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Wednesday afternoon, one of the most incredible postseason games in history was played, as the Blue Jays beat the Rangers in Game 5 of the NLDS (TOR 6, TEX 3). The seventh inning in particular was wild. It was total chaos at times.

And yet, for many hours after the game and even into Thursday morning, the hot topic was Jose Bautista's bat flip. He crushed a go-ahead three-run home run, admired the heck out of it, and chucked his bat away. It was pretty incredible. Here's the video:

Naturally, the Rangers and reliever Sam Dyson in particular made it known they were not fond of the bat flip. Dyson, who gave up the homer, said Bautista "needs to calm that down, just kind of respect the game a little more."

While I certainly understand Dyson is frustrated and angry, telling Bautista to "respect the game" is absurd. That's more disrespectful than any bat flip. You don't think Bautista, who had to grind through five organizations before finding a home with the Blue Jays, respects the game? Please.

Anyway, the idea that bat flips are disrespectful will hopefully begin to die out soon. Why? Because Major League Baseball itself is promoting them on social media. Look:

If the league itself is giving bat flips their stamp of approval by promoting them, then players and fans who don't like them are fighting a losing battle. Like it or not, MLB is saying they're okay.

Commissioner Rob Manfred has said he is focused on getting more young children into baseball. Boring high-fives and fist pumps are no way to get kids into baseball. They need theatrics.

The children of America will survive seeing a dramatic bat flip like Bautista's. MLB appears to have realized this. Hopefully fans and players like Dyson catch on soon enough too.

Jose Bautista's bat flip was okay. MLB itself says so.
Jose Bautista's bat flip was okay. MLB itself says so. (USATSI)