Dodgers beat writer Bill Plunkett has embarrassing response to SF Giants rookie pitcher's celebration

The snark is in peak season for many around baseball this time of year. This tracks when half the league sits under .500, but that should not be the case for those at the top of their divisions. Los Angeles Dodgers beat writer Bill Plunkett for ocregister.com had an embarrassing response to SF Giants pitcher Spencer Bivens' reaction after fanning the extremely dangerous Shohei Ohtani for the second time in three innings.

Dodgers beat writer Bill Plunkett has embarrassing response to SF Giants rookie pitcher's celebration

The slash line for Ohtani vs righties in 2024 is a gawdy .330/.425/.718 and would be tops amongst all NL hitters. Bivens, who turned 30 on Friday, is a rookie who'd made his MLB debut just two weeks ago and a few years prior was doing his best to survive in a French independent league. This is a lopsided matchup that favors the two-time MVP, yet Plunkett posted this on X following the 5th-inning strikeout:

Plunkett covers the same team that does a maddening dance every time time they reach base. So, if you are going to be critical about celebrations, at least be consistent.

Perhaps it is the many World Series flags dancing high above Oracle Park that places such distaste into Los Angeles writers. Maybe it was the Mickey Mouse ears giveaway featured at Sunday's game. More likely, it is the way in which the Giants has captured their most recent crowns, with a cast of misfits making large contributions in the unlikeliest of places. Characters like Bivens, who was called on to make his first MLB start and to do so against the National League's toughest lineup.

The Giants are down to three pitchers in their starting rotation with one being Hayden Birdsong, a 22-year-old rookie who made a debut of his own less than a week ago. Bob Melvin has been forced into stretching his bullpen thin and requiring a full group effort to get through games.

This is no secret to Bivens or any other arm the Giants have sent out over the last couple of weeks. If anybody on the field Sunday knows anything about World Series wins, they're wearing orange and black.

Bivens' performance against LA brought his first win as a starting pitcher and helped to claim the series. Additionally, it provided a much-needed break to the Giants bullpen, all of which were worthy of celebration.

Believing a one-second fist pump to be World Series-esque is embarrassing and out of touch with the spirit that surrounds the Fall Classic. Going forward for Plunkett, ears or no ears, a tip of the cap will suffice.