Nationals Disappointing Season Boils Over

The Washington Nationals were considered by many to be the favorite in the National League East, but instead they’ll be heading for home instead of to the playoffs after the regular season ends on October 4th. In situations like this, where expectations are crushed in defeat, professional athletes, who are one of the world’s most competitive groups of people, can explode in frustration.

A perfect example of this was seen at the September 27th game between the Philadelphia Phillies and the Nationals. With the score tied 4-4 in the eighth inning, Bryce Harper hit a routine fly ball for an out, Teammate and relief pitcher Jonathan Papelbon did not think Harper made enough effort to run to first, and confronted Harper about that when Harper returned to the dugout. Things escalated and soon Paplebon had a stranglehold on Harper’s throat before others intervened.

One of the basics of baseball is that the batter should run out every fly ball or ground ball in case there is an error or if it otherwise winds up fair. With neither the Nationals nor Phillies going anywhere but home, there’s probably less motivation to do so. Nonetheless, it is up to the manager to talk to the player about it, and it is inappropriate for another player to publicly call out a teammate like Papelbon did. If he had something to say, he should do it in the locker room. And it goes without saying that Papelbon overreacted and was way out of line by choking Harper. Papelbon later apologized, but the Nationals have shut him down for the final week of the season anyway.

Harper is very likely to be the National League’s Most Valuable Player this season. He has a reputation as hard worker and hard, almost reckless player whom the Nationals have actually asked to dial it back a bit to prevent injuries. He is also just 22 years old; a reminder from Manager Matt Williams about his base running would have been sufficient. Papelbon has had lots of success as a closer, particularly with the Boston Red Sox. He has also worn out his welcome in Boston, Philadelphia, and now Washington. We expect to see him elsewhere in 2016.