BREAK UP THE F-ING NATIONALS

gaaaaaaaaah wrote:

The official scorer shall charge an outfielder with an error if such outfielder allows a fly ball to drop to the ground if, in the official scorer?s judgment, an outfielder at that position making ordinary effort would have caught such fly ball.

so the ball doesnt need to be touched, but its obviously a judgement call and the scorer gave bryce some pity or mercy and called it a hit.

fair enough, but I've never seen an error called on an outfielder that doesn't catch up to a ball on the fly - and definitely not on a ball lost in the twilight.

i'm spending way too much time on this:

http://www.cleveland.com/tribe/index.ssf/2012/04/post_153.html

I've already said that I love that he hustles every play.  I took no issue that he tagged up with an 8-0 lead in a game that little or no significance.  I also take no issue that any player that might have taken issue with it or felt shown up (like say Josh Hamilton thinking he may not need to get the ball in very quickly because it's 8-0 late in an All-Star Game) may spike him at second or plunk him at the plate - that's the game. It sorts itself out.

And even though I rarely agree with Rhett, he's spot on about earning it.  The fans didn't vote you in, twice. The players and managers didn't choose you as a reserve either.  You were lucky to be there because of injury, why don't you show a bit of humility and be thankful that you're there?

And the players, coaches and GM's aren't going to say a word about this - they never have. Ask Reggie Jackson - other than the Gary Carter comment, I think most people agree with Reggie.  He was still asked to take a leave because he broke the code.  Baseball has always been a game about respect.  And it's self policed. Players/coaches/managers let the game take care of it.  The Cole Hamels plunking makes a lot more sense to me now - I'm guessing there's much we don't know about the reaction inside baseball to Bryce Harper. Perhaps that's why he wasn't named as a reserve by them?

Anyhow, he's young.  He'll learn.  They all do, except Ricky Henderson.  He was always just being Ricky….

I'd be remiss if I didn't point out that Mike Trout was 1-1, took a walk, stole a base, tried to steal another and was given defensive indifference, didn't make an error playing in his non-natural position, and wore red shoes.  Just like he does every day.  Maybe that's why the players and coaches named him as a reserve.

i agree with all of that. i just don't see how wearing gold shoes equates to not showing humility or respecting the game. its not his fault he was picked as a last minute replacement when he probably shouldnt have been. is he supposed to turn it down or refuse to take an at bat? from all the press and practice clips i saw he seemed incredibly thankful to be there hanging out with current and past legends of the game. what more was he supposed to do?

in all sports, sometimes it comes down to "what's right by statistics" versus "for the good of the league". this was obviously the latter. it's good for the nationals (hooray), mlb, mike trout (joint press-conf), the media.  it's easy to criticize the decision, but it's hard to fault the decision. 

fwiw - i think aaron hill was a terrible snub. he has hit for the cycle two times this year!

Shemp wrote:
There's no denying he's super-talented and has unlimited potential.  I just think he acts like a jerk too much.  And the 'he's a 19-year old kid' excuse doesn't cut it. 

His favorite teams are the Yankees and the Cowboys.  Just sayin'.   

Acts like a jerk? I think he's passionate, also, he's still fucking 19 years old. I think he shows an incredible amount of maturity for his age, and when he has a momentarily 19 year old moment everyone thinks he's an asshole. TEENAGERS ARE FUCKING ASSHOLES. I like how hard he plays, I like how angry he gets, I like his passion. What's so wrong with a passionate player coming to DC wanting to do his best for his team?

It's a God damn shame he's a Cowboys fan though hahaha

How much maturity was he showing when this happened?

http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/mlb-big-league-stew/bryce-harper-hits-own-face-bat-gets-10-135714993.html

DeathFromAbove1979 wrote:

Shemp wrote:
There's no denying he's super-talented and has unlimited potential.  I just think he acts like a jerk too much.  And the 'he's a 19-year old kid' excuse doesn't cut it. 

His favorite teams are the Yankees and the Cowboys.  Just sayin'.   

Acts like a jerk? I think he's passionate, also, he's still fucking 19 years old. I think he shows an incredible amount of maturity for his age, and when he has a momentarily 19 year old moment everyone thinks he's an asshole. TEENAGERS ARE FUCKING ASSHOLES. I like how hard he plays, I like how angry he gets, I like his passion. What's so wrong with a passionate player coming to DC wanting to do his best for his team?

It's a God damn shame he's a Cowboys fan though hahaha

vansmack wrote:
He was always just being Ricky….

a humble servant of God

Smackie where is the daily Mike Trout update??? What did he do on his off day?

That's a fish question, bro.

hutch wrote:
Smackie where is the daily Mike Trout update??? What did he do on his off day?

James wrote:
How much maturity was he showing when this happened?

http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/mlb-big-league-stew/bryce-harper-hits-own-face-bat-gets-10-135714993.html

DeathFromAbove1979 wrote:

Shemp wrote:
There's no denying he's super-talented and has unlimited potential.  I just think he acts like a jerk too much.  And the 'he's a 19-year old kid' excuse doesn't cut it. 

His favorite teams are the Yankees and the Cowboys.  Just sayin'.   

Acts like a jerk? I think he's passionate, also, he's still fucking 19 years old. I think he shows an incredible amount of maturity for his age, and when he has a momentarily 19 year old moment everyone thinks he's an asshole. TEENAGERS ARE FUCKING ASSHOLES. I like how hard he plays, I like how angry he gets, I like his passion. What's so wrong with a passionate player coming to DC wanting to do his best for his team?

It's a God damn shame he's a Cowboys fan though hahaha

Like i said, he's still 19 god damn years old. I'm pretty sure he learned his lesson when he opened up his face with that bat. I mean, how do you expect a 19 year old all star rookie to act? I think with ALL that, he's pretty fucking mature. I'd be flipping people off and cussing up a god damn storm if I was 19. I mean, how mature was anyone when they were 19? Considering he's a professional athelete on a first place team I think he's not too bad… So what he named his dog like an asshole and drives a retarded car, HE'S A 19 YEAR OLD ROOKIE ALL STAR FOR CHRISTS SAKE!

Bryce Harper has good makeup.  Doesn't mean he's not going to make mistakes.

Unfortunately in today's 24-7 media world people expect a 19 year old rookie to play like a hall of famer from day one.

I can understand that, but the other side of the coin is the reality, he's a rookie, and he's 19. When he does good it IS expected, but when he does bad people flip out and call him a douche and an idiot. Give me 20 Bryce Harpers on a team. I love the way he plays.

hutch wrote:
Smackie where is the daily Mike Trout update??? What did he do on his off day?

Sorry.  He spent the last few days with his parents in New Jersey.  The Angels face the Yankees tomorrow in the Bronx. 

Even his makeup looks like a mistake to me.

hutch wrote:
Bryce Harper has good makeup.  Doesn't mean he's not going to make mistakes.

Unfortunately in today's 24-7 media world people expect a 19 year old rookie to play like a hall of famer from day one.

James wrote:
Even his makeup looks like a mistake to me.

hutch wrote:
Bryce Harper has good makeup.  Doesn't mean he's not going to make mistakes.

Unfortunately in today's 24-7 media world people expect a 19 year old rookie to play like a hall of famer from day one.

Gah, why do teenagers look so fucking stupid! LOOK PROFESSIONAL FOR FUCKS SAKE!

He's not really sporting this eye black style these days is he?  His hair has improved too.

chaz wrote:
He's not really sporting this eye black style these days is he?  His hair has improved too.

No, he's not. Obviously these idiots aren't paying attention.

Thousand wrote:

chaz wrote:
He's not really sporting this eye black style these days is he?  His hair has improved too.

No, he's not. Obviously these idiots aren't paying attention.

Yeah, he dropped the eye black when he got drafted. 

I'm sure it had nothing to do with an increasing maturity and acting like a professional though.

Can the Nats play Strasburg in the field or DH him in the World Series? Maybe use him as a pinch hitter? Seems like they'd want to keep his bat in the lineup.