No Grichuk bat hop in Blue Jays wins as home debate continues

MINNEAPOLIS – Upside down, Randal Grichuk returned to the Toronto Blue Jays reserve bench, shook hands with some of his colleagues, and discarded his helmet. If he felt any emotion after hitting a solo home run against Michael Pineda, he did not show up.

On most days, a response that changes badly would be recorded. On Thursday it seemed a bit like a statement on a day when the Blue Jays beat the Minnesota Twins 7-4 for their first win of the season.

A day earlier, Chicago White Sox defender Tim Anderson rekindled the debate over baseball's unwritten rules with a home-grown celebration that worsened Kansas City Royals. They trashed Anderson, the banks were cleaned, and the discussion about the house celebrations began again.

In a tweet apparently aimed at Anderson, Grichuk wrote that "the guys are getting a bit excessive." A few hours later Anderson responded by telling Grichuk to "put a name," and this led Grichuk to say "it was not intended for any specific person but clearly you are responding shows that you are guilty of something."

Dude, you're actually responding to my tweet … SMH. It was not designed for anyone specific but clearly you are responding shows that you are guilty of something

– Randal Grichuk (@ RGrich15) April 18, 2019

In this context, Grichuk's homely and especially quiet celebration seemed a little more significant than usual. In fact, it had been discussed in advance by members of the Blue Jays before Thursday's game.

"I've never been one to turn a stick or do something like that," Grichuk said. "I always run out of the box. I hit a few things very far and left the box like a wall scraper. It's just who I am. The guys are different. I'm just a guy in the league so I can not speak for everyone. "

In addition to the intrigue, Grichuk plays for a team that has celebrated his home run participation in recent years, most notably with Jose Bautista's iconic bat flip at ALDS 2015. When Yankees third baseman Chase Headley called the Blue Jays "the kings of fun" the following year, there was no contesting his claim.

Marcus Stroman is also on record as a bat batterer's defender – as long as he can punch or punch him after a big onslaught as well.

"I could care less if someone kicked me out," he said. "I gave up at the end of the day. Showing emotion and passion is part of the game. "

Stroman also has his own story with Anderson, who called the delivery time in the middle of him two summers ago just to attack in the next field. The two exchanged words and clean seats, but that's a long time now. It would be a reach to assume that any bad blood

To be fair, the context is important when discussing home celebrations. Grichuk did not call Anderson "a disgrace to the game". It was Goose Gossage about Joseph the Baptist. E Grichuk did not play 92 m.p.h. Quick ball near Anderson's head. That was Brad Keller.

Grichuk said the guys are getting "a little excessive" and urged them to "act like you've done it before, once." It's fair – that's how he sees the game.

"I was taught from the day I started playing ball to respect his opponent and respect the game," he said. "Do it right and I feel like I've always liked it. Every guy likes to have fun and show a little personality and everything is great, but it's a fine line and it's different for everyone. "

At the same time, many reasonable people will disagree with Grichuk. After all, Babe Ruth kicked her. Mickey Mantle turned the bats with the best of them. Why should not today's players have fun too? And if it happens in a "meaningless" game that people are not watching, that can be a good thing.

"I feel like you really are, really from the comment I said or really, really against the comment I said," Grichuk acknowledged. "A lot of people respect what I said, and if you do not necessarily agree it's your opinion, everyone has their own opinions. Do it any way you want and I'll do it the way I want to do it."

Along with Grichuk, Justin Smoak and Teoscar Hernandez had the chance to train their home trotters on Thursday (none of them turned into a club). A double-clearing of bases by Eric Sogard helped the Blue Jays to match the season with seven marked runs.

The pitching team was not as strong, but they finally had room for mistakes. Making his second start with the Blue Jays, Clay Buchholz limited the Twins to three straight wins over 4.2 innings, though he has reached 89.1 m.p.h.

"I would have liked to finish that last inning to make a decision," Buchholz said. "But I'm not one to get in the way of being taken off. That's why a manager is the manager.

"I hope next time it's a better version of me, but whenever the team has the win, that's about it."

More encouraging was Ryan Tepera's season premiere, which launched an in-one-three-three inning that included a strikeout. It had an average of 94.2 m.p.h. with his fastball – an encouraging sign for the Blue Jays, considering his injury scare last month.

Having won three wins in Minneapolis, the Blue Jays now head west for a series against the Oakland Athletics. And for anyone inclined to look a little further, this first meeting with Anderson's White Sox will be held in Toronto on May 10.