Thursday, August 11, 2011

Harper ejected after arguing call



CHICAGO -- Bryce Harper was ejected from Wednesday night's game at Class AA Harrisburg after arguing a called third strike, the latest display of emotion from the Nationals' top farmhand.

Harper, 18, took an outside 3-2 fastball in the bottom of the seventh inning from Richmond pitcher Eric Surkamp, then began to trot to first base believing he had drawn a walk. Plate umpire Max Guyll, though, called the pitch a strike.

Harper turned back toward the plate and slammed his helmet to the ground in frustration, at which point Guyll (who, according to the Patriot-News had drawn the ire of players on both sides for his generous strike zone) ejected him. Harper then argued in Guyll's face
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28 comments:

Soul Possession, PFB Sofa said...

Rookies will get rung up for playing umpire every time. Wait until Blue tells you to go. Especially when he's having an off day.

natsfan1a said...

Two down, one to go. After he gets called up to AAA, he can complete the MiLB ejection cycle. ;-)

Wonder whether the ump may have said something there that set him off. In the video, Harper stopped short for a sec and then turned around and went into tantrum mode. (I've seen better rants, but the kid's young. He'll learn as he goes. Looks like he may be developing a nice dirt-kicking move, though.)

"It was the first Class AA ejection for Harper, arguably the game's No. 1 prospect and a player highly visible no matter the situation or emotion on display."

Anonymous said...

Love the kids competitiveness.

Anonymous said...

Keep making excuses for disrespectful behavior and you promote it... talented or not, is this how you want your team represented?

Doc said...

Me too Anon. at 11:47

That was Oppo Boppo's strike zone as much as it was the ump's.

Gooooooooooooo Bryce! Kick that dirt!

P.S. Analyse Lou Pinella videos for greater technique!

Bowdenball said...

Breaking News! Bryce Harper is the first baseball player in the history of the game to be ejected after losing his temper over a terrible call!

I think we can all agree that he is a disgrace and an embarrassment to the sport and the organization. I hope they release him and any other member of the organization who has ever been ejected for arguing balls and strikes.

In fact, that's not enough. Let's ban them from the game completely.

Drew8 said...

Part of the frustration is that he was going up against a tought lefty in Surkamp, the Giants' AA ace.

That was some pitchers' duel. Surkammp struck out 9, walked one and allowed one earned run over 7.2 innings.

Martis was great, too. He struck out 10 and did not allow a walk. He allowed one earned over 7 and dropped his ERA to 3.05.

sunderland said...

Anon 12:00, actually yes, this is how I want my team represented. He's intense, but he was controlled, there was no tirade. He didn't go all Yadier on the dude.
It's obvious he does not do this every day. I'm completely fine with this.

MC 703 said...

I was the biggest dumba$$ when I was 19.

We all were.

Mark'd said...

I saw Zim last year do the same thing. At what point does this stop being news?

Big Cat said...

Me too....I want my team represented like this. As a team that comes to play everyday. As a team that will play hard....break up the double play hard at second, take the extra base etc. A team that hates to lose. A team that has a passion for the game. Yep, I'll take that in a minute!

NatsLady said...

Boy, be glad for Carp and FP. All the Mets guys do is talk about what they are eating. Same with the homers on a couple of other teams I watched while on my trip, who ate cake on air for about 20 minutes...

NatsLady said...

The San Diego guys are telling us who went to high school with whom (baseball players) which is at least marginally more interesting than who puts what on their hot dog.

natsfan1a said...

Mustard, preferably spicy. Maybe some chopped tomato. A little bit of pickle. Is it lunch time yet?

In other news, is today's makeup game going to be on tv? It's not listed on my cable program guide.

Anonymous said...

Wonder whether the ump may have said something there that set him off. In the video, Harper stopped short for a sec and then turned around and went into tantrum mode.

Spiking the helmet is automatic grounds for ejection, in MLB for sure and probably also in the minors. So Harper's turn-around and tantrum was probably in response to the ump tossing him.

Matk'd said...

Big Cat, all true through and through except you can't get thrown out of the game. Harper will be a great part of the team and bring the energy and youthful enthusiasm.

natsfan1a said...

Speaking of broadcasters, watched a televised SF Giants game while I was away. Also watched a bit of an A's game. Kinda made me miss Bob and FP.

On a tangential note, it was Grateful Dead night at the Giants game, and there was a Jerry Garcia doppelganger in the crowd, along with lots of folks sporting tie-dyed tees. A couple of former band members performed the anthem along with the Giants' third base coach. Dudes.

Anonymust said...

So long as BHARPER isn't doing Nyjer......And getting his teammates plunked or running off the straight line of the basepaths to take out a catcher.

Doc said...

RE: Broadcasters & Game Analysts

I've been stuck listening to Cubbie guys, because of the black-out of Nats @ Cubs games. I have also had black-outs for other Nats' games when they have been in other respective team broadcast areas.

Even allowing for all broadcasters being Homers, I really think that FP and Bobby C. are more professional than most of these guys.

Can't wait to tune in with them on the mikes!

NatsLady said...

Here is an interesting article about managerial changes upcoming which doesn't even mention the Nats (unless I missed it). Guess the sports world has lost interest...

http://www.foxsportsmidwest.com/08/09/11/La-Russa-one-of-many-in-coaching-carouse/landing_stlcardinals.html?blockID=545448&feedID=3713

Drew8 said...

Speaking of changing perceptions, chew on this:

Player A

.226 batting average, 17 homers, 55 RBI, 12 SB, a .311 OBP, slugging .416, has an OPS of .727.

Player B

.226 batting average, 14 homers, 44 RBI, 14 SB, a .332 OBP, slugging .387, has an OPS of .719.

The way they're trending, Werth might wind up with a better offensive season than Danny Espinosa.

SonnyG10 said...

Enjoyed the video of Harper's tirade. I don't mind the way he is representing the organization at all. Let him get it out of his system before he comes up to the majors. At that point I don't want the team to lose his seervices because of an ejection.

Kevin Rusch, Section406 said...

the _only_ thing that I can criticize, and this is searching for nits, is the 2-steps-to-first thing. If he'd stayed in the box, he might have gotten the call anyway, and rightly or wrongly, umps don't like it when you think you know how they'll rule.

m20832 said...

well of course. Since the umpire is supposed to be objective and call balls and strikes according to the "real strike zone" and not his own little game plan.
Ooooh...the batter left the batters box before the call. Seen it many a time and the umpire calls it the correct way, usually. Not so he can show up the player who he thinks "slighted" him by leaving early.
If the pitch is low and away off the plate as that pitch to Harper was, it should have been called a ball.
And this is the reason umpires are villified. Look up West, Joe or Hernandez, Angel for examples. When these umpires are calling your game, be prepared for a lousy game.

Big Cat said...

Yes MatK.....if this happens a lot, there is a problem. He can't help his team in the shower. Agree 100%.

Please don't confuse this with that idiot Nyjer. He was a loose cannon who was lucky he didn't get somebody killed. His hitting of the catcher was a cheap shot as far as I was concerned. So glad he is gone. He will wear out his welcome with the Brewers, just you watch

gonatsgo said...

Saw the video -- looked pretty tame to me. I am positive that every single player in mlb history has showed some frustration and anger at some point and chucked something. I am also sure that every single 18 year old in the history of the world has acted inappropriately at some point. He'll be fine.It's not like he does it every day. He's not Nyger-like. I have to say that I love his intensity and that is just part of the package.

Anonymous said...

Sec 3 has it right. The pitch did look outside (although video angle is way off), but the Bush League ump (literally) seemed to call him out for leaving the box before he made his call.

There is a reason the ump is still in AA ball. And he showed why he won't go very far -- unlike Harper.

I feel for the kid. Everyone gives him Sh#@ -- whatever level he plays on -- he constantly get sh#@. Now even the Bush league umps are giving him sh#@.

I'm telling you; he would be a helleva lot safer playing up in the Bigs where he belongs -- now.

I say: fire the umpire. He is one of those "Bad" ones.

Anonymous said...

That was a run of the mill ejection. No bats flying, headlock restraints, spitting. The only reason it's newsworthy is because it's Harper.

No big deal. Every blogger's got to post it or feel like they're left behind.

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