Home Run Dances?

People in Japan seem to take it as part of "fan service" by the players. Venerable Akiyama used to do wildly popular backflips just before landing on home plate after his home runs sometimes.

I've got nothing against joyous celebrations in baseball. In MLB, I have a hard time understanding "their code" sometimes. I draw the line at taunting - at staring or pointing at an opponent and "trash talking" but a dance, curtain call, or facing the fans and acknowledging their spirit. That's what it's all about, man! We could learn a lot from the passionate ways the Japanese experience baseball.

Bush league! Every time I see it, I want to throw up.

And I think it is wrong to do it when he hits one off of a foreign pitcher.

I didn't give my opinion at first, but I also think it's bush league. If I were a pitcher and Ramirez did that, he would definitely get some chin music next time up. I do wonder, however, how these things evolve. As someone else noted, I think it's considered a "fan service," but I wonder if Ramirez did it on his own from the beginning or was prompted by the team.

Well, I mean, Rami did a home run dance with the Swallows, too, is there something that makes it worse because he's with the Giants now? I'm confused.

I don't really think it's a big deal. I mean, I think it's a little silly - but I think some fans actually look forward to seeing it. It's kind of like how I'm not really a Yakult fan per se, but I always enjoy seeing the umbrella dance when they score runs for some reason. Just little amusing things about the game to enjoy.

I suppose a related question would be, of course, whether someone thought Shinjo's acts (not counting how he named his home runs) were harmless entertainment or bush league antics? It's usually a matter of perspective, I think.

I used to get up in my living room and do the same HR dance as Alex Ramirez whenever I was watching a game (Jingu-chan peh, aiin, Gets! ). Now that he's joined the enemy, er, excuse me, the Giants, I want to throw up every time I see it. I think Zuleta saw Ramirez doing it and kind of made his own little thing.)

Seriously though, this is Japan, and if the fans love it (or should I say, the media plays it so many times they brainwash us fans into loving it) then I don't really see a problem with it, as long as it doesn't distract from the game on the field. If it's only one or two players on the team doing it, I really don't see a problem. If the whole team was doing it, then they'd have to change the name of the sport to Baseball Idol.

No problem with them, but equally pay no attention with them. I don't think they would work with Tigers fans though.

Interestingly, most other teams have cheerleaders, but the Tigers don't.

Although I'm obviously anti-Giants, I am not against the dance purely because Ramirez is a Giant. I thought it was bush league, of course, when he did it for the Swallows as well. I guess it just stings a little more watching a Giant do such childish antics after he hurts the Tigers again and again!

I just find it ironic that the U.S. is considered the land of self-expression and in the NFL, for example, they are really cracking down on such celebrations. Yet in Japan it is tolerated or even encouraged.

It's funny that in the US, the No Fun League prevails. Different sporting culture, but goal celebrations in soccer is quite something else. Then again, they usually score less goals than home runs by these top sluggers. (Alex sure seems to like the comfortable confines of the Dome, I don't have the splits, but most of his home runs seem to come at home - or in Jingu. That sucks. Anyways, back to the regularly scheduled program.)

I know the Tigers' mascot and the players used to have a little post-homer ritual a couple of seasons back. But the mascot got fired when the Tigers' management thought he was taking it a bit too far. Bunch of party poopers.

Good timing. ESPN just had an interesting article on showboating today.

Although it's on MLB, I was thinking of similar controversial figures in NPB. As mentioned, Ramirez's silly dance is one. As another person wrote, Akiyama was also quite the hot dog in his days. Any others that come to mind?