Let’s settle this: Was Bautista’s bat flip poor sportsmanship?

Let’s settle this: Was Bautista’s bat flip poor sportsmanship?

Jose Bautista ALDS Bat Flip

During last night’s epic 53-minute seventh inning, one moment stands out as legendary: Jose Bautista, having just clobbered a tie-breaking three-run homer in the most important Blue Jays game in 22 years, stopped, stared at the pitcher for a millisecond, admired his handiwork, then angrily flinged the bat into the lower troposphere. The manoeuvre pissed off Texas Rangers relief pitcher Sam Dyson, who shortly afterward informed Edwin Encarnacion that Bautista needs to “respect the game,” a remark that sparked a dugout-clearing yelling match. Today, opinion is divided: was Bautista’s epic toss an example of poor sportsmanship or was it fully warranted (and kinda awesome)?

We’re pretty sure where we land. But you tell us.

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