Bat Flipping

Bat flipping, yes or no?

Bat flipping is one of the most controversial topics in professional baseball. When a player hits a big home run should they go about their business and round the bases? Or, do they deserve a chance to showboat a little and flip their bat?

Unwritten Rules

Baseball traditionalists are typically against bat flipping. They feel that players should "act like they've been there before" when they hit a home run. No matter how big the stage, the player should casually drop their bat, round the bases, and at most high five their teammates after touching home plate. This is one of baseball's unwritten rules. It's a game about mistakes, even the best hitters fail 70% of the time. Since baseball is a game of failures, there's no need to taunt your opponent whenever they failure. The scoreboard does enough damage and you should "act like you've been there before".

New Philosophy

The new school stance on bat flipping is to "let the kids play". Every other sport allows players to celebrate; so why should baseball be any different? Bat flips typically can't be planned and are an "in the moment event". Sure a player can plan to bat flip, but who knows when their next home run will be? It could be 15 games from now and the routine is out of their head by then. So why not allow spur of the moment, impulse celebrations like a bat flip?

What do you think? Should players just round the bases after hitting a home run? No matter how big the stage? Or, are you more of a modern thinker and feel players deserve to celebrate their accomplishment? Let us know!