Hunter Strickland and Bryce Harper Beef

It was just over v years ago that Bryce Harper was in the news because of another plunking. In 2012, Cole Hamels hit Harper for breaking the unwritten dominion of existing. It remains ane of the sillier reasons someone has been thrown at over the last decade — "Because he'southward in that location," said the George Mallory of pitching — and I figured it would be the silliest reason someone would ever throw at Harper.

We have a challenger, though. In that location was a Memorial Day donnybrook betwixt the Nationals and Giants, and information technology looked like this:

Who was at fault? Who acted like a nincompoop? Nosotros'll rank the people at fault in lodge, from "nincompoopiest" to "pretty chill, actually." Starting with ...

Hunter Strickland

Strickland threw at Harper for a home run he hit. In 2014. During a series in which the Giants were victorious. Which happened soon earlier they won a title.

That's where it should have concluded. The plunking was already done, and it was a 97-mph fastball right to the butt of Harper'southward soul. Strickland was the punchline of the 2014 postseason, but he finished with a ring. Harper had the home runs, merely he had 1,000 pounds of what-ifs yoked to his neck. Advantage: Strickland.

Just ask Harper:

Harper repeatedly mentioned that Strickland has a World Series band, and Nats lost the serial. Why still harbor a grudge?

— Mark Zuckerman (@MarkZuckerman) May 29, 2017

Dunno. It makes no sense. Let'due south accept a expect at the tape.

That baseball was two weeks away from retirement, but and so it was murdered. Seems similar that should exist against the unwritten rules. Certain, Harper looked at the ball for a crush, merely wouldn't you? When I hit a golf ball that far, I stare at it approvingly, like, yeah, I merely made physics practice that. If I hit a habitation run that far, I would probably pretend the bat was a spyglass and yell, "Yarrr, she won't be troublin' us anymore, mateys" before I left the box.

I would become hit an awful lot with baseballs.

But, fine, there was a little admiring from Harper, but nothing that deserved a baseball game to the barrel.

Here's circular ii, though:

Now that'south a fella admiring his home run. However, to play Boras' abet, a lot of that had to practice with "off-white or foul?" more than than anything that bankrupt an unwritten dominion.

Strickland noticed that Harper was almost 55 feet away from first base of operations when the brawl landed, though, and words were exchanged.

Death stares were exchanged, even. How would this end? Tune in next calendar week for another exciting episode of Harper vs. Strickland!

And then the Giants won the World Serial.

So 2015 happened.

So 2016 happened.

Everything was pretty much settled. The testify was cancelled.

There was a parade in 2014, and Hunter Strickland was in information technology. His float came right before Metallica'due south float, which featured James Hetfield and Lars Ulrich waving to an adoring oversupply while the Hall and Oates song "I Can't Go For That" blared over loudspeakers. That detail has absolutely naught to do with this story, only I've been keeping it in for so long that, here, you effigy out what to do with information technology.

Bryce Harper got 30 plate appearances vs. the Giants in 2015. Which means there were 30 chances for various teammates to settle the score. Jean Machi faced Harper when the Giants were backside 9-two with the bases empty in the eighth. George Kontos faced him when the Giants were leading 10-five with the bases empty in the 7th. Strickland did not face up Harper because Bruce Bochy was trying to win.

Harper got 24 plate appearances vs. the Giants in 2016. Strickland did not face Harper considering Bruce Bochy was trying to win. At no point were baseballs thrown in Harper's direction. This is because anybody had forgotten nigh any happened two years before. Remember the parade? Metallica was at that place. The grudge was gone, at least when it came to everyone else involved.

Which means it's super weird for Strickland to remember that vividly, to use a baseball every bit a weapon considering he was withal so offended about 2014. I guarantee you that striking Harper out with a 97-mph fastball would take felt about six million times better than hitting him in the thigh.

So do that.

Bryce Harper

If Harper jaws a bit and takes his base, he gets to play in every game over the next few weeks. He decided to charge and use his helmet every bit a weapon.

Bad decision. Major League Baseball takes it very seriously when a histrion fires a stone-hard projectile at another thespian in the hopes of inflicting bodily harm and pain. Unless it's a baseball game. Then it'southward totally cool.

If Harper's helmet continued with Strickland's knee joint, it could have broken a bone and caused a serious injury. Which would really brand me upset if you couldn't say the aforementioned matter nigh the the baseball game that started this whole mess.

No, the about egregious function of Harper'south decision was that he looked like a goober throwing his helmet into right field. Hither comes the angry baseball game homo, filled with baseball anger!

Yikes! Be mindful of that helmet, for it is a dangerous projectile!

Gadzooks! Here it comes!

lol yous idiot

Years after you've forgotten that Hunter Strickland was a thing, y'all'll recall Harper chucking his helmet into right field. Information technology's like Nolan Ryan giving a noogie to himself instead of Robin Ventura.

But if Harper didn't charge the mound, every dingus who has been victimized by a long home run and an admiring gaze would have felt emboldened to do the aforementioned affair. That is, simply near every agile bullpen. Maybe they'll still be emboldened, simply at least they'll know that it might come up at a cost. And they'll know that a prideful Harper will spend his entire offseason practicing throwing his helmet in his garage.

Then I'1000 not fifty-fifty sure if I disagree with Harper charging. It was proactive protection. Even Giants journalist Duane Kuiper said, "I don't blame Harper for going out. Non one bit." There was a dumb, schoolyard method behind this madness.

Except throw the helmet directly, y'all idiot.

Buster Posey

Patently, this is a thing. When Strickland hitting Harper, Buster Posey's shoulders collapsed in exasperation. Unlike what we're used to, Posey didn't try to protect his bullpen.

Posey is wearing a mask, so I can't see if he's giving the all-time y'all-idiot face of the year ... but I'thou admittedly positive that he's giving the best you-idiot face of the yr.

I'll be honest: In that location isn't a lot of visual evidence that Posey likes to be in the middle of these things. Madison Bumgarner redassed his mode to a bench-clearing incident with Yasiel Puig, but it happened later a ball was put in play. Bumgarner yelled at Wil Myers after the inning was over before in the year. The benches cleared in the 2014 Globe Serial when the delicate pitcher took exception to failing in front of everybody, but that was also after the play was over. Chase Utley was already on his way to beginning in 2010.

But testify does exist that Posey is willing to get between a hitter and his pitcher.

Then information technology's not like Posey'south a lily-livered coward. He's just like the residual of united states.

"Dude, actually? That was three years ago. You're fine. We're all fine."

He sabbatum dorsum behind home plate with a you-break-it-you-buy-it attitude, and I don't arraign him ane bit. Like he needs to recover from a separated shoulder at age 30 considering some doofus got his feelings hurt in 2014.

It is my solemn promise to you lot, gentle reader, that if you accuse Chad Dalderban at the bar because of something he yelled at you in high school, I volition let yous. As fists pelting down upon your previously beautiful face, you lot volition wonder where I am.

I am keeping my face beautiful, give thanks you for asking. Because high school tiffs don't mean a damned affair.

The same goes for dumb 2014 baseball game tiffs. I can nearly empathise it if Strickland gave upwards the homer that allowed the Nationals to accelerate. As is, the Giants won. Strickland recovered from the acute dingeritis that threatened his career in that postseason. He's had a solid career. Harper has won an MVP. It's over. Find something else to exist mad about.

Knowing baseball players, they won't demand an excuse. At that place's always something to be mad about. And information technology'due south putting my kids through higher.

---

The (dumb) reason the Giants-Nats brawl started

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Source: https://www.sbnation.com/mlb/2017/5/30/15710926/bryce-harper-hunter-strickland-brawl-sf-giants-washington-nationals

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