Bryce Harper Megathread

ChapelHillMatt said:
I honestly wouldn't care, he can do whatever he wants. People in this country have gotten far too sensitive imo.
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I think of it in another way. Are players now so selfish where they have to celebrate an individual accomplishment so much?
 
KeithLockhart said:
Harper's HBP had to do with two things:

1) Freeman was hit earlier, that's retaliation.

2) Homerun trot and the bat flip showing up Teheran.

I'm sure his comments about this not being over etc were also part of the feelings to send him a message.

There are unwritten rules of baseball in the clubhouse.

1) You never show up the pitcher. Hit a homerun and act like you've done it before. I will admit I was none too pleased with Justin's trot the other night, and Juan Francisco's consistent self-admiiration.

2) You protect your teammates. That's what Teheran did after the Freeman AB. Maddux was one of the best at protecting his teammates with HBP's. There's a Maddux-Tale of a pitcher nailing one of our guys during a late August-September game one year... the next time the Braves played that team and pitcher was the next season in late May or June, and Maddux went into Bobby's office and said "Are we still on?" and Bobby had no clue what he was talking about, and Maddux brought up how he was the guy that nailed one of our guys and if it was time to retaliate and Bobby gave him the green light.
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Heard a guy on the radio make the comment that when you feel confident enough to plunk someone after a hr, or comment, or celebration that you aren't a rookie anymore. I like that Teheran is showing he isn't afraid, and isn't gonna take **** off anyone. I like it.
 
Teheran's response reminded me of this one on YouTube:

Note: The video quality is poor but Steve Avery sure didn't take no crap.
 
gilesfan said:
It was certainly intentional. Look at the situation, they were going to pitch around Harper with first open to face Zimmerman anyways so Teheran saved 4 pitches and was able to send a message as well. McCann giving Teheran the middle finger signal probably shows as much. Besides, when was Teheran's fastball 3 feet away from plate?
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Did McCann really call the pitch with his middle finger? Please tell me there is a picture if so.
 
I saw it last night too. Looked more like a strap or piece of equipment hanging down that a finger. I think it was an optical illusion.
 
Dang. Good memory. I had forgotten all about that one. Funny that Marquis Grissom, by everyone's account the nicest guy on the field, was the first one out there.

It also reminds me a little bit of the story Rick Sutcliffe told about Greg Maddux, from Greg's rookie season. Andre Dawson had been hit, and Maddux was on the mound with a lead and a chance to get his first career win. Sutcliffe told Maddux not to worry about retaliating, to hang in there long enough to get the win. Maddux hit a guy the next inning and was ejected, losing his shot at the victory but winning the clubhouse.

The "unwritten rule" stuff gets a little silly, but at least give JT credit for hitting Harper in the leg. Better than Ian Kennedy's bs from earlier this year.
 
I kind of hope that Julio did hit Harper on purpose out of retaliation for the bat flip and stare, if only because it would prove that Teheran is capable of actual human emotion.
 
MadduxFanII said:
I kind of hope that Julio did hit Harper on purpose out of retaliation for the bat flip and stare, if only because it would prove that Teheran is capable of actual human emotion.
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Yeah, that kid is cool. Cool with a little bit of an edge is a pretty good combination.
 
thethe said:
I think of it in another way. Are players now so selfish where they have to celebrate an individual accomplishment so much?
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Sports are designed for enjoyment, although pro sports are a business they still are playing the game we all played for free as a kid. If you take celebrating out then you remove the fun element.
 
ChapelHillMatt said:
Well if it was intentional then I stand corrected and I have no problem with Harper's reaction. No excuse for throwing at another player.
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I think it was a complete over reaction on Harper's part even if it was intentional. It's part of the game, and it's not like Teheran thew at his head. He hit him in the thigh.
 
ChapelHillMatt said:
I honestly wouldn't care, he can do whatever he wants. People in this country have gotten far too sensitive imo.
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No, it's not about sensitivity. It's called professionalism and too many of today's players don't act like professionals.

And as far as throwing at guys, if you act like a d*ck, you face the consequences. It happens in every sport. It's just more obvious in baseball.
 
gilesfan said:
Do you believe Justin Upton should have been thrown at after Monday night?
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"Should"? — Who cares? I like Upton and I absolutely loathe Harper; that's enough for me to enjoy how this whole thing went down.
 
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