If you have been on social media in the past week, you've probably seen it. Yes, I am talking about the right hook that came from the fist of the Rangers' Rougned Odor to the left jaw of the Blue Jays' Jose Bautista. Was it a great punch? Yes. Did Bautista have it coming? Depends on who you ask. Did it get every Texas Rangers fan out of their seat? You bet it did! Why were Rangers fans so excited?
If you are not a die hard Texas Rangers fan, you probably do not know the reason why the punch happened. The history of this punch does not just date back to May 15th, but all the way back to October 10th of last year. The Texas Rangers and Toronto Blue Jays were in the seventh inning of game 5 in the American League Divisional Series. The game was tied 3-3 in the bottom of the seventh inning. Jose Bautista came up to bat with two on, and hit a three run home run against Texas reliever Sam Dyson. While hitting a home run is common for Bautista, what he did after that was a little beyond his normal home run antics. He hit the home run, stared at Dyson, looked at the Rangers dugout, then threw the bat in that direction.
Bat flipping is a trend in baseball that is socially acceptable, but what Bautista was not a flip - it was a full on throw. The Blue Jays went on to win the game and the series, sending the Rangers home for the off season. This throw continued to be controversial during the whole off season. Some liked it, others did not. Then, when the season started and the Rangers were slated to play each other seven times in a two week span everyone was saying "will they hit him or not?" Six games went by and nothing had happened. Then in the last game of the series, when Bautista came up to bat in the top of the 8th inning, Rangers' pitcher Matt Bush hit Bautista in the ribs. Nothing ensued after that and it all looked good. The Rangers had gotten their revenge and Bautista took it. Not true whatsoever. Two batters later there was a ground ball and the Rangers tried to turn a double play. Odor caught the ball at second base with Bautista sliding in. Well Bautista slid all right, but almost after he was at the bag. Immediately Bautista got up and turned to yell at Odor. Odor turned as well and shoved the slugger in the chest . Bautista and Odor both went towards each other raising fists and Odor connected one of the best punches in the history of sports fighting. Was Odor wrong in what he did? Maybe, but with the history between Bautista and the two teams, as well as how Bautista acted, I see nothing wrong with the punch. The game is an emotional one. Everything happened so fast. Two intense players who got caught up in the moment. Whether you liked it or not, you can admit that the punch was a beauty.
