Sam Dyson is upset about giving up the home run that cost the Texas Rangers a spot in the ALCS, and now he’s acting like a sore loser.
The Rangers relief pitcher called out Jose Bautista following Game 5 of the ALDS for doing a disrespectful bat flip after his monstrous 3-run home run that gave the Blue Jays a 6-3 lead in the seventh inning.
“Jose needs to calm that down, just kind of respect the game a little more,” Dyson said via The Washington Post’s Barry Svrluga. “He’s a huge role model for the younger generation that’s coming up playing this game, and I mean he’s doing stuff that kids do in Wiffle ball games and backyard baseball. It shouldn’t be done.”
Dyson had a forgettable outing. He relieved Cole Hamels and tried to protect a 3-2 Texas lead. Instead, he allowed the tying run to score on a fielder’s choice, and then he gave up the 3-run jack to Bautista, which was the game-winning shot.
Dyson was so upset about giving up the game that he picked a fight with Edwin Encarnacion and then later started something with Troy Tulowitzki.
Bautista said after the game that he reacted in the heat of the moment with his passionate bat flip. He also said he meant no disrespect by it.
“It’s just the whole game. It’s a great game, it’s do-or-die game on a tight series. Winner obviously advances. I don’t mean any disrespect whenever I do anything like that, and I certainly didn’t plan it,” Bautista said in an interview with FS1’s Ken Rosenthal. “It was just a moment, and I felt it and I did it. I was just glad that I was able to help out the team in that moment.”
Bautista was asked if he had a response for Dyson’s comment and gave a one-word answer: no.
Bautista’s bat flip was the most talked about play of the game and will be remembered for ages. It’s the kind of play and reaction that will get fans and the youth excited about baseball. And if Dyson is upset about that, well then next time he shouldn’t leave a pitch up in the zone, and he wouldn’t have to worry about being the goat.
