The Arizona Diamondbacks asked the Los Angeles Dodgers not to celebrate on the field if they clinched the NL West title, so the Dodgers decided to partially obey the request and headed to the swimming pool instead.
The Dodgers beat the D-backs 7-6 on Thursday to clinch the division, and they started their celebration inside the clubhouse. After a few minutes, about half the team’s players ran onto the field, hopped the right-center fence and plunged into the swimming pool.
D-backs infielder Willie Bloomquist was not happy with the Dodgers for their pool celebration.
“I think it’s tired and disrespectful,” Bloomquist said, via ArizonaSports.com. “It’s surprising because they have a lot of veteran guys on that team that I thought were classier than that.”
“But there’s a fine line between going overboard at someone else’s place and doing that, I think,” he added. “But what are we going to do about it? There’s not much we can do about it now. They’ve clinched the division this year, but if that’s how they’re going to act and be classless, that’s their gig, that’s their clubhouse. I just think it’s disrespectful and classless.”
D-backs president Derrick Hall took the high road.
“I could call it disrespectful and classless, but they don’t have a beautiful pool at their old park and must have really wanted to see what one was like.”
Martin Prado gave a “no comment” when asked about the pool party.
Not all Diamondbacks were upset with the Dodgers’ celebration. Pitcher Brandon McCarthy tweeted the following:
Celebrating is fun. I don't care how and where you do it. Only thing to care about is what we need to do to celebrate in our pool next year.
— Brandon McCarthy (@BMcCarthy32) September 19, 2013
I agree with Bloomquist. That was a classless move by the Dodgers. They have a $216 million payroll. They damn well better have won the division. Yet they’re out there celebrating like they won the World Series. Take it easy there, fellas.
But here’s the thing: when you’re the winner, you get to celebrate how you choose. If the D-backs feel slighted, they need to get even next time.
Also see: Yasiel Puig does The Worm to celebrate (Video)
