Gregory is relatively optimistic that Aang was outside the strike zone, so he was determined not to swing…but, at such a tense moment in the game, it naturally took a great deal of self-control to keep his reflexive impulse to swing in check.
But he knew he had to keep himself in check – not only might he have given up a strike, publicly hitting a 12-year old boy in the face with a baseball bat also tends to be a bit of a public relations issue. It’s just not a good look, not even in professional cricket.
Admittedely, this gag would have worked better with another batter…after all, just two strips ago I was joking about Gregory’s past of massacring children with a chainsaw. One could almost imagine that he would be capable of hitting a 12-year old with a baseball bat. Although not every other batter would have been better: no one could imagine Mopey would have any compunctions about smashing Aang straight in the teeth. And Snuka could definitely do it if the price was right… As for the Professor, that sort of thing was probably considered good child-rearing when he was a kid… Well, perhaps Gregory isn’t even the worst pick, after all.
Plus, Gregory clearly has changed since he stopped being a zombie. Most people do.
Anyway, he does manage to maintain self-control, and Aang hits the ground face first, instead of his bat. Still probably painful, but not quite as much.
But is this an out or a strike? Find out on Monday.