Bryce Harper Sportsmanship

cant teach maturity....it will come....

I'm fairly sure that someone in the organization will set him straight....or the game will teach him a lesson down the road....

The first vet who takes a ball in the ribs, due to his immaturity will make it a point to counsel him.....

He may want to get used to the feeling of getting drilled. He will not have a very long time in the game if he keeps this up. Professional pitchers will hit him regularly, with great accuracy. A pitched baseball can be a very dangerous thing....

This is not the first time it's been reported that he acted like a punk. Obviously his behavior never caught up to his talent.

I hope the Nationals sit him down and tell him how to act like a pro. Players get plunked all the time, take it like a man, not a child, and get your revenge with the bat, just like he did. I know he's young but not even many high school players would pull this stunt.

Baseball has unwritten rules on how to handle these situations. Harper may have MLB skills but he still has a lot of growing up to do in the area of maturity.

Most 8 year olds that I have known would not be this immature....

Someone (parents, coach, teammates) needs to teach this guy how to handle himself.

Not surprised.....makes a joke out of all the talent he could be.....

Not that I like it but he is just 18. Im sure it has or will be dealt with by the team.

Maybe- just maybe- we have a little bit of overreaction here. Should he have done it? Of course not. Sure he really pimped that homer, but who knows what the pitcher said to him or if there was any backstory. I think he'll be ok and he'll figure out what he can't do. Maybe a few tough lessons to be learned, but I think I'll bet on his talent.

Emanski - I don't think any of us are questioning Harper's talent, that is pretty well documented. But, I don't think talent is an excuse for poor sportsmanship.

Based on the stories I heard from players who interacted with him when he was on the travel ball circuit this is not suprising behavior. Sometimes maturity is slow to come to those who have grown up being told they are gifted beyond expectations. I hope he finds some humility before it is thrust upon him.

quote:

Originally posted by YesReally:
Based on the stories I heard from players who interacted with him when he was on the travel ball circuit this is not suprising behavior. Sometimes maturity is slow to come to those who have grown up being told they are gifted beyond expectations. I hope he finds some humility before it is thrust upon him.

YesReally - i agree....My point as well....with SOO many folks watching...being ABOVE reproach should be the goal...despite the level of maturity

And that's not the worst thing he's done on a field this year--it's appearing with that sad excuse for a mustache!

Typical jerk spoiled punk. He needs a good drilling. Not the type of player to pull for.

Don't sugar coat it zomby, tells what you really think!

Last year a HS kid hit a home run and rounded the bases blowing kisses to the kids in the stands. Next time he came up a pitching change was made and the pitcher hit him in the ribs with a hard FB. The kid took his base and tried not to let the pain show, but then knelt down to the base for a few seconds. Needless to say the opposing fans were blowing him kisses as he went to the bench.

I suspect Harper or one of his teammates will pay a similar price. He will either learn from the pitcher or the blanket party he receives from his teammates if he keeps it up.

I agree it was stupid and arrogant but on the other hand like Emanski said, there may be a whole lot more background to this than these few seconds of video show. Therefore I will not be too quick to label the kid.

I don't know the background either, but the pitcher is from my area and I am not aware of him having sportsmanship issues in his youth, high school or college days...

If you read the article it talks about him getting hit by a pitch on the knee the night before. So yes, I am thinking there IS more to this story than just what is on the video. Not condoing what he did but these guys play with great emotion and intensity.

The kiss didn't bother me NEARLY as much as the grandstanding and/or pimping it at the plate as soon as he hit it. That's the **** that makes my blood boil.

Act like you've been there before. geez.

I don't think the "back story" is the issue here. If it was, that is what we would be talking about. If there is a back story it unfolded in such a way that very few people know about it. A hitter blowing a kiss to a pitcher after a HR is not the same. Everyone that sees it knows what it is immediately. The sad part about this is now it will be "out there" forever. The first time he hiccups in The Show, this video will surface. Unless Mr. Harper does a complete 180, I think this clip will have some legs....

Dave

He is either a kid or he is an adult.

He is getting the privileges of being an adult, so his behavior needs to evaluated as one. I get tired of hearing people say "he is only 18" or "he is still just a kid". Well, he doesn't play like a kid and he isn't getting paid like a kid, so why is it okay for him to act like a kid when playing?

I don't care what the back story is or what the other team's players were saying to him. He should have run around the bases, kept his mouth shut and then sat his butt down on the bench.

Link to an article on player in general and references the incident under discussion....

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/s...OME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT

I agree with dw8man....if you are going to enter the world of "adults" at 18 (young numberic age), then you better be able to conduct yourself like an adult.....cannot have it both ways.....

Well he is only 18!

quote:

Originally posted by Three Bagger:
And that's not the worst thing he's done on a field this year--it's appearing with that sad excuse for a mustache!

I was thnking the same thing. I think we know who Harpers hero is now.


Check out about 1:55 into the video.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=neHgPKWY4Qg

I saw the highlight of the blown kiss last night on Sportscenter. My wife and I looked at each other, and we just shook our head's. She then reminded me of an incident from a 13U USSSA tournament five years ago. I was on the bucket calling pitches in the opposing dugout during a tournament game. Bryce (who played for numerous travel teams) was on a very good team out of Arizona. Our pitcher struck him out for the second time in the game, and needless to say, Harper didn't agree with the call. He was ejected from the game, and had a major temper tantrum that escalated into the Big League Dreams restaurant, and he was subsequently removed completely from the park...it was crazy. I don't know Bryce Harper personally, but I have friends that have spent some time with him and they say he's a great kid. Obviously he has some additional maturing to do, and no doubt the Nationals will talk to him.

If we are going to talk about acting like an adult, then why are the childish base throwing, dirt kicking tantrums of managers accepted and even reverenced as part of the game?

Double standard if you ask me. Don't care for any taunting type behavior myself, nor for the tantrums.

I belong to another local baseball discussion site and a buddy of mine attended the first game that Harper's team was playing against the Rome Braves this spring.

A big crowd was waiting on the bus to arrive with much anticipation and fanfare to see Harper and hopefully get an autograph. As Harper walked by, my buddy stuck his Sharpie and baseball out (like everyone else was) and he said it brushed his arm. Harper stopped, looked at him, and started hollering and berating him "why did he hit him with the basell...how dare he...who did he think he was...etc etc etc". Then walked off without signing anything.

What a great first impression!

Doesn't bother me. Strike him out, next time, and he won't do it.

You don't think this guy hears it everywhere he goes- from the stands, from the dugouts, on tv, on the radio?

lol, if this upsets anyone, they'd better watch the Stanley Cup Finals with the sound muted.

quote:

Originally posted by YesReally:
Based on the stories I heard from players who interacted with him when he was on the travel ball circuit this is not suprising behavior. Sometimes maturity is slow to come to those who have grown up being told they are gifted beyond expectations. I hope he finds some humility before it is thrust upon him.

I agree with your statement! If he sticks, the game and the other players will teach him humility, a behavior that he has not yet been required to learn.

There probably is a bit more history here. Some, super focused, competitive personalities succeed because they thrive on diversity and like nothing better than rubbing your nose in it.

I too doubt he is a Saint and if he were my boy I'd be echoing FloridaFans comment; "act like you've been here and you belong here for goodness (I probably wouldn't use this word) sakes!

I will watch him play for awhile, if he makes it and and puts together a decent career , before passing judgement on his character. But, definitely a punk a.. reaction.

But then, no one started a thread on Zambrano's shananigans on the mound and he definitely should know better. Again, talented, competitive, but doesn't understand what behavior is or isn't acceptable. There too, I don't personally know what kind of person he is...

As should be the case, hopefully the players will handle it!!

`
You do not blow kisses in sports or you pay the price like this guy does in the video clip

http://youtu.be/OIYO_Nh2vRc

`

If the back story is being hit in the knee the night before, well, that's not much of a story. Any HBP below the waist isn't squat.

He's 18 and obviously immature. He's a premadonna at this point. Drill him in the ribs a few games in a row and he'll quickly learn to play the game without the drama.

Regardless of whether he got hit, or the pitcher stared him down, no kissy face allowed. It was inappropriate, he already showed them up by hitting a HR.
I am not sure why they allow him to act as he does, but my opinion is that much of it is jealousy, and he hasn't learned how to deal with being Bryce Harper.
He over matches low A ball players, if I were the GM, I would place him where he needs to work a little harder for the money he's earned, and to help him to grow up.

JMO.

Wow he really pimped that one. I'm truly looking forward to his interviews while wearing sunglasses and infinite self-references in the third person.

"Yeah Bryce is looking forward to staying at Ritz-Carltons on the road."

A promotion or two resulting in a dose of humility will speed his accent. You can't go to the big leagues do that.

This type of garbage is why I don't watch much football anymore. If the Nationals allow him to get away with these type of antics now, how will he be in the future. I hope they drill him every time he comes to the plate, matter of fact, drill in the on deck circle, for that matter drill when he gets of the bus.

Apparently Too old for this feels that Harper is Too old for that.

I see the home plate umpire REALLY get down the line as Harper watches the ball go out. Maybe there was bad blood?

I also see the pitcher walking towards 3B line and staring him down. Most likely, in response to Harper watching the HR.

Bottom line is Harper is young. I really don't think too much of the incident other than chalking it up to immaturity.

You got it skipper!

You know you can see someone do something the first time you ever see them and it's a very negative thing. In that small snapshot of that person's life most people will make a judgement about that person that they aren't good. Nobody wants to be judged by a single snapshot of something negative they did. But when you start putting snapshots together of a person from MANY people then you can start to see a trend. Maybe that trend is who they are and maybe it's not. But it does speak volumes.

I've never watched Harper play in person and really haven't seen him that much on TV so I don't have a snapshot of him. But I do see the snapshots all of you guys across America have of him and I'm seeing a trend that's not a good one. He may have all the talent in the world but if he doesn't figure things out this game will crush him. He may be the next shoulda, coulda, woulda guy.

What is the kid...18? How would any of us have liked to have every one of our actions at 18 under the microscope his actions are under? He's a little immature...sure, he's 18. He's a punk at times...sure, he's 18. All in all, I would say he handles himself awfully well for an 18 year old when everyone is looking for every possible flaw.

18=adult. Many of us if you were to put our actions under a microscope would be just fine. He's a punk.