Braves Today

Let the kids play

Should we get rid of some of the 'unwritten rules' of baseball?

Kyle Richardson

Baseball is America's game. It is a game of tradition and superstition. It's a game that can bring you to the highest of highs and the lowest of lows. But, according to the 'unwritten rules' you are unable to show that emotion. 

Over the past few years, Major League Baseball has been trying to grow the game. They have been trying to sell their product to a younger generation. How can you do that? You need players that have personality. You need moments that create a rise on Twitter. A clip that plays on SportsCenter and gets talked about for a long time.

Baseball's 'unwritten rules' try to prevent players from having a personality. Where am I going with this? Yep. You guessed it, bat flips. When a player hits a home run, a lot of them like to express their elation with a bat flip and a celebration. Due to that, if you abide by the unwritten rules, you should 'buzz the tower' the next time that player is up to bat or you should just hit him. 

What a great way to market your game. You can't express your emotions in a big moment or you get reprimanded for it. I'm sure that will sell to younger generations. This conversation is something that happens often because older managers keep bringing this issue up. 

Talk about the pot calling the kettle black. I'm sure I am not the only one who remembers Rhys Hoskins slamming his bat against us in the NLDS last year. I guess it is only an issue when we do it, though. 

Ronald Acuna Jr. is one of the most electrifying players in the game. Before the All-Star break, Acuna had the most popular jersey in the world. Why? Because he is fun to watch. He plays the game with the same joy as a child. When athletes fall out of love with the game of baseball, it's usually because they stopped having fun. Acuna has not. He's having his best season this year as he is on the cusp of the first-ever 40-70 season. But, sure, "Act like you've been there before." 

Act like you have been somewhere that no one in MLB history has gone before. Act like you might set a record that may never be broken. Don't wear your hat backward, dance on the field, do a home run celebration, or have fun of any kind. In 2018, the MLB started a campaign about 'Let the kids play.' It was a campaign aimed at this exact thing. Let the greatest players in the game have a personality. Let them have fun.

How fitting that 'The Kid' is the one who they used in the promo. Braves legend, Tyler Matzek, heard about the comments the Phillies manager made about Ronnie and he fired back with a shot of his own.

It's as simple as that. If you don't like it, stop it. Good luck stopping it, though. No one's done that yet this year. 

In conclusion, let the kids play. Let the stars of the game have a personality. That's what makes the game fun. Forget about the "back in my day" baseball purists who will complain. Flip your bat, grow your beard, and stare a player down when you strike him out. Have fun playing the game we all know and love. At the end of the day, that's what it's all about.

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Kyle Richardson
KYLE RICHARDSON

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