Rangers’ Sam Dyson on Bautista’s bat flip: ‘He needs to calm that down’
Rangers reliever Sam Dyson was unhappy with the post-home run bat flip and antics of Blue Jays star Jose Bautista during Toronto’s series-clinching win.
Dyson, who allowed the series-winning, go-ahead three-run shot, spoke to media members after the game. He addressed Bautista’s emphatic post-swing staredown and toss of his bat before jogging the bases. Bautista’s actions caused both dugouts to clear after he scored in the seventh inning.
“Jose needs to calm that down, just kind of respect the game a little more,” Dyson said, according to 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.”
Rangers starter Cole Hamels also had thoughts on the play after the game. “It's hard to be politically correct,” Hamels told Jeff Wilson of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. “It's tough to see. A lot of us on our team don't carry ourselves that way.”
The game was already tense before Bautista stepped to the plate, after a controversial call in the top of the inning. The bottom of the seventh started with three straight errors and a fourth error that allowed the Blue Jays to score the tying run. Bautista then put the Blue Jays ahead.
After the game, when asked about Dyson’s comments, Bautista didn’t seem to care much.
Watch Bautista’s home run and bat flip below.
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- Jeremy Woo
