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Texas Rangers: Was this Emily Jones Twitter opinion out of line?

By Brian Sweet|
Jul 15, 2018; Baltimore, MD, USA; Texas Rangers first baseman Ronald Guzman (67) flips his bat after hitting a grand slam during the first inning against the Baltimore Orioles at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports
Jul 15, 2018; Baltimore, MD, USA; Texas Rangers first baseman Ronald Guzman (67) flips his bat after hitting a grand slam during the first inning against the Baltimore Orioles at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports

Texas Rangers Inside Reporter Emily Jones has been a fan favorite of Ranger fans for many years in Arlington. People love her interviews with the player of the game after every Ranger win.

Nowadays, you see baseball journalists like Jones post their opinions about certain topics on baseball on social media like Twitter and Facebook. Some fans like her opinions and others might not agree with her.

There is one opinion that I have to disagree with her on and that is her stance on the controversial bat flip that took place at Wayland Baptist University in Plainland, TX.

I’m talking about Wayland Baptist Senior Shortstop Gregory Ozuna, in particular, who threw his bat towards the opponent’s dugout while saying some choice words going towards first. He was ejected after he rounded the bases for the excessive celebration.

Texas Rangers: What is the extent to which bat flips should be condoned?

Now I’m all for bat flips when a player hits a no-doubter about to go out of the park, but what he did was above the sportsmanship threshold that college players should have while playing the game of baseball.

I don’t think any former Texas Rangers players like Adrian Beltre would have condoned this behavior if any of his Rangers teammates flipped the bat like that.

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Players are allowed to celebrate home runs there is no rule against that, but throwing the bat towards your opponent’s dugout is definitely crossing the line.

He was being a bad example for the little kids who want to grow up and play the game of baseball in college just like him.

Secondly, imagine if that metal bat hit one of the opponents in the head and the serious injury it could have caused.

Those metal bats can seriously hurt someone traveling at a fast speed. That could put a player out for a good chunk of a season with a concussion.

Lastly, consider the ramifications of the bad PR the University would have to deal with.

He could have tarnished the university name to the point where local university baseball teams wouldn’t schedule them in the future.

Look at this example of Abilene Christian’s Sophomore Outfielder Grayson Tatrow hitting a home run against their Southland Conference rival Lamar University.

Notice how he doesn’t throw the bat towards Lamar’s dugout as he rounds the bases and celebrates with his teammates. It’s how the game of baseball should be played.

Emily Jones has the right to her own opinion under the first amendment as a journalist. Throughout high school and college, I watched how she reported Texas Rangers baseball so one day I could be like her reporting on the Rangers.

However, I’m a little disappointed in her opinion that the bat flip was okay. I just wished she asked herself if Joey Gallo or Adrian Beltre would have done this in front of the home crowd before publishing her tweet.

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