It is really not as big a deal as the media could have made it, and, fortunately, they have not made it a big deal. Therefore, fans also should not read anything more into the matter than just good fun between two division rivals.
Seattle Mariners closer Fernando Rodney has shot imaginary arrows into the air after a save for the past few years, but this time, he did so before the game ended. In the bottom of the eighth on Sunday, Rodney got Cole Kalhoun to fly out to center field to end a threat and maintain the Mariners’ 5-4 lead over the Los Angeles Angels. After the catch, Rodney shot his arrow as usual, but he aimed it toward the Angels’ dugout.
The Angels did not take to that gesture very well, and it may have even sparked them to make their ninth-inning comeback. In the bottom of the ninth, Albert Pujols doubled down the right-field line to score Mike Trout from first with the tying run. As the video shows, Pujols wasted no time in firing an arrow of his own into the Angels’ dugout. He even pulled it from the imaginary quiver. After the shot, he simply celebrated his game-tying hit in ordinary fashion.
A moment later, though, Trout found another arrow behind his back and returned it to Pujols at second base.
Easily, fans and media could turn this matter into something it is not: a highly-contentious and tension-filled exchange of taunts that would spill over into the two teams’ next meeting from September 15-18 in Seattle with a possible playoff spot on the line — such as we saw earlier with Baltimore’s Manny Machado and his bat toss at the Oakland Athletics. However, this harmless exchange was nothing more than players caught in the moment and celebrating — too early in Rodney’s case — success. The players got some laughs, and the game continued. The Angels won it later in the ninth on a Grant Green walk-off single.
Criticism has flown before about closers and their quirks when they save a game. Rodney has his arrows. Washington’s Rafael Soriano un-tucks his shirt. Even Dennis Eckersley would point at the hitter after striking him out. Many hitters watch their tape-measure home runs sail out of sight. Sure, some fans just want the players to play the game hard and not show much emotion. Taunting and showmanship have no place in the game, but the players do need to have a little fun. Besides, with the salaries the players make, they should take it as much as they dish it out. Rodney did.
Nothing came of this exchange of imaginary arrows, and nothing should come of it later either. It was just a humorous moment that gives us something else to talk about in addition to a great game.
VIDEO CREDIT: mlb.com