Randal Grichuk and Tim Anderson got into it on Twitter Wednesday evening over the shortstop’s home run celebration earlier in the day.
Anderson celebrated a home run against the Kansas City Royals by flipping his bat during Wednesday’s game. Two innings later, he was hit by a retaliatory pitch that sparked a bench-clearing incident. Kansas City came back to win the game 4-3.
Later in the day, Grichuk, an outfielder for the Toronto Blue Jays, tweeted about players getting excessive on pimping meaningless home runs.
Guys are getting a little excessive on pimping HRs, on meaningless HRs too. Act like you have done it before, one time.
— Randal Grichuk (@RGrich15) April 17, 2019
Anderson felt the tweet was directed at him and told Grichuk he should have just tagged him. Grichuk said he was talking generally but Anderson responding indicated the White Sox shortstop felt guilty.
Guy, are you really responding to my tweet… SMH. It wasn’t intended for anyone specific but clearly you responding shows you’re guilty of something
— Randal Grichuk (@RGrich15) April 18, 2019
Home run celebrations continue to be an issue for the game. There is a new element of thinking that says guys should be allowed to celebrate because those are natural reactions to exciting accomplishments, and the fans love it! Then there is the old school type of thinking that says guys should be modest and not make a big deal of their hits.
I was taught the old school mentality when I played, but times have changed and cultures are different. Celebrating home runs isn’t bad; it adds an element of fun — and rivalry/revenge — that enhances the game. MLB seems to recognize that, which is why they promoted it last year.
