Pujols' "bat-throwing" incident (explanation)

[K-Town]

There was some discussion about Pujols tossing his bat in the air after hitting a home run last week, while his team was losing big. There's a follow-up article concerning this in the PD this morning:

 

http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/sports/stories.nsf/cardinals/story/8234A5DB5C32A5F38625715B00223AAA?OpenDocument

 

Albert Pujols came clean Monday night against the Pittsburgh Pirates.

 

His first-inning home run against lefthander Oliver Perez set the tone for a 7-2 win that never came into doubt behind Redbirds starting pitcher Chris Carpenter.

 

The solo home run was Pujols' second in seven days against Perez (1-3). The first came during his team's 12-4 loss at PNC Park, with Pujols punctuating the blast with an exaggerated bat toss into the air. This time, Pujols dropped his bat and almost sprinted around the bases, barely pausing at home plate to point skyward, then continuing to the home dugout.

 

The home run was Pujols' 12th this season, leaving him one shy of the April record shared by Ken Griffey Jr. and Luis Gonzalez. But it was his history with the demonstrative Perez that fed the blast's meaning.

 

"He struck me out last year and did all his dancing and I remember that," Pujols said. "That's what happened in Pittsburgh. I hit that ground ball back to him and he did his little dance again and I got real upset. I went to the video room and told my guy Chad (Blair), 'I'm going to hit the next ball and I'm going to hit it a long way. But don't look at the ball. Look at where the bat is going to land.'"

 

Following last Tuesday's first-inning groundout, Pujols homered in the fourth inning. His bat landed about a first down away.

 

Monday at Busch Stadium, he completed his fastest trip around the bases in recent memory, then let his teammates complete a decisive win that also included his 28th RBI on a fifth-inning double.

 

Pujols said the Pittsburgh incident drew attention from several teammates as well as reporters in both cities. He took several minutes following Monday's win to clarify an act that drew criticism from some who perceived the bat toss as inappropriate within a blowout loss.

 

"I respect this game just like everybody else. When I see a guy like that with the talent he has disrespecting the game ... that might be the way he pitches, I don't care ... but when you start pointing and looking at the player when you strike somebody out, that's disrespecting the player," he said. "I probably shouldn't have taken it to that level where I threw my bat like that. But at that moment I was pretty upset. I don't care what the media said in Pittsburgh last week, because they don't know why I did it. Now I'm glad I got the opportunity to say it."

 

 

On a side note, I noticed that Zambrano was very animated in his strikeout celebration, with his team losing last night.

[Chocolate Milk]

So he was intentionally trying to show up the pitcher. I was right all along.

[ManCrushOnNomar]

Is he trying to justify his on-field antics? Either be that guy or don't. Don't do all the showman type stuff and then claim to be a nice guy who "respects the game."

[Garwilly]

On a side note, I noticed that Zambrano was very animated in his strikeout celebration, with his team losing last night.

 

:roll:

 

This is what I just read:

 

"Pujols Pujols ok Pujols Pujols great Pujols Pujols no problem Pujols Pujols....Zambrano punk"

 

Seriously, why would you even add that last line? Just to flame? The article was about Pujols acting like Bonds, then trying A)rectify B)explain. Then you throw a Z comment at the end? Instead of actually commenting on what YOU had just pasted!

[K-Town]

So he was intentionally trying to show up the pitcher. I was right all along.

 

 

Yup....... He also agrees that he probably shouldn't have done it, but it was more of a retaliation move.

 

Personally, I thought this part was kinda cool, even though it's probably the wrong way to handle it:

 

"He struck me out last year and did all his dancing and I remember that," Pujols said. "That's what happened in Pittsburgh. I hit that ground ball back to him and he did his little dance again and I got real upset. I went to the video room and told my guy Chad (Blair), 'I'm going to hit the next ball and I'm going to hit it a long way. But don't look at the ball. Look at where the bat is going to land.'"

[K-Town]

On a side note, I noticed that Zambrano was very animated in his strikeout celebration, with his team losing last night.

 

:roll:

 

This is what I just read:

 

"Pujols Pujols ok Pujols Pujols great Pujols Pujols no problem Pujols Pujols....Zambrano punk"

 

Seriously, why would you even add that last line? Just to flame? The article was about Pujols acting like Bonds, then trying A)rectify B)explain. Then you throw a Z comment at the end? Instead of actually commenting on what YOU had just pasted!

 

I added it, just to show that players are human, and sometimes do things that they maybe shouldn't. Someone here posted last week that Pujols should have a baseball thrown at his head for what he did. I'm just saying........ it happens, and don't be so quick to judge.

[K-Town]

Is he trying to justify his on-field antics? Either be that guy or don't. Don't do all the showman type stuff and then claim to be a nice guy who "respects the game."

 

He's a human.

 

He admits that he probably shouldn't have done it (and handled it much differently when given the opportunity last night), which is more than some guys do.

[snoodmonger]

we were wrong. everytime Pujols acts like a jackass, it's really someone else's fault. Some people might say that waiting a full year to retaliate, then backtracking later when you get bad press is silly and pathetic, but they'd be wrong. Because Albert Pujols is perfect, and when he does bush league things like throwing his bat 75 yards or "shushing" the crowd at Wrigley after a homerun, it's a justifiable, classy thing to do. It's ALbert's way of defending the integrity of the game for us. So stop criticizing Albert, people. He's perfect. He is God. People should throw away their crosses and buy little Pujols pendants instead.

[goonys evil twin]

Is he trying to justify his on-field antics? Either be that guy or don't. Don't do all the showman type stuff and then claim to be a nice guy who "respects the game."

 

He's a human.

 

He admits that he probably shouldn't have done it (and handled it much differently when given the opportunity last night), which is more than some guys do.

 

He doesn't sound like he regrets it all. It sounds like he feels nobody should be allowed to ask or comment on his behavior, and that he had plenty of time to plan his retalliation. That completely rips apart the "heat of the moment" excuse.

[K-Town]

we were wrong. everytime Pujols acts like a jackass, it's really someone else's fault. Some people might say that waiting a full year to retaliate, then backtracking later when you get bad press is silly and pathetic, but they'd be wrong. Because Albert Pujols is perfect, and when he does bush league things like throwing his bat 75 yards or "shushing" the crowd at Wrigley after a homerun, it's a justifiable, classy thing to do. It's ALbert's way of defending the integrity of the game for us. So stop criticizing Albert, people. He's perfect. He is God. People should throw away their crosses and buy little Pujols pendants instead.

 

He IS a classy guy, but he's human. A guy showboated him, and he showboated back. Personally, I don't want a guy who hides under a rock.

 

Like I said, Zambrano was showboating last night, and it wasn't even in retaliation for anything. He was showboating just for the sake of it.

[K-Town]

Is he trying to justify his on-field antics? Either be that guy or don't. Don't do all the showman type stuff and then claim to be a nice guy who "respects the game."

 

He's a human.

 

He admits that he probably shouldn't have done it (and handled it much differently when given the opportunity last night), which is more than some guys do.

 

He doesn't sound like he regrets it all. It sounds like he feels nobody should be allowed to ask or comment on his behavior, and that he had plenty of time to plan his retalliation. That completely rips apart the "heat of the moment" excuse.

 

I agree. I don't think he regrets it. I've done alot of things that I probably shouldn't have, but I don't necessarily regret them.

[Andy]

we were wrong. everytime Pujols acts like a jackass, it's really someone else's fault. Some people might say that waiting a full year to retaliate, then backtracking later when you get bad press is silly and pathetic, but they'd be wrong. Because Albert Pujols is perfect, and when he does bush league things like throwing his bat 75 yards or "shushing" the crowd at Wrigley after a homerun, it's a justifiable, classy thing to do. It's ALbert's way of defending the integrity of the game for us. So stop criticizing Albert, people. He's perfect. He is God. People should throw away their crosses and buy little Pujols pendants instead.

 

He IS a classy guy, but he's human. A guy showboated him, and he showboated back. Personally, I don't want a guy who hides under a rock.

 

Like I said, Zambrano was showboating last night, and it wasn't even in retaliation for anything. He was showboating just for the sake of it.

You are making no sense. Holding a grudge for a year is less pathetic than gettingp umped about big strikeouts that keep your team in the game? Absolutely ridiculous.

 

Admit Pujols is an ass for doing this or just stop talking.

[goonys evil twin]

Is he trying to justify his on-field antics? Either be that guy or don't. Don't do all the showman type stuff and then claim to be a nice guy who "respects the game."

 

He's a human.

 

He admits that he probably shouldn't have done it (and handled it much differently when given the opportunity last night), which is more than some guys do.

 

How dare you accuse him of mortality. Pujols is no mere human, subject to the rules and regulations of mankind.

[K-Town]

we were wrong. everytime Pujols acts like a jackass, it's really someone else's fault. Some people might say that waiting a full year to retaliate, then backtracking later when you get bad press is silly and pathetic, but they'd be wrong. Because Albert Pujols is perfect, and when he does bush league things like throwing his bat 75 yards or "shushing" the crowd at Wrigley after a homerun, it's a justifiable, classy thing to do. It's ALbert's way of defending the integrity of the game for us. So stop criticizing Albert, people. He's perfect. He is God. People should throw away their crosses and buy little Pujols pendants instead.

 

He IS a classy guy, but he's human. A guy showboated him, and he showboated back. Personally, I don't want a guy who hides under a rock.

 

Like I said, Zambrano was showboating last night, and it wasn't even in retaliation for anything. He was showboating just for the sake of it.

You are making no sense. Holding a grudge for a year is less pathetic than gettingp umped about big strikeouts that keep your team in the game? Absolutely ridiculous.

 

Admit Pujols is an ass for doing this or just stop talking.

 

 

I'm not saying that either one is "pathetic". All I'm saying is that both Zambrano and Pujols are human (although Zambrano tends to be "more human" :wink: ).

 

One or two posters here suggested that a ball should be thrown at Pujols' head because of this incident. THAT, my friend, is pathetic.

[goonys evil twin]

Wow, this keeps getting more and more pathetic the longer it goes on.

 

Shouldn't be suprised though, par for the course. I guess this is why this part of the forum is here.

[Chocolate Milk]

Are you seriously just trolling for arguments by pointless smearing Zambrano in a topic that has absolutely nothing to do with him?

[K-Town]

Are you seriously just trolling for arguments by pointless smearing Zambrano in a topic that has absolutely nothing to do with him?

 

I didn't say there was anything wrong with what Zambrano did. I was just making a comparison. I don't think that either one of those moves is completely out of line.

[K-Town]

I don't recall any of you thinking that this was a pathetic topic last week when a Cubs poster brought it up. Strange.

 

I'm just posting a follow-up (from this morning's PD) to a previous topic of discussion.

[snoodmonger]

we were wrong. everytime Pujols acts like a jackass, it's really someone else's fault. Some people might say that waiting a full year to retaliate, then backtracking later when you get bad press is silly and pathetic, but they'd be wrong. Because Albert Pujols is perfect, and when he does bush league things like throwing his bat 75 yards or "shushing" the crowd at Wrigley after a homerun, it's a justifiable, classy thing to do. It's ALbert's way of defending the integrity of the game for us. So stop criticizing Albert, people. He's perfect. He is God. People should throw away their crosses and buy little Pujols pendants instead.

 

He IS a classy guy, but he's human. A guy showboated him, and he showboated back. Personally, I don't want a guy who hides under a rock.

 

Like I said, Zambrano was showboating last night, and it wasn't even in retaliation for anything. He was showboating just for the sake of it.

You are making no sense. Holding a grudge for a year is less pathetic than gettingp umped about big strikeouts that keep your team in the game? Absolutely ridiculous.

 

Admit Pujols is an ass for doing this or just stop talking.

 

 

I'm not saying that either one is "pathetic". All I'm saying is that both Zambrano and Pujols are human (although Zambrano tends to be "more human" :wink: ).

 

One or two posters here suggested that a ball should be thrown at Pujols' head because of this incident.

The possibility of that happening is why Pujols said what he said. It wasn't some bold, classy move on his part. It was the realization he was probably going to face Perez plenty of more times this year and beyond, and he didn't feel like getting earflapped for his temporary punk moment.

[K-Town]

we were wrong. everytime Pujols acts like a jackass, it's really someone else's fault. Some people might say that waiting a full year to retaliate, then backtracking later when you get bad press is silly and pathetic, but they'd be wrong. Because Albert Pujols is perfect, and when he does bush league things like throwing his bat 75 yards or "shushing" the crowd at Wrigley after a homerun, it's a justifiable, classy thing to do. It's ALbert's way of defending the integrity of the game for us. So stop criticizing Albert, people. He's perfect. He is God. People should throw away their crosses and buy little Pujols pendants instead.

 

He IS a classy guy, but he's human. A guy showboated him, and he showboated back. Personally, I don't want a guy who hides under a rock.

 

Like I said, Zambrano was showboating last night, and it wasn't even in retaliation for anything. He was showboating just for the sake of it.

You are making no sense. Holding a grudge for a year is less pathetic than gettingp umped about big strikeouts that keep your team in the game? Absolutely ridiculous.

 

Admit Pujols is an ass for doing this or just stop talking.

 

 

I'm not saying that either one is "pathetic". All I'm saying is that both Zambrano and Pujols are human (although Zambrano tends to be "more human" :wink: ).

 

One or two posters here suggested that a ball should be thrown at Pujols' head because of this incident. THAT, my friend, is pathetic.

No the possibility of that is why Pujols said what it said. It wasn't some bold, classy move on his part. It was the realization he was probably going to face Perez plenty of more times this year and beyond, and he didn't feel like getting earflapped for his temporary punk moment.

 

 

Yeah right.

 

I must not have read between the lines as thoroughly as you did, but I don't recall seeing anything CLOSE to an apology from Pujols. If anything, he's leaning toward the arrogant side.

[CubinNY]

************Troll Alert*************

 

Newsflash, Zambrano has nothing to do with Pujols except when one is pitching to the other.

[Chocolate Milk]

How does Zambrano pumping his fist after a strikeout have anything to do with Pujols premeditated showing up of an opposing pitcher? There is no comparison. It makes no sense at all.

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

we were wrong. everytime Pujols acts like a jackass, it's really someone else's fault. Some people might say that waiting a full year to retaliate, then backtracking later when you get bad press is silly and pathetic, but they'd be wrong. Because Albert Pujols is perfect, and when he does bush league things like throwing his bat 75 yards or "shushing" the crowd at Wrigley after a homerun, it's a justifiable, classy thing to do. It's ALbert's way of defending the integrity of the game for us. So stop criticizing Albert, people. He's perfect. He is God. People should throw away their crosses and buy little Pujols pendants instead.

 

excellent post

[K-Town]

How does Zambrano pumping his fist after a strikeout have anything to do with Pujols premeditated showing up of an opposing pitcher? There is no comparison. It makes no sense at all.

 

Showboating is showboating. I'm not saying that either guy is right or wrong. They're both human.

 

As far as being "pre-meditated", how many times have you seen a pitcher throw at a batter who hit a home run off of him, or ran the bases with too much of a strut in his step? Plenty of times. Why is it OK for a pitcher to pre-meditate such behavior, but it's not OK for a batter?

[K-Town]

************Troll Alert*************

 

Newsflash, Zambrano has nothing to do with Pujols except when one is pitching to the other.

 

How am I trolling? I've said several times that I don't judge Zambrano anymore than I judge Pujols. "Trolling" would be showing up at a Cubs' board, and ripping Cub players for no reason.

 

You know as well as I do that this board is closely-monitored (kudos to the admins). If I were trolling, I'd be long gone.