Tags
"Old School Thinking", 2015 NL MVP, Bryce Harper, ESPN The Magazine, The Code, Tim Keown, Unwritten Rules
In an interview published today with Tim Keown, ESPN the Magazine, Bryce Harper, the 2015 NL MVP player, had some things to say about the state of baseball. Take a look at some excerpts from the article quoted below and see what he has to say (if you want to read the entire article, go to Sorry Not Sorry).
Baseball’s tired. It’s a tired sport because you can’t express yourself. You can’t do what people in other sports do. I’m not saying baseball is you know boring or anything like that, but it’s the excitement of the young guys who are coming into the game now who have flair. If that’s Matt Harvey or Jacob deGrom or Manny Machado or Joe Pederson or Andrew McCutchen or Yasiel Puig — there’s so many guys in the game now who are so much fun.
Jose Fernandez is a great example. Jose Fernande will strike you out and stare you down into the dugout and pump his fist, And if you hit a home and pimp? He doesn’t care. Because you got him. That’s part of the game. It’s not the old feeling — hoorah –if you pimp a homer. I’m going to hit you right in the teeth. No. If a guy pimps a homer for a game-winning shot…I mean — sorry.
If a guy pumps his fist at me on the mound, I’m going to go, ‘Yeah, you got me. Good for you. Hopefully I get you next time.’ That’s what makes the game fun. You want kids to play the game, right? What are kids playing these days? Football,, baseketball. Look at those players — Steph Curry, LeBron James. It’s exciting to see those players in those sports. Cam New Newtown — I love the way Cam goes about it. He smiles, he laughs. It’s that flair. The dramatic.
According to the article, Harper’s talking about “baseball’s old-school thinking — the unwritten rule, The Code, a century and a half of shut-up-and-play,” and calling for “a game in which players respect each other and retain the right to express themselves fully without fear of a fastball to the ear hole.”
So what do you think?
Is Harper on to something, or should baseball stay as it has been?
Leave your thoughts in the Comment section.
Land Wayland said:
When millionaires get together, no matter when they have done or where, they rarely make fun of each other, insult each other, pump themselves up at the expense of others. The baseball time he was talking about was when was a sport played by men who loved the game and the competitiveness first and were happy to ge paid for doing it.
Now baseball, from penthouse to training room is a business. Players who used to play hurt don’t dare endanger their livelihood. Players who used to taunt the pitcher after hitting a home run with a 0 and 2 count knew they might get a fastball in the ribs but that was OK. Today they can get fined for opening their mouths or wriggling their butts. I don’t know the last time I saw a player go jaw-to-jaw with an umpire, because being thrown out of a came can result in a loss of that games salary which can be hundreds of thousands of dollars.
As with politics, money ruins the way things were. So I leave it to the younger generaation to create their own ideals and someday bemoan to good on days..
Sean McLaughlin said:
No, I don’t think so!
But I get tired of kids like Bryce (who grew up in baseball and is now a multi millionaire!) who thinks the traditions of the sport are ‘old’.
No, those ‘traditions’ are the foundation on which these rich brats stand on…..
Don’t change the beauty of the game cause this kid says unthinking and stupid things.
Richard Miller said:
Two columns on this in this Washington Post:
Goose Gossage: Brice Harper Has No Respect for the Game: wapo.st/1YGrJmn
Thomas Boswell: We know Harper can play; time will tell if his act will as well: wapo.st/1pzZdXE
David Price said:
Not being a fan of Harper in any shape or form, I am trying my best to write this post through objective glasses without being clouded for my dislike for an overrated, obnoxious little man on a nothing team.
So, given yesterday’s post, what does Harper actually mean about being ‘able to express himself’ and that the game of baseball is ‘tired’? What part of a team sport watched by 10,000’s of people each week is tired? Bryce let me ask you a question – do think that arguing with umpires constantly, snapping his bat across his knee when strikes out or even getting hit by his own teammate for arrogance is a good example to the younger generations? Is this your nouveau idea of what baseball should be and what he fans might want?What is it you are actually talking about? As is with most things DC sport related, he is all bluster.
Being an Englishman/naturalized American, I compare baseball to our beloved sport of cricket. It’s a summer game, played by gentlemen in a spirit that a game should be played in. With the exception of the occasional big-mouthed Australian (comparable to a Red Sox) questioning the parentage of an English batsman, the object of the game is for the team (not the individual) to try its best and win. Win, lose or draw, opposing cricketers shake hands after a game, share a drink (or 2) and move on to the next game hoping to better their previous performance.
Sadly, I don’t see this with Harper. It’s ALL about him. He’s the MVP ‘don’t you know’ and he thinks whatever he says should be gospel. I refuse to buy into this ridiculous ego even if MLB is crying out for it’s next hero. A further example is his refusal to run hard to first base on every occasion sounds loud warning bells to the rest of us in him thinking that he’s just ‘too cool for school’. If Harper thinks that heading north at the end of his contract to pursue a career with a real team (i.e with the Yankees) carrying this overwhelming weight of self-importance, then hold your ticket on the Bolt Bus fella! Sorry Bryce (dear chap), we don’t want you!
Richard said:
David,
I sure hope you won’t hold back in future Comments.
Readers – David also wrote me, Bryce “only won the MVP as Giancarlo Stanton was injured and that most teams in his league (stand fast the Mets) sucked! In fact, the Nat’s sucked royally so why DID he actually win it?”
Richard
David Price said:
Thank you for this Mr M. I see from the plethora of replies to my comments regarding Bryce Harper, not many people actually disagree with me? Can I ask an expert a question please Sir? Why do you think he won the MVP being part of a no-good (over-hyped) team? Theres lots of guys out there who can hold their own in MLB so why him? Were numbers alone a factor last season or is there another reason that isn’t obvious to me? As I mentioned in my post on Friday, MLB along with the NFL and other sports appear to NEED a star name to promote their game and sell merchandise (Cam Newton along with the horrible, lying/cheating Tom Brady are 2 fine examples). Granted Harper is an ok player but he’s not lights-out ‘great’ that people seem to think he is? His approach to the game is questionable and he resonates arrogance. Wasn’t there anyone else who could have taken the MVP prize who actually really deserved it? My own view is that Cespedes might have been worthy as he literally single-handidly got the Mets to the WS. Is MLB now a popularity contest similar to who is chosen these days for the All-Star game?
Richard said:
You don’t need any expert to tell you about baseball. Somehow, despite your place of birth, you have a good grasp on most of it, save that obsession with the Yunkees.
You basically answered your own question(s) in your Comments, I think. At least, you gave the answers I would give. Too much reliance on statistics and not enough on what the award itself says, Most Valuable Player. And I think you’re right about the award being more a popularity contest (if that can’t be outlawed, then it should be restricted to the All Star game).
Clare said:
I have not read the full article yet, however I am intrigued by the comparison to Cam Newton. Cam is so much more than just showmanship. He is genuinely a nice guy and builds his team up and is himself. I like Bryce, and what he has done on the Nationals, however, he is no Cam Newton.. I am wondering if this could be generational need he has to say these things? I will finish reading the article later today and follow up if necessary.