Bautista’s heads-up baserunning | MLB.com

Classic Little League maneuver.

Pillar, Bautista apologetic after bench-clearing incidents

Blue Jays outfielders Kevin Pillar and Jose Bautista were both apologetic on Wednesday night after they were involved in on-field incidents that twice cleared the benches against the Atlanta Braves.
In the top of the seventh inning, Jason Motte struck out Pillar to end the inning. After his swing and miss, Pillar said something to Motte as the pitcher headed for the dugout and despite there being no physical aggression, both benches cleared.
Speaking to reporters after the game, Pillar called the moment “stupid and immature.”
“I think it just stems from a little frustration in myself and just the way this series has been going,” Pillar told reporters after the game. “Obviously I’m going to do whatever I’ve got to do to reach out and apologize and let (Motte) know he didn’t do anything wrong. It was all me.”
In the eighth inning with the Blue Jays down 8-3, Bautista hit a solo home run and flipped his bat after connecting off Eric O’Flaherty. Braves first baseman Jace Peterson said something to Bautista as he rounded the base and the Jays’ slugger briefly stopped before continuing toward second. Atlanta catcher Kurt Suzuki also had some words when Bautista arrived at home plate and the two dugouts to emptied once again.
Again, no punches were thrown.

Braves pitcher Eric O’Flaherty: I’ve seen it from Jose Bautista too much

Benches emptied in the Blue Jays-Braves game Wednesday night after Toronto slugger Jose Bautista homered to left field, stood at home plate and stared toward pitcher Eric O’Flaherty before flipping the bat away with a towering toss in Atlanta.

Jace Peterson said something to Bautista as he rounded first, and Braves catcher Kurt Suzuki was waiting for Bautista when he touched home.

No punches were thrown, but O’Flaherty didn’t mince words about Bautista’s actions.

“That’s something making the game tough to watch,’’ the pitcher said, referring to previous home run celebrations by the Toronto slugger. “It’s turned into look-at-me stuff. He hit a home run with [the Braves holding] a five-run lead and throws the bat around. I’m just tired of it. I’ve seen it from him enough.’‘....

“I’m surprised he’s ready to fight after last year,’’ O’Flaherty said with a disdainful chuckle.

Re-grading MLB offseason moves

Three that earn D or F grades through the first month

Jose Bautista (one-year, $18.5 million deal with the Blue Jays)

The Blue Jays were hoping to collect a draft pick had Bautista signed elsewhere during the offseason. When that scenario failed to transpire, they took the plunge and bet that he would have a bounce-back year at age 36.

Not so far. Toronto is off to a 9-17 start, and Joey Bats has five extra-base hits in his first 94 at-bats. Maybe the Jays can trade him at the deadline, but they’ll have to pick up a large percentage of that contract if they want to make it happen.

Mike Napoli (one-year, $8.5 million deal with the Texas Rangers)

When Napoli faded down the stretch and hit .167 in the postseason with Cleveland, it was attributed to fatigue after a long season with a heavy workload. But the problems have persisted into 2017. In his first 24 games with the Rangers, Napoli has a slash line of .161/.235/.323.

What is wrong with Jose Bautista? - Beyond the Box Score

“Trade a player a year too early rather than a year too late.” ~ Branch Rickey

Jose Bautista, humbled but not hurt, aims for Blue Jays revival at 37

I guess his agent isn’t big on honesty.

“It was confusing, and it was tough at times,’’ Bautista says, “but you can’t take it personally. You can’t feel like it’s necessarily a direct vendetta against you or a group. I know markets have their ups and downs, but I can’t explain what happened to me.

“I’m not complaining about the deal I got. Could it have been better a couple of years ago? I guess. You can expect things, and think about what happened in the past, but at the end of the day, there are no guarantees.

“It’s hard to complain when you’re playing the sport you love, and you’re making a lot of money.’’