Manfred, the A-Rod Slayer, opens the door to all manner of bad conduct.

Rob Manfred, successor to Allan Huber "Bud" Selig, as commissioner now condones throwing equipment as a form of self expression by players during games. See the previous post on the start of this new era:

Hey, Rob Manfred, the A-Rod Slayer, flip this. Saturday, April 2, 2016

Manfred explicitly approved a batter flipping his bat defiantly after hitting a home run and implicitly opened the door to many other such acts by all players.

After recording the final out of the 1986 World Series New York Met relief pitcher Jesse Orosco flung his glove into the air in jubilation. His exuberance was understandable.  After hitting the walk off three run home run with his team trailing 6-5 in game six to win the 1993 World Series for the Toronto Blue Jays Joe Carter leaped repeatedly as he rounded the bases. This was also understandable.

Jose Bautista

The recent event that has caused commissioner Manfred to express his opinion was Jose Bautista difiantly, angrily flipping his bat and standing at home plate before performing the ritual victory lap after Bautista had hit a home run. This home run was not in the World Series. This home run did not win a game. This home run, Bautista's second of the game, came in game six of the semi final round. The Kansas City Royals led the Toronto Blue Jays 3-1 in score and games and Bautista hit a two run homer in the top of the 8th ... to tie the game 3-3. The Royals came right back with a run in the bottom of the 8th and won the game 4-3 and the series 4-2.

Suppose that Bautista had struck out? Would it have been OK for the pitcher to throw his glove into the air? Suppose that the bat had hit the catcher or the umpire? Suppose that the pitcher was offended and started a fight? And that home run merely tied a game.

There's more to this than differences in age, cultures, sensitivities. Find replays of the three incidents mentioned above. Both Orosco and Carter are joyous. Bautista is angry. Why? Bautista is not celebrating. Bautista is taunting.

Bryce Harper supports what Bautista did. Mike Trout states that he will no do that. Manfred states that he agrees with Harper. Manfred is now further on the dark side than when he persecuted Alex Rodriguez, who still has not failed a drug test. Manfred will have his hands full deciding what behavior is acceptable ... to him.