Nick Piccone
CJ Nitkowski of FOX Sports wanted to get the low down on how people close to the situation of what happened in D.C. on Sunday between Jonathan Papelbon and Bryce Harper, so he asked players, current and former, about their thoughts on the entire incident. The answers may surprise you.
“Pap did what should have been done three years ago. Veteran players should be doing this across the league.”
“Right intentions, horrible timing by Pap.”
“I would have done the same thing if I were Papelbon.”
“Bryce is a great player. He’s a true superstar. But he’s not above playing the game the right way. I’m glad someone finally told him that.”
“I am perfectly OK with Pap’s reaction. I can understand some people having a problem with the timing. At the same time this guy is the MVP.”
“Kid has been allowed to loaf for the past two years. Williams got crucified for benching him last year; media and fans took Bryce’s side so he kept doing it and wasn’t getting punished. Veteran finally said something; kid ran his mouth at the wrong guy and got beat up.”
“Do it behind closed doors. However, it needed to be done.”
“As a teammate you always feel you have the right to say something to someone if you feel it’s wrong or hurts the club. Right after the popup is not the best time to call out a hitter.”
“We all know how Harper has behaved since he got called up. But when you’re at that level (MVP for me) why would you not run? It’s not the first time! And why did his manager take him out of the game (after the scuffle)?!?”
“You saw Pap say you should run it out which is 100 percent true. I get Harper is frustrated about the at-bat and result but still he’s gotta run it out … and I don’t think the whole Pap hitting Machado the other day and Harper saying what he did helped the whole thing. Pap was probably just waiting for something to happen so he could criticize Harper. If somebody else said, “you need to run it out” I don’t think that whole thing would have happened.”
“I agree with Pap calling Harper out — hustling and continuous work ethic creates champions. He got the response most players would have probably given from the exchange. Should have been handled in the clubhouse.”
“As much as I hate to say it, Albert, Papi and Miggy have earned the right not to run out every ball. Partly age, respect and risk of injury. Harper is 22, he hasn’t earned it.”
“I believe if Papelbon was not questioned for his recent actions on the Machado beaning and his other stuff of his past, most people would love what he did. I still loved it and it needed to happen.”
“He quit on his team after the fight, just like he does on popups.”
I’m honestly surprised by this. Sure, Harper’s a douchebag, but he’s also probably the MVP of the league this season. And is Paps a different person in front of the camera? Sure sounds like it by how much his teammates are willing to side with him on this issue.
In related news, Papelbon’s been suspended for the rest of the year.