Ryan Braun's 28th HR...

[brewers255]

I have no problem with what he did. Why do people get upset when Braun stares at it once or twice in a 28 homer season? As far as I remember he always tossed his bat and ran to first with his head down. But when Barry Bonds, Sammy Sosa, Aramis Rameriz and many others does that it makes it ok? I see no difference but the fact that Sosa, Bonds, Rameriez are hall of fame type players but in my mind that shouldn't matter.

[StatPipes]

As an Astros fan, I found it to be disrespectful. I actually yelled at the TV as soon as he did that, and then checked this message board as well as others to see what others thought about it, or if I was just overreacting. I can maybe get with him doing that if it was a game-winner or something of the sort, but it was in the 2nd inning and made it 6-0.

I also think Berkman had every right to say what he said, he is one of the best players in the game and a veteran. Let's not put Braun in his category just yet, even though he looks like he could be in that league if everything holds true to form. I believe most veteran 1st baseman would have said something to him.

Also, this might not be over, the upcoming series in Houston could still have some retaliation. Do you honestly think Oswalt would put up with that nonsense? I highly doubt it.

I am 27 and also played in college, I don't ever remember that being acceptable for anyone.

All this being said, I am still rooting for you guys over the Cubs and Cards, no hard feelings...

[Katuluu]

Carlton Fisk is such a jerk, he totally shows up pitchers.

 

 

http://www.authenticsportscollectibles.com/store/images/01500_fiskphs016010-L.jpg

[DannoMac21]

As an Astros fan, I found it to be disrespectful. I actually yelled at the TV as soon as he did that, and then checked this message board as well as others to see what others thought about it, or if I was just overreacting. I can maybe get with him doing that if it was a game-winner or something of the sort, but it was in the 2nd inning and made it 6-0.

I also think Berkman had every right to say what he said, he is one of the best players in the game and a veteran. Let's not put Braun in his category just yet, even though he looks like he could be in that league if everything holds true to form. I believe most veteran 1st baseman would have said something to him.

Also, this might not be over, the upcoming series in Houston could still have some retaliation. Do you honestly think Oswalt would put up with that nonsense? I highly doubt it.

I am 27 and also played in college, I don't ever remember that being acceptable for anyone.

All this being said, I am still rooting for you guys over the Cubs and Cards, no hard feelings...

I would take Braun over Berkman 10 outta 10 times.

[mothershipconnection]

I'd be pretty darn pumped about getting Berkman's numbers out of Braun. Dude has 7 straight seasons with an OPS of .900 or better, could make it 8 with a hot finish, and has a .972 career mark. I'm not saying it's a long shot that Braun will do it, we know he has the ability, but many great young players don't enjoy that kind of sustained great hitting.

[WestCoastBrewer]

"I thought it was disrespectful. If I was Coop I would have thrown at him for sure especialyl considering the game was out of hand at that point. It wasnt like he walked to first. He stared, then looked at the dugout, then walked, then looked at dugout, then finally decided to run "

 

The game got out of hand after the HR? It was 3-0 prior to the HR that's what put us over the top!

[BillScottCanRake]

There are two things that I love about Braun. Well, more than two, but I think two are appropriate for this thread.

 

First, I love how he's reacted to some of the big hits he's gotten. I think his home run against Lidge has been my favorite moment this season, in part because of how excited he got. I get the feeling he's enjoying this on a level that we as fans can relate to, almost like he's been a long suffering Brewer fan. So, while I didn't see the one last night and won't comment directly about that, I love the enthusiasm.

 

Second, I love the fact that he hits so many home runs and hits them so far that he's got a few opportunities for people to question things like this. No matter your take on this issue, it would be completely different if it was his 7th home run this year and a wall-scraper.

[pretendastronaut]

There's seems to be a lot of confusion in this thread about the difference between cockiness and emotion. There's a pretty solid line there, and its nice and thick too. There's nothing wrong with emotion on the field, and I'm glad to see the Crew showing some emotion lately. Things like Braun's fist pump after his big hit in Chicago, absolutely nothing wrong with that. Prince took a lot of heat for jumping around and screaming after scoring that run againt the Pirates, but I didn't see anything wrong with that either. Those are moments of emotion and I love to see that from the guys.

 

Cocking off however is another issue.

 

And quit arguing over if he should have watched it or not, he didn't watch it, that's example enough that he was showboating instead. I wouldn't blame him for watching that shot at all, but that's not what he did. I love the guy, I even would say I have a bit of a mancrush on him, but for a rookie, he was out of line. But he apologized, Yost talked to him, maybe he'll get plunked in Houston, and that's the end of it for now.

[Blazer25]

Seriously though, I love it when players watch their HRs. I love it when Manny does it, when Braun does it, even Milton Bradley.

Wow. Really? Do you also like it when Roger Clemens throws at guys heads?

 

You must not have played the game.

 

 

 

Bush league. If Garner was still the 'Stros manager we would have had a bench clearing brawl on our hands.

 

Braun's a rookie, a very good rookie but still a rookie. He's lucky it ended with Berkman and Yost yelling at him.

 

Cockiness and emotion are good things. Making yourself bigger than the game and showing up the other team is not.

[TuesdaysWithRillo]

I don't get all of this noise about Braun walking a few steps to admire a home run. If I hit a drive 250 yards and down the middle, I pose for it as well. (even though it doesn't happen often) If any of you got a chance to see Roddick and Federer last night in the US Open for tennis, Roddick was cheering after every big shot he hit. That made it really fun to watch. Let Braun be animated and show his emotion and get used to it because he will be doing it for many more years and if Cecil Cooper wants to throw at him, so be it. Maybe next time, he'll check Braun to see if he has a wrist band on in order to gain an advantage at the plate. http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/laugh.gif

[brewcrewnation]

The Astros and there fans need to grow some chops., what is this first grade. I take ryan for any of there scrubs players the astros have, astro fans are just jealous that they have no one there team or there farm system that can match any of the brewer players.

[StatPipes]

I had no problem with how he acted when he homered off of Lidge in Houston, that was a 9th inning homerun that put ya'll ahead I believe. Of course that is a reason to get excited and show emotion. Heck, if he would had stared at the ball for a little bit last night I could even understand that, he crushed it. But looking at the dugout while walking down the line with the bat flip, that isn't the same thing.

It just comes down to personal opinion. However, I played baseball for 20 years of my life, and I know the overwhelming majority of everyone I played with and against would find that as showing up the other team. Like I said earlier, a 2nd inning home-run that put y'all up 6-0 doesn't merit that kind of reaction.

But he is young and Im sure he will learn.

(By the way, Braun 10 out of 10 times over Berkman? wow)

[Blazer25]

I had no problem with how he acted when he homered off of Lidge in Houston, that was a 9th inning homerun that put ya'll ahead I believe. Of course that is a reason to get excited and show emotion. Heck, if he would had stared at the ball for a little bit last night I could even understand that, he crushed it. But looking at the dugout while walking down the line with the bat flip, that isn't the same thing.

I agree with this 100%.

 

Nice post StatPipes

[Roscoe Chill]

Carlton Fisk waving at a ball to stay fair in the World Series versus what Braun did last night? Reach.

 

No one is saying emotion is bad...if you can't tell the difference, I don't know what to tell you. And again as long as Braun keeps hitting them, I really don't care how other teams and/or fans view him...all I know is that I can't stand certain players, and if I was not a Brewer fan, I really wouldn't be able to stand Ryan Braun. Admire his talent? Sure. Respect his talent? Yes.

[jason21nl]

I can't believe that people will call booing classless but pimp walking down the line, staring at your dugout, flipping a bat isn't to most. Why is that? It was said earlier in this thread. Its because Ryan Braun is a Milwaukee Brewers player and not a Cubs player. Everyone that has posted in this thread would be so pissed if D. Lee or Soriano did what Braun did. Shoot, if you want to stand there and watch for a second, thats fine, get rid of the pimp walk and the dugout stare. Also saying you would take Braun 10 out of 10 is a bit of a stretch. Braun is in his rookie season, lets see what he does for the next couple years before we go with the Braun is better than Berkman talk.

 

one last thing, if what Braun did wasn't wrong, then why did Ned talk to him? why did he apologize to the stros catcher if he did nothing wrong?

[Blazer25]

If I hit a drive 250 yards and down the middle, I pose for it as well.

The difference is you can't show up a golf ball.

 

 

All these guys are big leaguers. They are all in the same fraternity and even though the names on the uniforms are different they're all playing the same GAME. Most of them know to respect each other is to respect the game. Ryan Bruan needs to learn that a little.

 

Emotion is good.

 

Making yourself bigger or more important than the game isn't.

[jlau20]

I can see where everyone is coming from, it was a cocky thing to do. Tone it down a little then it's probably acceptable, but still a little unnecessary at that point in the game.

 

But, the more I think about it, I don't see how it's any different than the high stepping touchdown runs, the running down the court chest pumping after a slam dunk or three pointer, or the group tackle after a goal in soccer. Sure, in baseball it's a bit different, you're straight up showing up one other person, the pitcher, but really I don't see why players who watch home runs catch more flack than anything mentioned above. In football you're showing up your defender, it basketball you're showing up the big man you just dunked over, in soccer you're showing up the goalie and the few players on defense.

 

Is any of that stuff really necessary? No. But it happens in every other sport and for some reason it seems baseball players catch the most crap for it.

[pretendastronaut]

Baseball player catch the most crap for it? In football you get a team penalty and a fine from the league for it. And in football its gotten to the point where you have guys pretending to be putting a diaper on the football after a touchdown. I would certainly not want to use the defense that it happens in other sports too. The showboating and ego in the NBA is ruining that league. Or has you could even say.

[endaround]

Yeah that toungue wagging Micheal Jordan with his high flying dunks killed the NBA! Only if we had the pure game of the quiet Dr. J!

[LouisEly]

If we weren't in the middle of a September pennant race

 

That's the only reason I put up with it.

 

On a tangent though is that this team has lacked emotion the past month and a half, and it is nice to see someone showing some. And it didn't hurt because they scored eight more runs and hit three more homers after that - Jenkins, Hall, and Hart got into the act. Things like that, yes, are a little bush league - but can have much bigger upside in the emotion in sparks in the team than downfall in appearing to be cocky. It's about winning, and if his emotion sparks them to winning more, then have at it.

 

As for showboating, I have to agree with the comment about Carlos Z. after every strikeout... you do it eight times a game, 200 times a year. And has anyone seen Jose Valverde save a game for Arizona? Now THAT is showboating.

[pretendastronaut]

Yeah that toungue wagging Micheal Jordan with his high flying dunks killed the NBA! Only if we had the pure game of the quiet Dr. J!

Edit: Nevermind, I'm not even going to justify that with a response.

[DannoMac21]

Testing my avatar http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/smile.gif

[pretendastronaut]

I sense a pimp walk avatar in the works. http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/wink.gif

[BrewCrewForever]

Testing my avatar http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/smile.gif

I love that avatar to no end.

 

[Katuluu]

Carlton Fisk waving at a ball to stay fair in the World Series versus what Braun did last night? Reach.

I was being facetious.