistakes chafe at people more.
Second, and again, probably unfair to lay all this at his feet, but it's felt there's been something a bit off about team all year, even in good times. They won 6 straight series to start September, but there’s been questions about Berrios all year, and the bullpen, and the core hitters save for Springer, it feels their slumps last just a few too many games to feel comfortable in the playoffs. Expectations were high for this team, and that exposes the “COME ON” moments more than if it felt they were really in a groove.
Third, and this is really only tangential and somewhat connected to my second point, but there wasn’t that big moment at the deadline to sustain some positive fan momentum into the last 2 months of the season. I’m not going to relitigate the deadline and given how aggressive they’ve been in the past, I think trusting Shapiro and Atkins that the acquisition cost would have astronomical is more than fair, but it does feel a bit like they’re playing out the string even though we’re heading to the playoffs. In 2015 there was excitement for the playoffs, sure, but each game was an endorphin high. This feels more like “let’s get this over with and get onto the playoffs”
This was an unnecessarily long way of saying there’s kind of a funk and malaise around a really good team – for whatever reason – so there’s going to be more complaining about that moment than otherwise would have been the case if there was more excitement around this run.
Yes both Vlad and Teo lollygagging is not a good look, but this is sort of where baseball 'fun' culture is going these days right? After Bautista got lambasted for the Batflip (which would be a great name for a blog), all of a sudden it's the cool thing to do - players admiring their blasts - until they don't go out. I'm sure the same thing has happened to a LOT of players.
The Bo thing...I hate that 'rule'. In the good old days, sure if you were way off the bag and got tagged you were out. But this holding your glove against them until they lose contact by a cm is just tacky. And I know we've benefit from doing it as well. It's a grey area though because it's totally within the rules...but to me it just looks stupid and is pretty unsatisfying. Now, faking throwing the ball back to the pitcher...that's a different story entirely!
I think you’re right about the batflip stuff — esp the name! Lol — but the Bo thing… I’d have a bigger problem with the rule if the umpire hadn’t made the call first!
I think there are a few things that are contributing to why people were so irked by last night, even if Buck did veer off the deep end a bit towards the end of his rant.
First, unfairly or not, Vlad is going to be measured against last year when he was the best player in baseball save for a unicorn. There have been more ups and downs this year, his stats are down, and some of those habits from 2020 seep in at the plate at times. He's still really good! And has 30 HRs and is playing better defense than any of us could have hoped for a couple years ago, but the measuring stick is last year, and with people disappointed in his play more broadly, the small mental mistakes chafe at people more.
Second, and again, probably unfair to lay all this at his feet, but it's felt there's been something a bit off about team all year, even in good times. They won 6 straight series to start September, but there’s been questions about Berrios all year, and the bullpen, and the core hitters save for Springer, it feels their slumps last just a few too many games to feel comfortable in the playoffs. Expectations were high for this team, and that exposes the “COME ON” moments more than if it felt they were really in a groove.
Third, and this is really only tangential and somewhat connected to my second point, but there wasn’t that big moment at the deadline to sustain some positive fan momentum into the last 2 months of the season. I’m not going to relitigate the deadline and given how aggressive they’ve been in the past, I think trusting Shapiro and Atkins that the acquisition cost would have astronomical is more than fair, but it does feel a bit like they’re playing out the string even though we’re heading to the playoffs. In 2015 there was excitement for the playoffs, sure, but each game was an endorphin high. This feels more like “let’s get this over with and get onto the playoffs”
This was an unnecessarily long way of saying there’s kind of a funk and malaise around a really good team – for whatever reason – so there’s going to be more complaining about that moment than otherwise would have been the case if there was more excitement around this run.
Yes both Vlad and Teo lollygagging is not a good look, but this is sort of where baseball 'fun' culture is going these days right? After Bautista got lambasted for the Batflip (which would be a great name for a blog), all of a sudden it's the cool thing to do - players admiring their blasts - until they don't go out. I'm sure the same thing has happened to a LOT of players.
The Bo thing...I hate that 'rule'. In the good old days, sure if you were way off the bag and got tagged you were out. But this holding your glove against them until they lose contact by a cm is just tacky. And I know we've benefit from doing it as well. It's a grey area though because it's totally within the rules...but to me it just looks stupid and is pretty unsatisfying. Now, faking throwing the ball back to the pitcher...that's a different story entirely!
I think you’re right about the batflip stuff — esp the name! Lol — but the Bo thing… I’d have a bigger problem with the rule if the umpire hadn’t made the call first!