Be Like Mike

For me, the less bat-flipping and standing at the plate after hitting a (possible) homerun the better. This attitude could be the product of race and/or age and/or upbringing. After all, I was raised by the children of immigrants. Given how he acted last night, maybe Mike Brosseau of the Rays was, too. In the tenth pitch of what had to be a grueling at-bat against Yankee closer Aroldis Chapman in the bottom of the eighth inning, Brosseau—the pride of Munster, Indiana and Oakland University—lined a 100-mph fastball over the wall in left field at Petco Park. Unlike many, many players the past few seasons, Brosseau didn’t stand there and admire his handiwork, and he had cause. Last month, Chapman buzzed his head with a 101-mph pitch. And Brosseau didn’t flip his bat. No, he threw it and started running. The celebrating came later. The homer broke a 1-1 tie and sent the Rays to the ALCS against the Astros. I like Tim Anderson of the White Sox a whole lot. More than anything, Anderson shows dedication to his craft and leadership qualities. I don’t like the bat flipping and standing at home plate after a homerun; it gets in the way of the more important stuff. Brosseau and the Rays are going somewhere Anderson and the Sox aren’t. There may be a lesson in that somewhere.