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Bryce Harper's helmet slam leads to latest ill-timed ejection
If there’s one thing Bryce Harper still needs to work on, it’s definitely his temper. The Washington Nationals superstar has let his anger and emotions get to him many times before, and it happened again on Saturday, leading to his eighth ejection in five big league seasons.
It’s not just the actions that are problematic either. Many times it’s been the timing. On Saturday, Harper was tossed in the 10th inning of Washington’s 9-4, 11-inning loss to the Colorado Rockies.
Thanks to Colorado’s big inning, it’s didn’t matter a whole lot in this particular game, but Harper’s ejection did leave the team without any extra position players. Had the game gone an additional two or three innings, not only would his bat have been lost, the Nationals would have been stuck hitting a pitcher in a potentially key situation.
That’s a problem, though in this instance manager Dusty Baker did have his player’s back.
Dusty on Harper: "These things happen…especially this time of year, tempers are short."
— Chelsea Janes (@chelsea_janes) August 27, 2016
One look at the pitch in question though doesn’t necessarily justify that level of anger.
That was Harper's 8th career ejection. Here's the pitch he didn't like (No. 5): pic.twitter.com/HcsCAKX5SD
— Chase Hughes (@chasehughesCSN) August 27, 2016
Frustration maybe. It’s right on the outside edge of the strike zone, which is a 50-50 call. A little more consistency from umpires on those pitches would be great, but it’s certainly too close to take in a two-strike count.
The call and Harper’s pristine hair aside, he’s almost certainly looking at a fine for the helmet slam. Given his history, which includes a one-game suspension for returning to the field following an ejection and swearing at an umpire, it could be quite hefty.
Bryce Harper got ejected from the dugout. Then the next batter hit a walk-off HR. Read lips much? pic.twitter.com/cWVBs2rcru
— Joe Mullinax (@JoeMullinax) May 10, 2016
Another suspension would seem highly unlikely though, unless there was an exchange we’re not privy to.
We should also note Harper’s ejection earlier this season happened in the ninth inning of a game that had yet to be decided. Again, the timing was an issue, even though Washington won the game one batter later. In fact, if you look through Harper’s ejection log — thanks Washington Post — bad timing is a reoccurring theme. It hasn’t truly cost them yet, but at the rate Harper is going it’s only a matter of time before it does.
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Mark Townsend is a writer for Big League Stew on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at bigleaguestew@yahoo.com or follow him on Twitter!
