[HRBAKER]

Originally Posted by vintagetoppsguy

The bat flip has one purpose - to show up the pitcher/opposing team. It's rude and arrogant. I honestly see no difference between the bat flip or if Bautista had shot the finger at the pitcher/opposing bench. It sends the same message.

Celebrating? There's a difference between celebrating the moment and showing up the other team. The bat flip is meant to show up the other team. Kirk Gibson didn't flip his bat, he celebrated by pumping his arm a few times. Big difference.

It's a matter of class vs. ass. Gibson had class and Batista is definitely an ass.

My take is that if the result of the AB had been a strikeout rather than a HR and the pitcher would have "holstered his six shooter," Bautista would have taken a dim view of it.