Torii Hunter argued a strike call late in the Twins' loss on Wednesday night. Then he got ejected. Then he stripped off his various pads and threw them before taking off his jersey and throwing it.
Of course, social media erupted.
Anyone who doesn't like Hunter or doesn't believe in clubhouse chemistry or leadership in baseball attacked him for behaviour that did not seem leader-like.
Anyone who likes him, like me, found the moment entertaining and indicative of the kind of fire he's shown throughout his career.
Both camps are probably wrong in some way.
In a 162-game season, sometimes things happen that mean nothing or close to nothing. This was probably one of those moments.
It wasn't leadership. It wasn't irresponsibility. It was just a guy getting frustrated and angry and doing the kinds of things that baseball players and managers have been doing for more than 100 years.
I grew up watching Earl Weaver. He was one of the smartest managers in baseball history. He also turned his cap backward so he could scream in umpires' faces. He also kicked dirt on home plate. He was brilliant and he acted immaturely at times and in baseball those are not contradictory behaviour patterns.
We react so quickly to any vivid moment these days. I believe in judging a person's body of work. Hunter has thrown a few tantrums in his career. He also rose from poverty in Arkansas and spent most of a decade bouncing around the minors to turn himself into an All-Star player and, yes, a true leader.
His teammates love him. Every organization that has employed him has revered him.
What he did on Wednesday night shouldn't be conflated as leadership; nor should it diminish what he's done this year or in his career.
It was just a moment - a frustrated moment at the end of a frustrating series for a player who cares deeply and always has
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For decades, the Royals would put together a half-season of competence, then market themselves as the next great team. I still remember the ``Blue Wave" marketing in the mid-90s.
The current Royals are worthy of the hype. I love watching this team. They win with brilliant fielding and play with obvious energy and passion. I would love to see the Twins and Royals playing meaningful games down the stretch in their two beautiful ballparks. Let Red Sox and Yankees fans watch the MIdwest for once, instead of the other way around.
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Started a new podcast, Souhan Uncensored. My first interview was with Twins' second baseman Brian Dozier, and he was a blast. That will be up at our website - MalePatternPodcasts.com - soon.
Already up are our other two shows - The Russo-Souhan Show with Strib hockey writer Michael Russo, and MalePatternPurple with VikingUpdate owner Tim Yotter.
You can go to MalePatternPodcasts.com for those and other shows, or follow us on Twitter and we'll send out the links. Thanks.
@Souhanstrib
