When Joel Peralta walked off the mound at the end of the eighth inning yesterday, he raised some eyebrows when he looked at the camera and made what appeared to be a throat-slashing gesture…
Then again, maybe there is a more innocent explanation. Here’s the Peralta remix. Maybe he is just channeling his inner-Tiffany…
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He'd be walking towards the Rays dugout, so it's more than likely not a "throat slash" but that he may be motioning something to a teammate or coach. It could simply be a sign to Hickey or Maddon that he doesn't want to come out to start the next inning.
It looks to me like he's motioning "I'm done."
But why would Peralta ever think he would be kept in the game? Rodney is the closer. And has Peralta worked more than 1 inning at all this year? I think I remember one time.
Who knows? If I remember correctly, he only faced one batter in the 8th. Maybe they discussed it to give Rodney a break for the night.
Regardless, there doesn't seem to be any kind of emotion behind it at all.
And if you are correct that he is looking into the Rays dugout while making this gesture, it's hard to turn it into something too "in your face." Or perhaps Joel and Jim Hickey are on the outs?
I don't really think there was anything malicious here. But I thought he was looking right at the camera. And I dont think you have to make the gesture at somebody to insult them. In the NFL, it was typically done towards the fans, even the home fans as a "that's right, look what I did to them" message, or similar.
He's done it twice this year, and not since May 2. And yes, it would be very unusual for Peralta to come in for the 9th inning.
I loved me some Tiffany back in the day.
He is referencing where the pitch was thrown. Top of the strike zone, but below the neck.
Now this is the best explanation I have heard yet. The last pitch was high.
But that's not how somebody usually signals "high pitch." usually they will just hold their hand up. no swiping motion.
To me, the gesture says "smooth", like water (or Carlos Santana), meaning the inning went, well, smoothly.
Its the peace sign in Mexican drug wars, first Rodney now Peralta, you have to ask Pena, he understands those signs, like Rodneys Bow
I make that gesture when I am trying to signal "cut it", or "stop". Seems appropriate if he just shut down an inning. Nothing sinister to me.
I'm with Michael. That looks more like a cut or stop gesture, like "The buck stops here, yo" instead of "OMGIFKY" to someone specific in the dugout. If it was a single finger right across the neck, that's more universal for throat-slitting.