Photo by Nick Turchiaro-USA TODAY Sports
Name? Josh Donaldson. Occupation? Professional baseball player. Home address? Under a bridge.Not only did Josh Donaldson find his swing in the first two games of the Blue Jays series against the White Sox, the man found his trolling game, too. Just a day after Toronto's third baseman was engaged in a glorious battle with White Sox first base coach Daryl Boston over his in-game use of a whistle during the series opener, Donaldson made a simple yet inspirational change to his pre at-bat routine the following game.The Bringer of Rain strutted up to "Blow the Whistle" by Too Short on Tuesday night—a perfect walk-up song for a perfect troll job:
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Whistle gate became a thing when the Blue Jays opened up a three-game set against the White Sox on Monday. Boston, who apparently uses a whistle to encourage his players or get their attention when needed, puckered his lips together and gave that whistle (which is somehow legal according to MLB rules) a big old rip right before Donaldson stepped into the batter’s box during the sixth inning.Donaldson, who naturally wasn't a fan of it, preceded to mash his first bomb of the season and have a little fun after crossing home plate. The star slugger made several jumping whistle gestures in the direction of the Chicago dugout and specifically at Boston, who could do nothing but laugh it off.Here's how Donaldson explained his home run celebration to reporters after Monday's win:
Boston was reportedly well informed of Donaldson's disdain for his whistling techniques, and took full responsibility after that first game for poking the bear and awakening the sleeping giant, who has now delivered dingers in two straight games and found the absolute best music to strut up to."I had hit the whistle a couple of times hard before he went to the plate and he responded. You can pin that homer on me," Boston said after the game.The early part of the baseball season usually brings clarity to absolutely nothing, but one thing is obvious as we cruise through the season's first week: Donaldson versus a White Sox base coach over the use of a Fox 40 is the 2018 sports feud we all need and deserve."They have a particular coach over there who likes to blow an actual whistle when their team makes a good play or whatever. I was talking to a couple of former coaches I had in the minor leagues about it before the game. I guess (he deems it) to be appropriate, so I felt it would be appropriate if I blew it back at him when they didn't make a play."