The Bryce Harper Compendium (2015)

[Slateman]

k, but that doesn't mean Marvin Hudson didn't get caught in the moment.

Didn't say he didn't. But you know what would have been a far more effective argument? Having all of Hudson's talk caught on tape and having a player not blowing up, not talking crap, and not getting ejected. Then the Nats go to MLB and show them and lodge a complaint.

[MorseTheHorse]

I jest, relax.. but seriously Harper's passion and edginess is his greatest trait, I'll take the odd ejection if he produces like he currently is.

That's exactly how I feel. 

[OldChelsea]

In this morning's MLB.com 'Morning Line-up' E-mail their link for last night's match is 'Nats take over first minus miffed star & manager'.

...so is that going to be Harper's nickname from here on in...'The Miffed Star'?

[JCA-CrystalCity]

Lots of people are paying to watch Bryce Harper on the historic pace he has been on for the last two weeks.  No one is paying to watch an umpire throw a world-class hissy fit.

I heard Harper say this, and I think not only is it irrelevant, but it should never come out of a players mouth.  It sounds like a star should get better treatment from umps than others should.   

The real point is what you made earlier, when you agreed with the prior poster who hoped Hudson gets disciplined and you said Hudson was out of line.  Unfortunately, the profile of this is now high enough because "OMG you did this to Bryce Superstar!" that the umpires association will feel a need to stick up for Hudson. 

Bryce has to realize that there are hot dog umps, guys who love to jaw, and that even guys without that reputation can get set off by something (indigestion from a half-smoke, a bad faucet in the hotel, or a manager riding him in the first inning).  The trick is to know how to calm things down when you sense something like that.  I'm not defending Hudson, and frankly Joyce as the crew chief should calm Hudson down if a member of his crew is out of line.  Hudson certainly should know not to escalate, and that is a huge part of being an effective ump.   But when you have umps messing up on this, a player who is the superstar and leader has to be the one to get things back under control.

[OldChelsea]

[...]Lots of people are paying to watch Bryce Harper on the historic pace he has been on for the last two weeks.  No one is paying to watch an umpire throw a world-class hissy fit.

Slowes and Jageler used words to that effect several times on last night's radio broadcast - 'none of these people in the stands paid to watch Hudson call balls and strikes'.

[Truconfidence]

No, Bryce needs to keep his freaking mouth shut.

There are three reasons to talk to the home plate umpire:
1. To request a pause in play.
2. To inform the home plate umpire that you are ready to continue play.
3. To request an appeal on a check swing.

But that wasn't happening when the ejection occurred.  Hudson was being a baby and yelling at him to get back in the box. The Yankee pitcher wasn't even on the mound. He wanted to play Billy bad ass and he did and he looks like an idiot to everyone.

[Slateman]

But that wasn't happening when the ejection occurred.  Hudson was being a baby and yelling at him to get back in the box. The Yankee pitcher wasn't even on the mound. He wanted to play Billy bad ass and he did and he looks like an idiot to everyone.

That's nice. If Bryce gets in the box and says nothing, he isn't ejected. Hudson baited him and Bryce took the bait.

[HalfSmokes]

yep nothing at all wrong with a neutral official baiting a player, nothing at all

[OldChelsea]

[...]Bryce has to realize that there are hot dog umps[...]

...particularly umpires that overtly try to jerk the string of players and managers known to have short fuses...Earl Weaver, when he was managing the Orioles, used to get into it with all the men in blue...but especially Ken Kyser's crew, to the point that for a time the AL used to avoid assigning Kyser's crew to Orioles matches.

[PC]

All Hudson had to do was stop screaming at the Nationals' dugout, put his mask back on, get in his position behind the catcher and yell "Play ball".  If Bryce didn't get back in the batters box then MLB would have dealt with him.

Hudson didn't have to say anything to Bryce, period.  Instead he escalates the situation with expletives.

[Slateman]

yep nothing at all wrong with a neutral official baiting a player, nothing at all

Has anyone said anything to support Hudson? No. The issue isn't Hudson. The issue is that the entire Nationals team knew what Hudson was doing and Bryce took the bait. There was a reason Matt Williams was chirping the way he was. He was doing that for other hitters too, not just Bryce. He'd rather himself get tossed and keep his star player in the game. But Bryce lost his temper (again) and got tossed (again).

[HalfSmokes]

not that complaining to the league ever does anything, but

Nats officials are steamed about this ejection. They believe Hudson purposefully seeks out confrontation. "He baits players," one said.

https://twitter.com/barrysvrluga/status/601215447590133760

[UMDNats]

Slowes and Jageler used words to that effect several times on last night's radio broadcast - 'none of these people in the stands paid to watch Hudson call balls and strikes'.

NYY broadcast was actually equally as disgusted with the ejection.

[UMDNats]

Hudson's explanation was hysterical

After the game, Hudson offered an odd explanation. He insisted that Harper was not ejected because of the batter’s box issue. “Had nothing to do with the box,” Hudson said. That fits MLB rules, which state a batter’s box violation is an umpire warning on first offense and league penalty on the second offense; not an ejection.

The reason for the ejection, Hudson said, was something else.

“He didn’t like the pitch and I let him have his say going and coming,” Hudson said. “The dugout didn’t like it, and one thing led to another and I had to run him. I had to eject him.” Hudson added Harper also said something to him as he got in the batter’s box.

After the ejection, Harper yelled in Hudson’s face and Williams came out of the dugout to argue. Williams pushed Harper away and third base coach Bobby Henley stepped in to nudge Harper off the field. Williams yelled at Hudson, too, and was soon ejected. Before he left the field, Williams kicked dirt on home plate. After the game, he was visibly frustrated with the situation as he spoke with reporters.

"One thing led to another."



What a clown.

[PebbleBall]

Has anyone said anything to support Hudson? No. The issue isn't Hudson. The issue is that the entire Nationals team knew what Hudson was doing and Bryce took the bait. There was a reason Matt Williams was chirping the way he was. He was doing that for other hitters too, not just Bryce. He'd rather himself get tossed and keep his star player in the game. But Bryce lost his temper (again) and got tossed (again).

Of course the issue is Hudson.  The real irony about this discussion is that you of all people should understand that it seems like umpires relish the opportunity to chide Harper for whatever reason.  You've got the same tunnel vision and it's why you're in the extreme minority.  This isn't about if Harper lost his temper or needs to improve reigning it in, because he did and he does.  The issue is the umpires are the people on the field whose responsibility is to help diffuse these situations, not ignite them.  No matter the teams, player, or umpire in question, once you admit the umpire bated someone the conversation is over, because that behavior is in direct conflict with their primary responsibility.

[blue911]

NYY broadcast was actually equally as disgusted with the ejection.

Was Paul O'Neill on the broadcast?

[UMDNats]

Was Paul O'Neill on the broadcast?

Unfortunately not. Flaherty and Kay. Would have love O'Neill's opinion.

[NJ Ave]

But Bryce lost his temper (again) and got tossed (again).

I believe this is out of order, which to me makes all the difference.

[PebbleBall]

I heard Harper say this, and I think not only is it irrelevant, but it should never come out of a players mouth.  It sounds like a star should get better treatment from umps than others should.   

I saw it too, and I think he caught himself and that's why he started talking about the Nationals and Yankees playing each other.

[imref]

loved the "i don't think 40,000 people came to the ballpark to watch him ump" comment in the postgame interview.

[NJ Ave]

Outside the box - I feel like they should change the rules to be more like tennis. Allow umpires (with strict after-the-fact scrutiny from MLB, of course) to award an extra strike if a player mouths off, an automatic out if the player does it a second time in the same game, then eject them the third time it happens.

Part of the problem here is that umpires are only allowed the nuclear option. It makes players and managers think they can chirp without any penalty, and makes umpires look bad when they finally retaliate (because often it doesn't seem like the punishment fits the crime).

[Minty Fresh]

9.01

(a) The league president shall appoint one or more umpires to officiate at each league championship game. The umpires shall be responsible for the conduct of the game in accordance with these official rules and for maintaining discipline and order on the playing field during the game.

(b) Each umpire is the representative of the league and of professional baseball, and is authorized and required to enforce all of these rules. Each umpire has authority to order a player, coach, manager or club officer or employee to do or refrain from doing anything which affects the administering of these rules, and to enforce the prescribed penalties.

(c) Each umpire has authority to rule on any point not specifically covered in these rules.

(d) Each umpire has authority to disqualify any player, coach, manager or substitute for objecting to decisions or for unsportsmanlike conduct or language, and to eject such disqualified person from the playing field. If an umpire disqualifies a player while a play is in progress, the disqualification shall not take effect until no further action is possible in that play.

(e) Each umpire has authority at his discretion to eject from the playing field (1) any person whose duties permit his presence on the field, such as ground crew members, ushers, photographers, newsmen, broadcasting crew members, etc., and (2) any spectator or other person not authorized to be on the playing field.

[mitlen]

9.01

(a) The league president shall appoint one or more umpires to officiate at each league championship game. The umpires shall be responsible for the conduct of the game in accordance with these official rules and for maintaining discipline and order on the playing field during the game.

(b) Each umpire is the representative of the league and of professional baseball, and is authorized and required to enforce all of these rules. Each umpire has authority to order a player, coach, manager or club officer or employee to do or refrain from doing anything which affects the administering of these rules, and to enforce the prescribed penalties.

(c) Each umpire has authority to rule on any point not specifically covered in these rules.

(d) Each umpire has authority to disqualify any player, coach, manager or substitute for objecting to decisions or for unsportsmanlike conduct or language, and to eject such disqualified person from the playing field. If an umpire disqualifies a player while a play is in progress, the disqualification shall not take effect until no further action is possible in that play.

(e) Each umpire has authority at his discretion to eject from the playing field (1) any person whose duties permit his presence on the field, such as ground crew members, ushers, photographers, newsmen, broadcasting crew members, etc., and (2) any spectator or other person not authorized to be on the playing field.

Zero tolerance

[Kevrock]

Slateman gonna Contrarionman.

[Baseball is Life]

I think they should change the rules so umps have to wear duct tape over their mouths. They should umpire strictly by using hand signals.

And don't get me going on the electronic balls and strikes.