Pros and bad Habits

[PhillsPhan11]

I was watching the Red Sox and Dodgers game today and I noticed Manny Ramirez was chewing tobacco. Why do pro ballplayers use chewing tobacco even when they tell kids to stay away from it. They are not being good role models when kids watch on TV and see black spit and cans in players' back pockets. So my question is why do they use it?

[Erik]

I was watching the Red Sox and Dodgers game today and I noticed Manny Ramirez was chewing tobacco. Why do pro ballplayers use chewing tobacco even when they tell kids to stay away from it. They are not being good role models when kids watch on TV and see black spit and cans in players' back pockets. So my question is why do they use it?

It's part of the game. I would hope they would tell a kid not to do it. Kids shouldn't. Manny is a grown adult and a nice chew sometimes helps get you into a hitting groove. I'm not promoting a kid to chew. I do understand your concern.



EL,

[PhillsPhan11]

How does it help you get into a hitting rhythm?

[Erik]

How does it help you get into a hitting rhythm?

This is a good question. It becomes part of the prep getting the hitter that chews ready for battle. This might not make sense but I had friends that put a chew in rapped with chewing gum for the AB and spit it out if they made an out. The chew stayed in if you got a knock. The chew also would give a boost in energy. Again this isn't promoting this for kids. I chewed during the season. Once the last game was played I quit until the next season. It's a baseball thing coming up the levels. Some do it some don't. I guess it's a bad habit.



EL,

[Jake Patterson]

It's part of the game. I would hope they would tell a kid not to do it. Kids shouldn't. Manny is a grown adult and a nice chew sometimes helps get you into a hitting groove. I'm not promoting a kid to chew. I do understand your concern.
EL,

Could not disagree more... Eating hotdogs and drinking beer used to be part of the game... at least that made more sense than chewing. Why does it need to be part of the game? I think it's a bad habit perpetuated by foolish people who attempt to justify it using the game as an excuse.

[Erik]

Could not disagree more... Eating hotdogs and drinking beer used to be part of the game... at least that made more sense than chewing. Why does it need to be part of the game? I think it's a bad habit perpetuated by foolish people who attempt to justify it using the game as an excuse.

Jake,

I understand and I don't chew anymore. My wife wants me to live. I no some players that developed mouth cancer. I developed the habit on the baseball field. This wasn't a habit you would see in school or outside the field for me. I would have to say I got started because players around me were doing it. I don't believe I was foolish it was just a common habit on the field.





EL,

[paul5150]

It really is a baseball thing, whether its kids on my team, coaches, kids at showcases...there are A LOT of people chewing in the game of baseball.

[jamesh23]

ya a lot of the seniors last year would chew or dip, I tried it a few times and it was ok, but I only did it like 2 times and quit, it is good for relaxing though, and yes im underage, I do not do it ever now though.

[jackmcmanus21]

Nowhere in professional baseball players contracts does it say they have to be a role model. I imagine they dip because it relaxes them and then they just get hooked on it.

[hawkiirock]

to each their own. It is a terrible habit and in no way does it make them a better play in reality. It is just a mental thing

[Gap_Finder_08]

To be Manny specific, I wouldn't want my kid paying much attention to what he does on the baseball field regardless of the chewing issue. No doubt he is one of the greatest hitters of all time, but beyond that he doesn't have much to offer on the baseball field.

He lacks the hustle and awareness of the game as well as the intensity that I would want out of a role model for kids.

[Maxx]

Why do they continue to do it? Same reason adults in everyday life abuse cigarettes and tobacco--nicotine is very, very addictive and the withdrawal from it causes the user to suffer from unpleasant side effects.

[wogdoggy]

you chew at games no pay why not? why not just smoke too? bet theres rules against that??great example for our youth,ya think they could lay off for a three hour span?

[hiddengem]

In Tawain, they actually have a smoke break during the game. Tobacco and Baseball have been together since the game started over a hundred years ago. Doesn't mean I condone it, I've actually never used any of it, and I think its quite funny what a strangle hold it has on some guys. But I know that the guys that use it say it relaxes them during stressful times in the game.

[J-MAC]

I hate to admit it, but i chew during baseball season. I know it's a bad habit but i find it helps me relax a bit more and not get all up-tight about the game. Chewing clears my mind alot but like erik, im not trying to advocate the use of it either.

I was thinking of a replacement idea, something that could calm my nerves and still not be harmful to my body. The best idea i came up with is pre-game meditation.