ST Louis Cardinals star Matt Carpenter has insisted the team’s recent celebrations have nothing to do with Donald Trump or any political matter.
In recent games, Cardinals players like Lars Nootbaar and Alec Burleson have been holding one hand up to the air and their other in a fist while rounding bases.
There have also been examples of players putting their hand to their ears.
There has been plenty of speculation that this was in support of Trump.
Following the attempted assassination on Trump this month, the former President was immediately seen putting his hand to ear.
Shortly after, he held up his right arm with a fist while shouting the word “fight” repeatedly.
Carpenter has clearly felt the need to explain matters further.
And he has explained the actions of the players are not to do with Trump.
He has instead said the celebrations are mimicking former disc jockey Burleson.
Burleson was a rapper in college, going by the alias “Biscuit”.
“It’s an inside joke with (Burleson),” Carpenter said.
“Definitely not a political statement. I think that’s a little off-base here.”
As you can imagine, fans were quick to have their say in response.
Posting on X, the site formerly known as Twitter, it soon became clear not everyone is buying this latest explanation.
“Strange coincidence it only started after the shooting despite Burleson hitting bombs all year,” one fan said.
“After watching the vids, I don’t buy that excuse. Disappointed by them,” another person posted.
MLB All-Star starters 2024
American League
C: Adley Rutschman (Baltimore Orioles)
1B: Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (Toronto Blue Jays)
2B: Marcus Semien (Texas Rangers)
3B: José Ramírez (Cleveland Guardians)
SS: Gunnar Henderson (Baltimore Orioles)
OF: Aaron Judge (New York Yankees)
OF: Steven Kwan (Cleveland Guardians)
OF: Juan Soto (New York Yankees)
DH: Yordan Alvarez (Houston Astros)
National League
C: William Contreras (Milwaukee Brewers)
1B: Bryce Harper (Philadelphia Phillies)
2B: Ketel Marte (Arizona Diamondbacks)
3B: Alec Bohm (Philadelphia Phillies)
SS: Trea Turner (Philadelphia Phillies)
OF: Jurickson Profar (San Diego Padres)
OF: Teoscar Hernández (Los Angeles Dodgers)
OF: Christian Yelich (Milwaukee Brewers)
DH: Shohei Ohtani (Los Angeles Dodgers)
“Waiting on the video for it happening prior. Or otherwise this is a 1 in a million coincidence,” a third fan said.
“I can’t be the only one still not sure about all this,” a fourth fan said.
It’s maybe not surprising that there has been an attempt to play down any hidden significant behind the celebrations.
Tensions are running extremely high across the United States following recent events.
And the political scene took another dramatic turn on Sunday when President Biden announced he wouldn’t be contesting the 2024 US election.
Trump will now take on another opponent, who will be revealed in the coming days and weeks.