"On a stage like this, in this environment, was he [Harper] wrong to do it? Absolutely. But in a situation like this, I'm sure it deserves an warning. That was an awfully quick trigger. If he stood there and argued and showed him up, I could see it. But he walked right back to the dugout with his head down."
(CSN Manager Tim Chambers, via Bob Nightengale/USA Today, 6/3/2010)
Video above: Bryce Harper got himself tossed from a JUCO World Series game Wednesday after drawing in the dirt with his bat following a questionable third strike call. As Bob Nightengale reports in USA Today, the ejection could bring a close to Harper's amateur career: Because of another ejection earlier in the season, Harper will be suspended for two games. College of Southern Nevada would need to win its next two in order for Harper to play again.
Interestingly enough, Harper got himself in trouble with the opposing team earlier during last night's game.
A contentious moment had already taken place early on as Harper stepped on the lower leg of Gators first baseman Deric Hawkins, who was trying to take a throw to complete a double play in the first inning.
After some shouting between Harper and several San Jacinto players and coaches, order was restored.
(via Las Vegas Review-Journal, 6/2/2010)
None of this changes the fact that the Nationals are a lock to select Harper with the #1 pick in Monday's MLB Draft. But maybe the suspension is a good thing: it removes the possibility of him getting his butt kicked and potentially injured by the opposing JUCO team(s) he seems to have endeared himself to this season.
Bring Baseball Jesus 2.0 to D.C. intact, please!
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Tough break. The ball was a foot outside; i would have made a comment as well. Even for college strike zones that was abhorrent.
It has been a ridiculously bad year for umpiring. Joe West is a disgrace, the guy who tossed Oswalt nearly as bad. Last night's unbelievably bad blown call in a historic situation...
Posted by: Todd Boss | June 03, 2010 at 11:25 AM
Trending very poorly now. Who remembers the magical 2005 season truely started to unravel with disaterous road trips to San Diego and Houston? Can St. Steven of Strasburg save us from Re-Embracing the Bad?
Hmm....
C'mon, y'all know the melody ...
Strikeouts aplenty and errors in bunches,
Lack of clutch hitting and picked off base runners,
Out sucking the suckiest team in the league,
These are a few of our Nationals things
oom pah pah, oom pah pah
Poor fielding decisions and missing the bases,
Tons of unearned runs and matador defense,
Another strong outing torpedoed again,
These are a few of our Nationals things
When St Steven
Makes his debut
Can he save us all?
Or will he fall prey to our Nationals things?
And then we will feel, so bad.
Posted by: DMan | June 03, 2010 at 12:10 PM
If you thought last night was Astociuos, wait till you see today's recap. Capps and errors gas away another game in the bottom of the ninth after the Nats came from behind to take the lead. Riggles had Guz in right field again and boy did it cost them. Thankfully I was at work and didn't have to watch this game. I'd be shopping for a new TV if I did. Hopefully it is only temporary, but the bad is back right now. Go ahead, re-embrace it. You know you want to ...
Posted by: DMan | June 03, 2010 at 05:30 PM