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Bryce Harper Sportsmanship

TPMTPMHSBaseballweb Member since 2003
quote:
Originally posted by rz1:
quote:
Originally posted by TPM:
Young players do stupid stuff all of the time, they drink, they miss curfew, they come late to practice, they don't practice, they take drugs, and yes they get ejected.


"All the time"....come on, give the 95% IMO a little more credit. What % of the thousands past and present MiLB players do you think follow the Bryce Harper road of behavior, and what happens to most of those who do?


My point was that I don't see what he did as stupid compared to what others do.
What happens to most who do what, get ejected?
getagoodpitchtohitgetagoodpitchtohit100+ posts
quote:
Originally posted by Midlo Dad:
A lot of this reminds me of the discussions here regarding Robert Stock some years ago, and more recently, Stephen Strasburg.

Meaning, there seems to be an element that sees someone having huge success and lets the green-eyed monster get the better of them. How else do you explain this seeming desire to find fault in every little thing the young man does?

As for the blowing the kiss thing: He hit a HR. The pitcher stood on the mound as he rounded the bases spewing profanities at him. It was a pure attempt to get a rise out of him and possibly to intimidate him. Instead of starting a fight, he blew the guy a kiss. What better way to say, "You don't bother me?" A lot of other guys would have charged the mound and given that guy a knuckle sandwich. In Virginia, if you use "fighting words", it's actually a criminal act because of the tendency to incite others to violence. Here the pitcher invited a fight and Harper defused it. I actually think he handled that situation pretty darned well, but for some reason we have people who want to act like HE was the problem.

I also saw the replay on the ejection. He got rung up in a game-critical AB on a pitch that was about a foot outside. I'm not going to say that losing his cool was admirable, but folks need to realize the only reason it's even news is because of who he is and what he's achieved. Players get ejected every day and no one cares, some even call it "fire in the belly" or credit a guy for "getting his team fired up". Most of those throwing stones here would forgive the same behavior in themselves or in their sons, would heckle the ump from the stands, and would gripe on a web board the next day about how they got jobbed by a call.

People need to wake up and realize that this kid is the real deal. He's doing very well in the minors and he's going to be an exciting player. As far as I know he's done it all according to the rules, he's broken no laws, used no steroids, done no drugs, etc. Personally, living only 2 hours from Nats Park, I'm thinking that by the end of next year I'm heading up there to see Strasburg pitch and Harper hit, all in the same game. I can't see any reason not to be fans of these guys.

Great post Midlo!!!

Maybe all you "holier-than-thous" should read this.
getagoodpitchtohitgetagoodpitchtohit100+ posts
quote:
Originally posted by njbb:
Here is part of an interview with Tim Pahuta who is Harpers team mate.



GM: Bryce Harper nearly hit a 500-foot home run to win Friday night's game. Why don't you guys hit 500-foot home runs every game?

TP: “Baseball is *******' hard. It's not easy to hit a baseball. Plus the guy on the mound isn't bad. He's good at what he does, too.”

GM: Speaking of Harper, his ejection Wednesday drew national exposure. You earned a similarly passionate ejection earlier this season. What if your ejection was played on MLB Network and ESPN?

TP: “It's totally different. He's under a microscope. Almost everybody in this game gets ejected. If you play with passion like myself or Harper, you're going to get ejected. His was on ESPN just because of who he is. They made it seem like he was out of control. He is not.”

GM: If you could change anything about the media, what would you do?

TP: “I just wish they wouldn't make a big deal out of stuff that isn't a big deal.”

GM: Harper joined you and Alex Valdez with walk-off home runs this year for the Senators. What's the proper way to celebrate a walk-off?

TP: “There's really not a bad way to celebrate aside from showing up the other team. You don't want to rub it in because they're out there trying to win as much as you are.”

And this.

Apparently his teammates see things quite differently.
Coach_MayCoach_May10,000+ posts
People have a right to their own opinion. In this thread everyone has voiced their opinion. What I find annoying quite honestly is people trying to tell other people that their opinion is wrong while trying to convince others that their opinion is right. Guess what? Your not going to convince someone that their opinion is wrong and yours is right simply basing your argument on your opinion. Why do some people feel they have to win in these situations? Just state your opinion and allow others to state theirs and let it go.

13 pages? Really? We have had topics that are way more important to this site and those that come here to get valuable and needed information and hardly no one responds. But then we get 13 pages on this topic? Someone go ahead and get in the last word and call yourself the winner.

To those that think Harper is a spoiled immature young man fine thats your opinion. To those that think he is misundestood and the target of jealousy fine thats your opinion. Both are standing on the same ground. Opinions based on nothing more than what you have read or heard and just opinions. Who is right? Only time will tell. And what do you get for being right? Who cares.

The only thing this thread has accomplished is hard feelings. IMO threads like that need to go away.
rz1rz15,000+ posts
Concerning the interview with Tim Pahuta.

quote:
Baseball is ******* hard

Enough said about Pahuta's "common sense", interview ability, and potential caveman mentality, a fine personal reference Roll Eyes IMO. This is but one teammate, and you will never hear the negatives of others because of the "stays in the locker room" rule.
Last edited by rz1
TPMTPMHSBaseballweb Member since 2003
quote:
Originally posted by Coach_May:
People have a right to their own opinion. In this thread everyone has voiced their opinion.


I agree with you, lots of pages spent on others tyring to tell others that their opinion is wrong. But that is a lot about what message boards are all about. I have never seen a message board community where people always agree.

However, the best response in this topic was by Midlodad, he hit the nail on the head on many points.

And that's my opinion and I am sticking to it! Razz Smile
N njbb1,000+ posts
quote:
Originally posted by rz1:
Concerning the interview with Tim Pahuta.

quote:
Baseball is ******* hard

Enough said about Pahuta's "common sense", interview ability, and potential caveman mentality, a fine personal reference Roll Eyes . This is but one teammate, and you will never hear the negatives of others because of the "stays in the locker room" rule.


I just want to say that Tim did not use a curse word in his interview he used a slang word and this web site bleeped it.
And have you ever met him to refer to him in such a way Roll Eyes
rz1rz15,000+ posts
quote:
Originally posted by njbb:
I just want to say that Tim did not use a curse word in his interview he used a slang word and this web site bleeped it.
And have you ever met him to refer to him in such a way Roll Eyes

My bad, I apologize. The *'s matched up rather well. I still don't understand the bleeped slang. Was it interview "smart" language?
Last edited by rz1
getagoodpitchtohitgetagoodpitchtohit100+ posts
quote:
Originally posted by Coach_May:
People have a right to their own opinion.......

13 pages? Really? ...... But then we get 13 pages on this topic?


I have no hard feelings. I see it as spirited debate. But I gotta agree with Coach May that 13 pages does seem a little ridiculous, no matter how you feel about that subject. However, I predict that this thread will live on for quite sometime. All this says something else. He has not even reached the show and he is becoming as polarizing a figure as anyone in the game today. I get the feeling if/when he gets there he is the kind of player that everybody wants on their team, but he is booed and heckled unlike anyone else on the road while he can do no wrong in DC. All sports need players like this. They ignite the fans, spurring passion and interest. Unless he totally fails, he is going to be the subject of this sort of attention and debate for years to come.
fenwaysouthfenwaysouth10,000+ posts
Did anybody see Harper get tossed (by CJ Buckner) last night because he threw his helmet to the ground after hitting into a double play?

While I would not promote throwing the helmet, this was a case of "Blue" over stepping his authority just for the heck of it. Harper didn't dispute the out call, and was clearly upset with himself. CJ Buckner had a "too quick trigger finger" on this one.
P Prime91,000+ posts
quote:
Originally posted by trojan-skipper:
In every poll of players or umps, CB Bucknor finishes as the worst ump in the MLB.


True, he seems to be the Umpire at the center of more than his share of controversies. Not sure who evaluates his performance, how he's rated and thus, how he keeps his job?? It's not as if there aren't a lot of good Umpire candidates looking for a gig like his.

I nominate PIAA_UMP!!
Last edited by Prime9
CADadCADad5,000+ posts
Coach May,
IMO, if it weren't for threads like this there wouldn't be very many threads. There aren't many people like you, who can tactfully disagree based on facts and simply leave it there. If we could all do that threads would be short, polite and wouldn't have all that many views.

Sometimes being a passionate advocate of a position is interesting although as I've demonstrated along with others at times it can go too far.

IMO, although it isn't close this year, it is going to be fun to compare Trout and Harper over the coming years and debate their relative merits.
M Matt1310,000+ posts
quote:
Originally posted by fenwaysouth:
Did anybody see Harper get tossed (by CJ Buckner) last night because he threw his helmet to the ground after hitting into a double play?

While I would not promote throwing the helmet, this was a case of "Blue" over stepping his authority just for the heck of it. Harper didn't dispute the out call, and was clearly upset with himself. CJ Buckner had a "too quick trigger finger" on this one.


No, he didn't. This is automatic.
M Matt1310,000+ posts
quote:
Originally posted by fenwaysouth:
Matt13,

So everytime a Major Leaguer throws his helmet it is an automatic ejection? If this is the case, then it is not be enforced consistently. I've seen (live and on TV) a number or helmet tossings in past month with no ejections. Possibly Harper did it in front of the one guy that does enforce it. Thoughts?


Cite. I have never seen a helmet spike in the direction of the umpire or in protest of a call that didn't result in an ejection.
Last edited by Matt13
Jimmy03Jimmy031,000+ posts
quote:
Originally posted by fenwaysouth:
Matt13,

So everytime a Major Leaguer throws his helmet it is an automatic ejection? If this is the case, then it is not be enforced consistently. I've seen (live and on TV) a number or helmet tossings in past month with no ejections. Possibly Harper did it in front of the one guy that does enforce it. Thoughts?


I have never, in my 30 plus years of umpiring, at any level above JV, seen an umpire fail to eject a player who threw his helmet in reaction to a call or towards an umpires or from the dugout. I've seen at least four players ejected for this in the limited number of MLB games I've seen this year.
Jimmy03Jimmy031,000+ posts
quote:
Originally posted by CPLZ:
There are a handful of umps that consistently prove they are in over their heads, CB Bucknor, Alfonso Marquez, Lance Barrett. It is a wonder that these people keep their jobs in spite of their obvious incompetence.


You should apply for the position of evaluator of umpires with the MLB. Obviously you have the experience.
Tx-HuskerTx-Husker1,000+ posts
quote:
I have never, in my 30 plus years of umpiring, at any level above JV, seen an umpire fail to eject a player who threw his helmet in reaction to a call or towards an umpires or from the dugout.


There's no evidence he was upset with the call. Much more likely he was upset with himself over the at bat. He also didn't throw the helmet toward the ump. He threw it with his hand away from the ump and it happened to bounce a different direction but still landed more than a body's length away from the ump. You're reading things into the situation that didn't happen if you watch the tape. Should he have thrown his helmet, no. But should he have been tossed, no.
Jimmy03Jimmy031,000+ posts
quote:
Originally posted by J H:
Good thing everything I did when I was 19 wasn't on national television every night. I'd probably be banned from the country.

Age is not the issue. There are thousands of 19 years olds with the maturity that Harper lacks fighting for this country every day. Trout behaved appropriately at 19 as did most other ball players.

Harper went through high school and JC ball without having been held accountable for his actions. But hopefully, the Nats will work with him.
M Matt1310,000+ posts
quote:
Originally posted by Tx-Husker:
quote:
I have never, in my 30 plus years of umpiring, at any level above JV, seen an umpire fail to eject a player who threw his helmet in reaction to a call or towards an umpires or from the dugout.


There's no evidence he was upset with the call. Much more likely he was upset with himself over the at bat. He also didn't throw the helmet toward the ump. He threw it with his hand away from the ump and it happened to bounce a different direction but still landed more than a body's length away from the ump. You're reading things into the situation that didn't happen if you watch the tape. Should he have thrown his helmet, no. But should he have been tossed, no.


It's great that you get tape to watch.

I may have never been a professional umpire (oh, wait...) but if there is a banger of play where a helmet is projected forcefully into the ground, he's done before that helmet hits the ground a second time. There's no reading involved--hence, automatic. I'm not making a determination of why he did it, simply confirming that he is no longer a participant for that game.

The only time reading comes into play is figuring the rat factor on the part of the manager.
Last edited by Matt13
PD PA Dino500+ posts
The incident with Buckner:

CB Bucknor ejection


An incident in AA

Eric Surkamp ejection AA


It's a bad habit he's developed and it's going to be hard to break. Bucknor, no matter what his reputation for umpiring is, did the right thing and he did it immediately and emphatically. If Harper learns to control it before he is involved in a division series, league championship or world series game, then Bucknor will have done him a huge favor.

This is what Ryan Zimmerman, his own teammate, had to say:

quote:
“It was just terrible timing, a bad decision to begin with but those are the things that he has to learn,” Ryan Zimmerman said, via James Wagner. “Whenever he doesn’t do something or isn’t successful when he thinks he should be, he gets upset. We all do. We just don’t do that. We did it, a long time ago. He’s just doing it now. He knows he needs to stop.”


Interpretation - He hasn't matured yet.

The way it was explained to me when I was a kid by my father and the way I taught my kids.......throwing equipment because you are frustrated or angry is a display of disrespect and a form of excuse making. It is so important to learn that if I see you do it, you will be removed from the game so you can cool off and reflect on your immaturity. The piece of equipment did nothing to contribute to your failing to succeed.
fenwaysouthfenwaysouth10,000+ posts
quote:
TXHusker said....There's no evidence he was upset with the call. Much more likely he was upset with himself over the at bat. He also didn't throw the helmet toward the ump. He threw it with his hand away from the ump and it happened to bounce a different direction but still landed more than a body's length away from the ump. You're reading things into the situation that didn't happen if you watch the tape. Should he have thrown his helmet, no. But should he have been tossed, no.

quote:
biggerpapi said...I just watched the video. He should not have spiked his helmet. He should not have been ejected.
I agree. I was watching this game pretty closely. Harper was clearly upset with himself not the double play call. I thought the umpire over reacted and I think Bryce needs to grow up.

If that is the rule and it is consistently enforced by all umpires then I have no problem with it, but we all know that is not the case. I've seen other players do it, and remain in the game.
Last edited by fenwaysouth
CPLZCPLZ1,000+ posts
quote:
Originally posted by Jimmy03:
quote:
Originally posted by CPLZ:
There are a handful of umps that consistently prove they are in over their heads, CB Bucknor, Alfonso Marquez, Lance Barrett. It is a wonder that these people keep their jobs in spite of their obvious incompetence.


You should apply for the position of evaluator of umpires with the MLB. Obviously you have the experience.


Jimmy, why the smug comment? I watch plenty of pro baseball, enough that I can identify umpires and know their strengths and weaknesses. Most are great and amaze me at how they can make the close call with such great accuracy. Others are obviously nowhere near the same caliber of professional on a number of levels. I can have an intelligent and informed opinion without having to be an umpire. It's not hard to see when an ump's strike zone has no consistency or a base ump can't make a fair/foul or safe/out call correctly on a consistent basis (like CB).

That's generally not like you to come off as such a smug jerk and it was completely uncalled for.
Last edited by CPLZ
M Matt1310,000+ posts
quote:
Originally posted by CPLZ:
Jimmy, why the smug comment? I watch plenty of pro baseball, enough that I can identify umpires and know their strengths and weaknesses. Most are great and amaze me at how they can make the close call with such great accuracy. Others are obviously nowhere near the same caliber of professional on a number of levels.

That's generally not like you to come off as such a smug jerk, and it was completely uncalled for.


Simply watching baseball in no way qualifies one to evaluate umpires. Jimmy's comment was absolutely correct.

The fact that many posters' initial comments in this thread are not consistent with MLB's published directives to its umpires is Exhibit A.
Last edited by Matt13
CPLZCPLZ1,000+ posts
quote:
Originally posted by Matt13:
quote:
Originally posted by CPLZ:
Jimmy, why the smug comment? I watch plenty of pro baseball, enough that I can identify umpires and know their strengths and weaknesses. Most are great and amaze me at how they can make the close call with such great accuracy. Others are obviously nowhere near the same caliber of professional on a number of levels.

That's generally not like you to come off as such a smug jerk, and it was completely uncalled for.


Simply watching baseball in no way qualifies one to evaluate umpires. Jimmy's comment was absolutely correct. The fact that your initial comment in this thread is not consistent with MLB's published directives to its umpires is Exhibit A.


Matt, my initial comment was giving an example of three umpires that are consistently bad...please explain to us, in your expert opinion, how that is contrary to MLB's published directives?

Secondly, I wasn't talking to you, so why don't you just stay out of it.

Thirdly, what planet are you from?
Last edited by CPLZ
M Matt1310,000+ posts
quote:
Originally posted by CPLZ:
quote:
Originally posted by Matt13:
quote:
Originally posted by CPLZ:
Jimmy, why the smug comment? I watch plenty of pro baseball, enough that I can identify umpires and know their strengths and weaknesses. Most are great and amaze me at how they can make the close call with such great accuracy. Others are obviously nowhere near the same caliber of professional on a number of levels.

That's generally not like you to come off as such a smug jerk, and it was completely uncalled for.


Simply watching baseball in no way qualifies one to evaluate umpires. Jimmy's comment was absolutely correct. The fact that your initial comment in this thread is not consistent with MLB's published directives to its umpires is Exhibit A.


Matt, my initial comment was giving and example of three umpires that are consistently bad...please explain to us, in your expert opinion, how that is contrary to MLB's published directives?

What planet are you from?


I just edited it as you posted--I had you confused with someone else. My bad.
CPLZCPLZ1,000+ posts
quote:
Originally posted by Matt13:
quote:
Originally posted by CPLZ:
Secondly, I wasn't talking to you, so why don't you just stay out of it.


Wow, you actually edited your post to be more of a dick. No, I will not stay out of it, and if you have a problem with it, that's your get, not mine.


When you fire on someone, don't be so shocked when they fire back. Especially when you're dead wrong, like you were.

I was conversing specifically with someone who I have a conversational relationship with and you felt the need to interject yourself. Get over yourself.

A. You're not that important
B. Jimmy03 is quite capable of standing his own ground without your ignorant support.

If you were smart, you'd gracefully back out at this point...I guess we'll see.
Last edited by CPLZ
M Matt1310,000+ posts
quote:
Originally posted by CPLZ:
quote:
Originally posted by Matt13:
quote:
Originally posted by CPLZ:
Secondly, I wasn't talking to you, so why don't you just stay out of it.


Wow, you actually edited your post to be more of a dick. No, I will not stay out of it, and if you have a problem with it, that's your get, not mine.


When you fire on someone, don't be so shocked when they fire back. Especially when you're dead wrong, like you were.

I was conversing specifically with someone who I have a conversational relationship with and you felt the need to interject yourself. Get over yourself.

A. You're not that important
B. Jimmy03 is quite capable of standing his own ground without your ignorant support.


First off, I love the fact you call me ignorant.

Second off, may I remind you that I didn't fire a thing? I made one statement (which in no way was firing at you,) corrected it, and acknowledged it. You, on the other hand, decided to play childish games.

Lastly, as career Army, lose the avatar. You didn't earn it.
zombywoofzombywoof1,000+ posts
quote:
Originally posted by Jimmy03:

Age is not the issue. There are thousands of 19 years olds with the maturity that Harper lacks fighting for this country every day. Trout behaved appropriately at 19 as did most other ball players.

Harper went through high school and JC ball without having been held accountable for his actions. But hopefully, the Nats will work with him.


Exactly! Showing good sportsmanship is and can be taught and learned when they're young. All I read are just a bunch of lame excuses justifying Harper's spoiled brat behavior. While I get that
a little anger and frustration in not doing your job, you need to have some restraint and hold the temper tantrums at bay. So to say Harper only 19 or he a fiery competitor don't wash. He's a professional and needs to act like one.
CPLZCPLZ1,000+ posts
quote:
Originally posted by Matt13:

Lastly, as career Army, lose the avatar. You didn't earn it.


Your ignorance seems without end. 11b and then selected to serve with more professional units. No, I didn't go to West Point, my son did, I was just a dirt eating grunt enlisted s.o.b.

So save the puffy chested career Army garbage, I didn't get the chance because my butt came home on a stretcher and went home because of a med board. Most guys that run around feeling some greater sense of entitlement because they served in the military, telling people stuff like that, really never earned much at all. Does that describe you also?

How stupid are you?
Last edited by CPLZ
M Matt1310,000+ posts
quote:
Originally posted by CPLZ:
quote:
Originally posted by Matt13:

Lastly, as career Army, lose the avatar. You didn't earn it.


Your ignorance seems without end. 11b and then selected to serve with more professional units. So save the puffy chested career Army garbage.

How stupid are you?


That's funny, since I expect professionalism from my Soldiers. Now you see my confusion.
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