You’ve played 63 innings this year. Chris Speier yelled at me so much one time I almost had tears in my eyes. You’ve earned that right.
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Here’s what went down: MVP-candidate Bryce Harper didn’t run hard after hitting a pop-up. “I always brag about the fact that you don’t see our players’ names in the newspaper except in your sports columns. That bothered me”. “We discussed about the nature of the incident and how I felt it was an unacceptable way to handle yourself as a Washington National”.
Papelbon’s season is over.
Papelbon also accepted a three-game suspension from Major League Baseball for throwing at Baltimore’s Manny Machado.
After the 12-5 loss, Williams claimed he never would have sent Papelbon back out to the mound if he knew the exact extent of the fight. Then he turned to return to the dugout.
Papelbon then reached for Harper’s throat with his left hand and shoved the outfielder back toward the bench with both arms. “He’s under contract”, Rizzo said about Papelbon.
Harper was held out of the home finale against the Reds for “his part in the altercation” with Papelbon, manager Matt Williams said.
“He was involved in it”, Williams told reporters.
“Part of the thing that has gotten Jonathan success is the edge he has”, said Bishop Kenny High administrator Bob West, who was Papelbon’s baseball coach at BK. “He’ll stare down hitters, do just enough to get in somebody’s craw”. The fight with Harper made national news and came less than 24 hours after the Nationals had been eliminated from playoff contention. So we’re supposed to believe this was about Papelbon, who was once suspended for grabbing his crotch in the direction of booing fans, wanting Harper to play the game the right way? Michael Wacha (17-6, 3.15 ERA) pitches for the banged-up Cardinals against Charlie Morton (9-8, 4.54). His pay was not withheld, though, in contrast to Papelbon.
That applies to Williams’ status, too, Rizzo said. The day after that, the Nats’ season comes to a merciful end.
Let’s be straight up: Nobody is arguing against hustle. “That’s what this whole clubhouse needs”, Harper said.
On Saturday, Cormier will have a chance to display his fighting expertise, when he defends his light heavyweight crown against Alexander Gustafsson at UFC 192. “(But) you could see by the way we weighted the disciplinary actions (that) we felt who was more at fault than the other”.
When he eventually did see video of Papelbon clutching at Harper’s neck, Williams said, “I was upset”. I take full responsibility for the quality of players that we put on the field.
Asked whether he was disappointed at the way the Washington portion of his season ended, Harper said: “I’ve got three more years at Nats Park”.
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The incident capped a disappointing season for the Nationals, who began the year with World Series aspirations but have failed to make the play-offs.
