njhoya78
Platinum Hoya (over 5000 posts)
Posts: 7,766
|
Post by njhoya78 on Sept 28, 2015 12:40:22 GMT -5
Papelbon today withdrew his appeal of the three game MLB suspension imposed for hitting Manny Machado. . .and MLB just tacked-on four more games for the Harper incident yesterday. That's a total of seven games. . .which is coincidentally the balance of the regular season for the Nationals.
EDIT: The Nationals, not MLB, imposed the four-game suspension. Still done for the season.
|
|
njhoya78
Platinum Hoya (over 5000 posts)
Posts: 7,766
|
Post by njhoya78 on Sept 28, 2015 12:46:12 GMT -5
Matt Williams just announced Harper is benched for today's game, as a consequence of the dugout incident.
|
|
guru
Platinum Hoya (over 5000 posts)
Posts: 6,599
|
Post by guru on Sept 28, 2015 12:50:16 GMT -5
Matt Williams just announced Harper is benched for today's game, as a consequence of the dugout incident. Seriously? Benching the league MVP for the last home game of the season? This team is starting to reach Redskins level of dysfunction. DC sports...
|
|
SSHoya
Blue & Gray (over 10,000 posts)
"Forget it Jake, it's Chinatown."
Posts: 18,253
|
Post by SSHoya on Sept 28, 2015 12:53:50 GMT -5
Matt Williams just announced Harper is benched for today's game, as a consequence of the dugout incident. Seriously? Benching the league MVP for the last home game of the season? This team is starting to reach Redskins level of dysfunction. DC sports... Rizzo never should have signed Papelbon. Harper benched because "he was involved in it." I'm not certain what Harper did other than verbally responding to Papelbon's idiocy.
|
|
njhoya78
Platinum Hoya (over 5000 posts)
Posts: 7,766
|
Post by njhoya78 on Sept 28, 2015 12:58:29 GMT -5
Harper's neck viciously, and without provocation, attacked Papelbon's hands.
|
|
Elvado
Platinum Hoya (over 5000 posts)
Posts: 6,080
|
MLB 2015
Sept 28, 2015 13:04:19 GMT -5
via mobile
Post by Elvado on Sept 28, 2015 13:04:19 GMT -5
Does the calliope go on the road with this circus?
Ridiculous.
|
|
hoyainspirit
Platinum Hoya (over 5000 posts)
When life puts that voodoo on me, music is my gris-gris.
Posts: 8,392
|
Post by hoyainspirit on Sept 28, 2015 14:08:04 GMT -5
My Nats are hot garbage, unfortunately...
|
|
Jack
Diamond Hoya (over 2500 posts)
Posts: 3,411
|
Post by Jack on Sept 28, 2015 14:14:15 GMT -5
So I think Papelbon is a meathead of the highest order and I have a very hard time siding with him in any way, but let's not make Harper out as a total innocent in this little disgrace. CJ Nitkowski, a former player but not anyone's idea of a neanderthal ex-jock, says that players universally support Papelbon.
|
|
hoya95
Golden Hoya (over 1000 posts)
Posts: 1,445
|
Post by hoya95 on Sept 28, 2015 14:27:34 GMT -5
So I think Papelbon is a meathead of the highest order and I have a very hard time siding with him in any way, but let's not make Harper out as a total innocent in this little disgrace. CJ Nitkowski, a former player but not anyone's idea of a neanderthal ex-jock, says that players universally support Papelbon.Did Nitkowski talk to any current Nationals or former teammates of Papelbon? It doesn't seem like any of them are supporting Papelbon. And it didn't appear that any of the Nationals were rushing in to help after he hit Machado. Really hope Nitkowski (and our partners at Fox) aren't going the Skip Bayless route for clicks and attention. That never ends well.
|
|
Elvado
Platinum Hoya (over 5000 posts)
Posts: 6,080
|
Post by Elvado on Sept 28, 2015 15:44:03 GMT -5
Harper was wrong not to run. He is probably abrasive and annoying to some veterans. That said, Papelbon is a recidivist jackass who is a clubhouse cancer.
If he really wanted to teach Harper something, he calls him aside in private and talks to him like an adult. However, that, like an effective out pitch in a big spot, is not in Papelbon's arsenal.
|
|
SSHoya
Blue & Gray (over 10,000 posts)
"Forget it Jake, it's Chinatown."
Posts: 18,253
|
Post by SSHoya on Sept 28, 2015 16:10:29 GMT -5
Harper was wrong not to run. He is probably abrasive and annoying to some veterans. That said, Papelbon is a recidivist jackass who is a clubhouse cancer. If he really wanted to teach Harper something, he calls him aside in private and talks to him like an adult. However, that, like an effective out pitch in a big spot, is not in Papelbon's arsenal. Elvado, Harper did run (if not hard). Boswell was at the game and here's what he saw (from his Q&A on the WaPo this PM). Also, Harper apparently wasn't going to play today, as it was a regularly scheduled day off for him anyway (which Harper said more than once in his post-game interview on Sunday). So it's not even a credible suspension for him. Re Harper: I happened to watch in real time as he flied to left and ran to first. I said to the reporter next too me, "He really wants that next homer." BUT he ran to first base as fast as 99 million previous players in that situation -- post-elimination game, though tied at four in the eighth. He could have run harder. But he ran. It didn't even qualify as a jog once he got going. And he reached first base. There are things to nag Harper about -- like "where's my ring" --but he did nothing wrong on Sunday. Papelbon cussed him, dogged him, followed him. Even then, Harper only said, "Lets bleepin' go." What LESS could he realistically have done. Even then, he refused to "start it."
|
|
Elvado
Platinum Hoya (over 5000 posts)
Posts: 6,080
|
Post by Elvado on Sept 28, 2015 16:35:33 GMT -5
Let me be clear. Papelbon is the problem in this circumstance. My point was that even if wrong and annoying, Harper and his actions merited no fight.
A credible veteran leader would have talked to him. Papelbon is neither credible nor a leader.
|
|
hoyainspirit
Platinum Hoya (over 5000 posts)
When life puts that voodoo on me, music is my gris-gris.
Posts: 8,392
|
Post by hoyainspirit on Sept 28, 2015 16:36:29 GMT -5
Harper was wrong not to run. He is probably abrasive and annoying to some veterans. That said, Papelbon is a recidivist jackass who is a clubhouse cancer. If he really wanted to teach Harper something, he calls him aside in private and talks to him like an adult. However, that, like an effective out pitch in a big spot, is not in Papelbon's arsenal. Elvado, Harper did run (if not hard). Boswell was at the game and here's what he saw (from his Q&A on the WaPo this PM). Also, Harper apparently wasn't going to play today, as it was a regularly scheduled day off for him anyway (which Harper said more than once in his post-game interview on Sunday). So it's not even a credible suspension for him. Re Harper: I happened to watch in real time as he flied to left and ran to first. I said to the reporter next too me, "He really wants that next homer." BUT he ran to first base as fast as 99 million previous players in that situation -- post-elimination game, though tied at four in the eighth. He could have run harder. But he ran. It didn't even qualify as a jog once he got going. And he reached first base. There are things to nag Harper about -- like "where's my ring" --but he did nothing wrong on Sunday. Papelbon cussed him, dogged him, followed him. Even then, Harper only said, "Lets bleepin' go." What LESS could he realistically have done. Even then, he refused to "start it." Beat me to it. Harper did nothing wrong in the at bat.
|
|
SSHoya
Blue & Gray (over 10,000 posts)
"Forget it Jake, it's Chinatown."
Posts: 18,253
|
Post by SSHoya on Sept 28, 2015 16:57:18 GMT -5
FWIW, Boswell also thinks Williams and Papelbon should be gone. I agree. Papelbon is the classic cancer in the clubhouse and Rizzo blew it big time with that signing. Williams claimed he didn't know exactly what happened on Sunday and that's why Papelbon went out for the 9th inning. As the manager, he should have known and its stunning that none of his coaches (McCatty and Schu, I think) who broke up the fight told him immediately. The Nats would owe Papelbon $11 million for next year. And the fans: ftw.usatoday.com/2015/09/nationals-jonathan-papelbon-fans-pledge-money
|
|
hoyarooter
Blue & Gray (over 10,000 posts)
Posts: 10,197
|
Post by hoyarooter on Sept 28, 2015 18:06:37 GMT -5
I despise the Yankees to the depths of my soul, but I loved Yogi. How could anyone not love Yogi? I'm puzzled, though, by these statements that Yogi was underrated as a player. He certainly wasn't underrated during his playing days - he was a three time MVP. And doesn't he still make everyone's list of the top 5 or so catchers ever? Perhaps he's underappreciated by the younger set, but certainly not by my generation. Oh it's possible to hate Yogi. I have a friend who is a Giants fan and his hate of the Dodgers is so strong that he also dislikes Vin Scully. How could anyone not like Vin Scully? Underappreciated is probably a better term than underrated. His post--playing career activities and his Yogi-isms have shifted the focus away from an incredible playing career. Top 5 catcher for sure. Sorry, KC, but your friend is a turd. Should I hate Willie Mays?
|
|
bmartin
Golden Hoya (over 1000 posts)
Posts: 2,459
|
Post by bmartin on Sept 28, 2015 23:19:40 GMT -5
So I think Papelbon is a meathead of the highest order and I have a very hard time siding with him in any way, but let's not make Harper out as a total innocent in this little disgrace. CJ Nitkowski, a former player but not anyone's idea of a neanderthal ex-jock, says that players universally support Papelbon.CJ Nitkowski was a bad pitcher who pitched a total of 479 innings in 10 years and whose only notable feat was hitting three consecutive batters once. He either made up these quotes or he talked to people that he knew already hated Harper. Old timers lie. They did not sprint to first on every popup. Read Mark DeRosa's take on Papelbon, and by extension on Nitkowski also: "You've played 63 innings this year. You've been in the clubhouse probably ... through the fifth inning, getting a rubdown, eatin' a sandwich, doing your Jobe exercises, takin' your time...
"You’re top-stepping a guy who’s played in 1,262 innings, who’s hitting .336 with 41 homers, is gonna be the National League MVP and you’re questioning whether or not he goes to the post everyday. That’s tired, okay? No reliever should tell a position player anything about hustle. Go stand out there in the rain, sleet and snow while you guys are giving up gap shots. That bothered me.”
|
|
SaxaCD
Diamond Hoya (over 2500 posts)
Posts: 4,401
|
Post by SaxaCD on Sept 29, 2015 1:22:30 GMT -5
So I think Papelbon is a meathead of the highest order and I have a very hard time siding with him in any way, but let's not make Harper out as a total innocent in this little disgrace. CJ Nitkowski, a former player but not anyone's idea of a neanderthal ex-jock, says that players universally support Papelbon.CJ Nitkowski was a bad pitcher who pitched a total of 479 innings in 10 years and whose only notable feat was hitting three consecutive batters once. He either made up these quotes or he talked to people that he knew already hated Harper. Old timers lie. They did not sprint to first on every popup. Read Mark DeRosa's take on Papelbon, and by extension on Nitkowski also: "You've played 63 innings this year. You've been in the clubhouse probably ... through the fifth inning, getting a rubdown, eatin' a sandwich, doing your Jobe exercises, takin' your time...
"You’re top-stepping a guy who’s played in 1,262 innings, who’s hitting .336 with 41 homers, is gonna be the National League MVP and you’re questioning whether or not he goes to the post everyday. That’s tired, okay? No reliever should tell a position player anything about hustle. Go stand out there in the rain, sleet and snow while you guys are giving up gap shots. That bothered me.”Harper is a great player, but he dogs it at certain times on routine grounders and pop-ups, and that's definitely going to get some annoyed. He's also 22, so he has time to learn. Papelbon obviously shouldn't have gone for his throat, that was stupid. But having words for the guy was will within what goes on between guys, especially on teams where frustrations are bubbling over. Neither guy was admirable in this situation.
|
|
SaxaCD
Diamond Hoya (over 2500 posts)
Posts: 4,401
|
Post by SaxaCD on Sept 29, 2015 1:25:23 GMT -5
Let me be clear. Papelbon is the problem in this circumstance. My point was that even if wrong and annoying, Harper and his actions merited no fight. A credible veteran leader would have talked to him. Papelbon is neither credible nor a leader. I agree. I will point out that Mets TV announcers in a game a few months ago remarked how Harper didn't run out a ball, and talked about how it happened once in a while, "but he's such a great player" etc. So, I have a feeling this may not have been the first time these guys "talked" about it, and that's why it became such a blow up.
|
|
SSHoya
Blue & Gray (over 10,000 posts)
"Forget it Jake, it's Chinatown."
Posts: 18,253
|
Post by SSHoya on Sept 29, 2015 5:04:44 GMT -5
Let me be clear. Papelbon is the problem in this circumstance. My point was that even if wrong and annoying, Harper and his actions merited no fight. A credible veteran leader would have talked to him. Papelbon is neither credible nor a leader. I agree. I will point out that Mets TV announcers in a game a few months ago remarked how Harper didn't run out a ball, and talked about how it happened once in a while, "but he's such a great player" etc. So, I have a feeling this may not have been the first time these guys "talked" about it, and that's why it became such a blow up. It's not Papelbon's job -- who appointed him of all people the hustle police? Williams (who I think should be gone) benched Harper last year for lack of effort: espn.go.com/mlb/story/_/id/10808419/washington-nationals-bench-bryce-harper-lack-effortIn this context, already eliminated from post-season, the context is different.
|
|
|
Post by BubbleVisionBiff on Sept 29, 2015 5:20:47 GMT -5
Harper had already said he had a scheduled day off on Monday after the incident on Sunday night, so this "retroactive suspension" s a bit rich from Williams.
Also, how many times did Pap choke out Manny, Big Papi or Ryan Howard for not running out grounders? Just curious.
|
|