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2011-08-14 15:58:33
“Hitting a home run is the most exciting play in baseball, let alone being a grand slam. He did celebrate, but he wasn’t showing anybody up. The kid is an energetic kid. He plays with a lot of emotion on his sleeve … There’s no question in my mind that he was just celebrating because he did something good.”
Since his call-up from triple-A Las Vegas last Friday, Lawrie has played with the sort of intensity that has been a trademark since he was a precocious teenage star in British Columbia.
“I like to get fired up,” he said after Wednesday’s game. “I like to get everyone else going. I like to be that spark, I guess you could say.”
Farrell was asked whether Lawrie’s passionate style might irritate opponents as time goes on.
“Time will tell,” Farrell replied. “and if that draws response from across the field, then it’s our responsibility to respond accordingly. He’s one of us, and we’ve got to protect one another.”
Along with his obvious talent, Lawrie’s energetic style is infectious and can make even veteran players feel “there’s something special going on here,” the manager said.
Bautista added the A’s should be able to tell the difference between innocent enthusiasm and a deliberate attempt to demean an opponent.
“If the pitcher did that because of that reason, then shame on him,” Bautista said.
The over-the-top personality of Toronto Blue Jays rookie Brett Lawrie may already have rubbed an opponent the wrong way.
It seemed a tad more than coincidence that Jays shortstop Yunel Escobar was hit by a pitch Wednesday night moments after Lawrie raced home from second base on a single, clapping his hands as he crossed the plate.
Earlier, Lawrie enjoyed a frenzied celebration with teammates in the dugout after he hit the first grand slam of his brief big-league career.
Oakland pitcher Jordan Norberto hit Escobar with the first pitch he threw after Lawrie scored in the eighth inning of Wednesday’s 8-4 Jays win. Escobar and Norberto jawed at each other and both benches emptied but the umpires quickly restored order.
“I can’t sit here at this moment and say that it was intentional, but when you miss that wide, particularly to your glove side, it makes one wonder,” Toronto manager John Farrell said after the game.
Norberto said he simply missed his spot. But A’s reliever Craig Breslow, who gave up Lawrie’s slam, hinted to the San Francisco Chronicle that other issues were in play.
“I probably wouldn’t have chosen to celebrate it that way,” Breslow said.
Also in the Chronicle story, an unnamed A’s player observed of Lawrie: “He hasn’t been in the big leagues a week.”
Jays slugger Jose Bautista said he had no proof that Norberto tried to hit Escobar, but “it certainly looked that way.”
“If it was a retaliation because of Lawrie’s reaction, it would be something very dumb,” Bautista said before Thursday’s game.
“Hitting a home run is the most exciting play in baseball, let alone being a grand slam. He did celebrate, but he wasn’t showing anybody up. The kid is an energetic kid. He plays with a lot of emotion on his sleeve … There’s no question in my mind that he was just celebrating because he did something good.”
Since his call-up from triple-A Las Vegas last Friday, Lawrie has played with the sort of intensity that has been a trademark since he was a precocious teenage star in British Columbia.
“I like to get fired up,” he said after Wednesday’s game. “I like to get everyone else going. I like to be that spark, I guess you could say.”
Farrell was asked whether Lawrie’s passionate style might irritate opponents as time goes on.
“Time will tell,” Farrell replied. “and if that draws response from across the field, then it’s our responsibility to respond accordingly. He’s one of us, and we’ve got to protect one another.”
Along with his obvious talent, Lawrie’s energetic style is infectious and can make even veteran players feel “there’s something special going on here,” the manager said.
Bautista added the A’s should be able to tell the difference between innocent enthusiasm and a deliberate attempt to demean an opponent.
“If the pitcher did that because of that reason, then shame on him,” Bautista said.
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