Surprise, surprise: Anonymous players side with Jonathan Papelbon over Bryce Harper

[joeybee12]

The dugout altercation that took place Sunday between Jonathan Papelbon and Bryce Harper has sparked a larger discussion about the dysfunctional state of the Washington Nationals, and how these kind of disagreements should be handled.

Fox Sports analyst C.J. Nitkowski — who played 10 years in the big leagues — sourced opinions from current and former players on what went down in D.C., and get this, the responses he received were all slanted in favor of Papelbon.

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Here are just a few of the pro-Papelbon takes sent Nitkowski's way:


● Pap did what should have been done three years ago. Veteran players should be doing this across the league.


● 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 would have done the same thing if I were Papelbon.

Veteran Toronto Blue Jays reliever LaTroy Hawkins was even willing to publicly state his support for Papelbon, via Twitter:


@CJNitkowski loved the article CJ, Pap will take a beating for this from everyone who doesn't play the game. #EntitlementGeneration
— LaTroy Hawkins (@LaTroyHawkins32) September 28, 2015

http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/mlb-big-league-stew/surprise--surprise--anonymous-players-side-with-jonathan-papelbon-over-bryce-harper-150406768.html

I agree...Papebon is a jerk...but it took a jerk to finally do to an even bigger jerk what everyone's been wanting to do. Hey Nats fans. why did your team underachieve? Don't blame it on Pap...your franchise player is toxic.

[trumad]

1. Talk to your hand Joey

No one gives a shit what ignore boy has to say.

[RockaFowler]

2. Is he seriously taking Papelbon's side on this??

Is he talking to himself now??

[trumad]

3. Yep

Imagine if it happened to Brady.

[madinmaryland]

4. Well, he is definitely doing something to himself.

[hughee99]

5. Papelbon was right, right up to the second he grabbed Harper by the neck, anyway.

Whether it's Bryce Harper, David Ortiz or Hanley Ramirez, you have to run that shit out.

[TZ]

7. He ran it out

That's complete bullshit that he didn't. It was a meaningless game. Joeybee, Harper is not and has not been the problem. He plays way harder than David Ortiz yet Papelbon never criticized him. This has to do with Harper being unhappy (and rightly so) with Papelbon THROWING AT MACHADOS HEAD! So with all respect Joey, you don't know what you are talking about. Also, this guy who wrote that piece is a douchebag who got all mad when I told him his piece was assholish

[hughee99]

21. Joey? You got the wrong guy here...

Papelbon is an asshole, but Harper didn't run it out. The fact it was a meaningless game is, in no way, relevant, unless you want to argue it's okay NOT to run it out. He trotted (and that's being generous) down to first base. Papelbon hasn't played with Ortiz in about 4 or 5 years, so perhaps he didn't think it was his place to say anything as a 29 year old, or maybe he did in a less public forum.

So, to sum up. Papelbon is an idiot, and throwing at Machados head, or NOT criticizing Ortiz years ago, or you having a personal grudge against the guy who wrote the piece doesn't excuse Harper's not running out a fly ball, which he did not (RUN being the operative word here).

[Kingofalldems]

22. The reality of this whole thing goes back to what you mentioned--

the idiotic drilling of Machado by Papelbon. He put his teammates in jeopardy and Harper had stated-'I guess after this I'll be drilled tomorrow, this is pretty tired.' Papelbon felt dissed by this and laid in wait for Harper. He didn't give 2 shits about Harper running out anything, this was about revenge for a supposed callout..

[Auggie]

6. Do we know all the facts? It's not uncommon for players to be hurting this time of year ...

Harper could be feeling tightness or nursing a minor injury. Even if that's not the case, why risk a pulled-hamstring or achilles injury on a meaningless pop-up in a meaningless game?

[Kingofalldems]

13. Harper has a bad hip and knee.

[Auggie]

20. He gets a pass from me then.

Thanks for the update.

[TZ]

8. The franchise player

Is so toxic that every major media figure in DC ran pieces about how Harper was being mad a villain of for all the wrong reasons. He's also the only reason the Nats aren't way below .500. Like many of the idiots on Twitter your hatred of Harper has made you completely irrational.
Also Harper ran himself into a wall literally for the team. People who say he doesn't play the game the right way have never watched this kid play. I'm also waiting for you to tell me how Harper caused the bullpen to suck or for the starting pitching to go to hell as well..

[joeybee12]

9. Yeah, right...

I knew this asshat when he was here in Vegas, he was arrogant then, and he still is...thanks for calling me an idiot...I appreciate knowing who to ignore...have a nice life.

[TZ]

12. Lol

I guess I just joined the rest of the sports forum..😂😂

[RockaFowler]

17. TZ you are a part of the Ignore Group now!!

Joey likes to talk to himself anyway!

[madinmaryland]

26. joey is doing more than just talking to himself...

[frylock]

27. joeybee Ignore Group is looking for moderators

[madinmaryland]

25. Welcome to the club. It only took you one post!!

[Kingofalldems]

19. As FP Santangelo says, it's a privilege to watch him play.

Plays with his hair on fire and has incredible talent.

[Kingofalldems]

10. He ran it like every other player runs out a popup

Quit posting nonsense. Harper is the NL MVP because he plays hard and the right way.

And he's not a sneaky little cheater like say Bellichick or Brady.

[joeybee12]

11. Science is not your friend...

Neither is reason...have a nice life...I'll miss your posts that say absolutely nothing of any importance.

[Kingofalldems]

16. WTF does science have to do with this?

[TZ]

14. Lol

Joey put you on ignore because you disagreed with him. Welcome to the club. He can stay in his little universe where Brady and Belichick are saints and Harper is Darth Vader

[Kingofalldems]

15. Re Harper and his 'suspension':

From a NY Met writer BTW: Abraham Lincoln has been suspended due to his involvement in the incident at Ford's Theater yesterday.

Harper did absolutely nothing wrong and I am glad to be put on ignore.Is there any DUer not on his list?

[ProfessorGAC]

24. I Don't Think I Am

I must be less unctuous than i thought.

[KamaAina]

18. Brady and Belichick jumped to New Orleans?!

[ProfessorGAC]

23. Um....He Got To First Base

And even if he ran hard, and even if the outfielder dropped the ball, he wouldn't have made it second without being thrown out. Ball wasn't deep enough.

So, it actually is not true he didn't run it out. Did he loaf? Yeah, i can buy that. But, he did run it out.

In the replay, when they show him from behind and Papelbon starts mouthing off, Harper is walking away from first base, not part way up the line.