The bat flips. The fur coat. The middle finger.
Tennessee baseball has it all.
At some point during this historic run that the Vols are on, something was left behind. Traditional, old-fashioned sportsmanship. Now, I’m not Clint Eastwood and this isn’t Gran Torino. I’m not grumpy nor am I (too) old fashioned. There’s no, “Get off my lawn here!”. However, I’ll offer up this: Tennessee’s baseball team could still be dominant and fun without all of the shenanigans, even though I occasionally enjoy them.
I’m certainly not trying to be an alarmist here, but could Tennessee’s in-your-face attitude cost the Vols in the coming weeks when things get tight? Certainly.
Opposing teams are aware that Tennessee’s baseball team isn’t afraid to push the congeniality envelope. The Vols don’t care. Why should they? Not even a middle-finger salute can derail their ascension toward national notoriety and a possible national championship. In Knoxville, the antics are fun and games. Elsewhere, the Vols aren’t likely considered as playful.
Imagine if you’re a Georgia Tech player, your season ended and one of the lasting memories is your opponent giving you the bird. I’d say those folks don’t think the Vols are all that lovable.
Let’s set aside personal preference. Some like extreme showboating. Some don’t. You can choose, but there could be more at stake than just style points.
If opposing teams are aware of the way Tennessee likes to conduct themselves, then you can bet that upcoming umpires are as well. If they didn’t already, they’ll have an eye out to see how the Vols behave themselves against Notre Dame in the Super Regionals and beyond in the College World Series. For all that Tennessee has done, it would be a shame to see a play, a game and an incredible season go by the wayside because a blue-clad official decides that June is a good time to crack down on these demonstrative Vols.
Something like that would almost assuredly happen in MLB. Those officials detest being overshadowed. College umpires aren’t nearly as guilty when it comes to carrying agendas. Therefore, the Vols will likely continue to go unnoticed on the radar despite being a monstrous blip.
It would be hard for Tennessee coach Tony Vitello to suddenly crack down on the Vols. That ship left the port long ago and, most importantly, he enjoys and embraces many of the antics. Cracking down at this point would also be detrimental for Tennessee. The Vols play with energy which often trends towards actions that some would call very disrespectful – at the very least.
All that, however, is what makes the Vols special. Having that flare makes the Vols exciting. I’m not suggesting any attitude changes. Well, maybe the bird flipping could be left in the past. As for the hat, the fur coat and the bat flipping, there are limits. Personally, I think that attire should be kept in the dugout. As for bat flipping? Flip away. Major League Baseball could take a note from the Vols and make their game much more exciting. Bat flipping is a tradition that is celebrated in Japan. Why not in the United States? I thought Japanese citizens were more reserved. Apparently not. Apparently, they have it figured out. So much for stereotypes.
Tennessee is a risky proposition as they head deeper into the postseason – even though they’re considered the best team in college baseball. Their excitement and exuberance could boil over. Emotions have undermined teams before. There are some on-field shortcomings like not holding runners on base. However, that’s nitpicking for a team that has been nothing short of dominant this year.
The Vols will be bat flipping with the best of them if things go as they hope this weekend. That may not sit well with every fan. However, there won’t be any fans turning down a national championship trophy. That would be ultimate one-finger salute.
