The Braves are the hottest team in baseball. From top to bottom, their roster is stacked, and all they do is hit dingers. Once the runs start piling up, so do the celebrations.
However, Phillies Manager Rob Thomson is not a fan and took exception to Braves’ star Ronald Acuña Jr.’s actions after he hit his 37th home run of the season on Tuesday.
Acuña flapped his arms like a bird as he rounded the bases and hit Atlanta Hawk’s star Trae Young’s “Ice Cold” celebration as he walked towards home plate.
“I like our guys to act like they’ve been there before,” Thomson said a recent interview with WIP. He eventually explained that he understood baseball has changed and that he can’t control things or let it bother him.
Long gone!#ForTheA | @ronaldacunajr24 pic.twitter.com/3WTep3H9Es
— Atlanta Braves (@Braves) September 12, 2023
Braves pitcher Tyler Matzek caught wind of Thomson’s comments and had his own thoughts. He quickly clapped back on X and defended his teammate: “If you can’t admire it, keep it down so everyone else can enjoy the show.”
If you don’t like it, stop it. If you can’t stop it, admire it. If you can’t admire it, keep it down so everyone else can enjoy the show. #AcunaMVP pic.twitter.com/xosYsIZe9U
— Tyler “Nutsack” Matzek (@TylerMatzek) September 13, 2023
Acuña reposted Matzek’s words, seemingly agreeing and silently thanking his pitcher for backing him up. Also, in true Acuña fashion, he loves his haters, as he showed Phillies fans when the Braves clinched the NL East on Wednesday night.
“IF YOU DON’T LIKE IT, STOP IT. IF YOU CAN’T STOP IT, ADMIRE IT. IF YOU CAN’T ADMIRE IT, KEEP IT DOWN SO EVERYONE ELSE CAN ENJOY THE SHOW.” @TYLERMATZEK #FORTHEA
— Ronald Acuña Jr (@ronaldacunajr24) September 14, 2023
Acuña is enjoying the boos in Philly pic.twitter.com/mtjfQqldVe
— Talkin’ Baseball (@TalkinBaseball_) September 14, 2023
There is no love lost between these rivals, and, frankly, as the best team in baseball, they’ve earned the right to celebrate how they want. In the words of Atlanta rapper Future, ” You do what you want when you poppin’.”
