9/14 - 10/4 Game Discussion Thread

[Knight165]

Re: 9/14 - 10/4 Game Discussion Thread

great article from the Washington side of it: http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/s...d-out-of-date/

Adam Kilgore obviously doesn't understand the essential part of a team/group hierarchy and how seniority plays an essential part in keeping that unit from breaking down.
Senior players/men aren't always right, but when they are partaking in a very important part of the structure that a team/group needs to keep their standards at a high enough level to be significant.
Not every senior man is a leader and junior guys can do the same thing.
For Kilgore to call it an outdated mode of thinking is ridiculous.
You know how I know he's full of ****...
He calls this running out the play



Give me a ****ing break. That is a JOKE in terms of pride and playing things out. You want to be frustrated?....do it when you've already RUN down to first and the ball is caught.
Nobody is perfect...and every one has a bad day.....but if you're a team player, and you do that....and hear it from someone that you can't dog that....you don't jaw back at them, you realize he's right and say that to him and it shouldn't happen and won't happen again.

The fact that he mentions how great Bryce is...just proves he's giving him a pass. Would you take that play from a guy hitting .220? You'd be ragging him. You gotta do the same to the guy hitting .320.

M.K.
Knight165

[dubcity]

Re: 9/14 - 10/4 Game Discussion Thread

Another franchise and market coddling and kissing its star players ***. As if that will stop him from leaving the team for more money and a bigger team.

[19]

Re: 9/14 - 10/4 Game Discussion Thread

Another franchise and market coddling and kissing its star players ***. As if that will stop him from leaving the team for more money and a bigger team.

He'll be gone in 2 years. Boras wills it.

[19]

Re: 9/14 - 10/4 Game Discussion Thread

Testing Heyward is never smart. RIP Starling.

[Master Live 013]

Re: 9/14 - 10/4 Game Discussion Thread

Nice throw by Heyward.

[Jr.]

Re: 9/14 - 10/4 Game Discussion Thread

Adam Kilgore obviously doesn't understand the essential part of a team/group hierarchy and how seniority plays an essential part in keeping that unit from breaking down.
Senior players/men aren't always right, but when they are partaking in a very important part of the structure that a team/group needs to keep their standards at a high enough level to be significant.
Not every senior man is a leader and junior guys can do the same thing.
For Kilgore to call it an outdated mode of thinking is ridiculous.
You know how I know he's full of ****...
He calls this running out the play



Give me a ****ing break. That is a JOKE in terms of pride and playing things out. You want to be frustrated?....do it when you've already RUN down to first and the ball is caught.
Nobody is perfect...and every one has a bad day.....but if you're a team player, and you do that....and hear it from someone that you can't dog that....you don't jaw back at them, you realize he's right and say that to him and it shouldn't happen and won't happen again.

The fact that he mentions how great Bryce is...just proves he's giving him a pass. Would you take that play from a guy hitting .220? You'd be ragging him. You gotta do the same to the guy hitting .320.

M.K.
Knight165

Just a difference of perspective. This mentality toward it (which is certainly legitimate) is very different from my own. It's one thing for high schoolers and even college players to be expected to run hard, mostly due to the increased likelihood that the ball will drop because of bad players. But this guy is at the highest level, playing the best baseball of anyone on that team, and is known to put his body at risk with how hard he plays. I don't mind it one bit, and I, too, consider that "running it out" at that point in the season.

A frustrating at bat at the end of an even more frustrating season

[19]

Re: 9/14 - 10/4 Game Discussion Thread

Just a difference of perspective. This mentality toward it (which is certainly legitimate) is very different from my own. It's one thing for high schoolers and even college players to be expected to run hard, mostly due to the increased likelihood that the ball will drop because of bad players. But this guy is at the highest level, playing the best baseball of anyone on that team, and is known to put his body at risk with how hard he plays. I don't mind it one bit, and I, too, consider that "running it out" at that point in the season.

A frustrating at bat at the end of an even more frustrating season

Very well stated, Jr.

[Blzer]

Re: 9/14 - 10/4 Game Discussion Thread

Just a difference of perspective. This mentality toward it (which is certainly legitimate) is very different from my own. It's one thing for high schoolers and even college players to be expected to run hard, mostly due to the increased likelihood that the ball will drop because of bad players. But this guy is at the highest level, playing the best baseball of anyone on that team, and is known to put his body at risk with how hard he plays. I don't mind it one bit, and I, too, consider that "running it out" at that point in the season.

A frustrating at bat at the end of an even more frustrating season

I just can't agree with it. I guess I am coming from the side that literally anything can happen on that pop-up and he should be standing on second if it drops, but he literally is one of the most recognizable faces in the sport for everybody. He does not just represent himself and the Washington Nationals organization. He represents every kid who wants to be a professional baseball player. Both he and Trout alike.

In fact, the righty-whitey Trout plays on a West coast team, does not have an insignia attached to him like Harper's mohawk or eye-black, and has only played in three playoff games only to get swept by KC... yet he seems to be the more favorited idol in the eyes of most kids. It could be regionally-based and I could sometimes be too narrow-minded about this, but that's just how I see it. In fact, I tried to find a LLWS video where the kids say their name and their favorite MLB player, and YouTube has several from 2014. The most popular names were Mike Trout and (get this) Derek Jeter. There were quite a few Miguel Cabrera's as well and you'd hear David Ortiz's name thrown around, but I only heard one Bryce Harper. One. I'm not kidding about that. Hunter Pence even got two. Strangely enough, I started looking for the videos to prove how many people look up to him by showing how many people have him as his favorite player. Turns out they don't even. I wonder if there's a reason for that, legitimately.

Regardless, he's going to be an MVP and is far too well known. I hate watching kids go out there and think they're the ****, especially if this young impressionable guy makes these kids follow him. If he says, "It's not my problem," it is his problem. It really is. He has to be better. This isn't just a pop-up, this is the way he reacted to Papelbon telling him to run it out. Matt Williams sure as hell wasn't going to do it, so I'm glad he stepped in. So what if he's seven weeks into a Nationals uniform, dejected by two previous teams (was even shipped within his own division) and is a closer who never bats. He still knows what's up. Harper is the superstar, and he should set the tone. It's things like this that make me realize the Nationals faltering isn't just a fluke; Harper should realize he's the captain of the ship, and lead by example. Not just with numbers, but with genuine hustle, respect for the game, and respect for his team, including Papelbon. That post-game interview throwing him under the bus was ridiculous, and I lost a lot of respect for Harper because of it.

And I'm not saying you're wrong, Jr. I understand what he's going through. I just didn't appreciate it. There are weird mistakes like trotting when you think a ball is a home run, then suddenly it isn't and you're thrown out at second base... or if you're hanging out in CF and the ball gets by the LF'er then you go, "OH!" I just think it is very easy to do things in such short bursts in this game, even in a 162 game season, that every little bit matters to somebody somewhere. Obviously Papelbon was paying attention. I'm happy he said something, and although he's serving the suspension I'm hoping Harper gets chastised for this. Mind you, going into last night I liked Harper much more than I did Papelbon.

[Jr.]

Re: 9/14 - 10/4 Game Discussion Thread

snipped for length

Again, I understand that point of view. I see it as this: anyone can be a role model, or not. If kids are looking up to Harper and want to play like him, it's up to that kid's coach or parents to tell him whether that's okay or not.

I'm sure I can find video of Trout not hustling on a pop up. Sure, anything can happen, but you play the odds in a 162 game season. Why risk a pulled hamstring (especially for a guy with a history of leg injuries) for a remote possibility that he might drop the ball? You can't go 100% on every single play, and no coach would recommend that you do. You pick and choose your spots when you bust it down the line, and when you pull back.

Harper's "lack of hustle" is getting blown out of proportion because of Papelbon's reaction. If Pap doesn't say anything, hardly anyone even knows that Harper didn't sprint to 2nd base.

[Knight165]

Re: 9/14 - 10/4 Game Discussion Thread

Again, I understand that point of view. I see it as this: anyone can be a role model, or not. If kids are looking up to Harper and want to play like him, it's up to that kid's coach or parents to tell him whether that's okay or not.

I'm sure I can find video of Trout not hustling on a pop up. Sure, anything can happen, but you play the odds in a 162 game season. Why risk a pulled hamstring (especially for a guy with a history of leg injuries) for a remote possibility that he might drop the ball? You can't go 100% on every single play, and no coach would recommend that you do. You pick and choose your spots when you bust it down the line, and when you pull back.

Harper's "lack of hustle" is getting blown out of proportion because of Papelbon's reaction. If Pap doesn't say anything, hardly anyone even knows that Harper didn't sprint to 2nd base.

IMO...that's a sad way to play the game or even think of playing the game....or any profession.

That wasn't "lack of hustle"....that was dogging it and pouting.

M.K.
Knight165

[Blzer]

Re: 9/14 - 10/4 Game Discussion Thread

Let me also just clarify that I rarely hit the ball high enough (without significant depth) that I would find myself getting on second base if the ball dropped, I'm no Bryce Harper. However, for my softball players I suggest that they "look two," and what would be nice is they have some wits about them not only running hard through first, but running circuitously so that if in the event of a dropped fly ball they can scurry their legs the next 60 feet over.

What would be stupid is if somebody who literally sprints out everything gets out at second because he tried to get there on a dropped pop-up where he had no chance of getting there safely. So what did I used to do? I probably didn't sprint 100%, but it's more so because I wouldn't have been able to advance to the next bag. Otherwise, I did. Always assume a mistake will be made or someone is not paying attention. I (and my players) have scored tagging up on foul pop ups near a corner infielder for lack of attention. Catch them off-guard and humiliate the other side with your effort. It's awesome when you do.

[Master Live 013]

Re: 9/14 - 10/4 Game Discussion Thread

Oh my, something horrible just happened in the PIT/STL game.

[BleacherBum2310]

Re: 9/14 - 10/4 Game Discussion Thread

I mean even on the pop up He didn't go 100% but he ran it out. That is something that happens like a bunch and I don't have problem with it at all. I don't think this was even about the pop out.

This isn't a player that doesn't Hustle. Harper is one of the best baserunners and fielders in MLB. I don't get this at all i guess.

"the play the game the right way" is so tired.

I never thought people would be siding with Paplebon of all people but then again Harper is involved.

[Redacted01]

Re: 9/14 - 10/4 Game Discussion Thread

So I know it was a close play, but that last camera angle Rogers showed there wasn't a tag on Pillar. I mean, it was really really close, but it doesn't look like Wieters made the tag. Even with replay they still can't get it right.

[Master Live 013]

Re: 9/14 - 10/4 Game Discussion Thread

Had never seen anything like that before. After the collision Piscotty lay in the outfield as we expect after a collision like that but then all of the sudden blood started dripping out of the side of his mouth. Scary. Best wishes.