Bryce Harper is not one to tone down anything he says. When he says something, he means it. If you did not know that already, take this week for example because Harper is sharing his opinion and not backing down from it.
Harper went on record speaking about baseball’s unwritten rules and suggests those unwritten rules that force players to control their emotions has created a tired game. “Baseball’s tired,” Harper said, and a day later he is not shying away from what he said about the sport he ultimately loves.
“When I said it was the tiredness of the game, I don’t care what people say, but it wasn’t like the game is tired, that I don’t like baseball, because I absolutely love baseball,” Harper said, according to The Washington Post. “But it’s the fans in the stands that get tired of watching a game that is very boring. ‘It’s a pitcher’s duel.’ Well, what’s fun about a pitcher’s duel unless it’s Max Scherzer and Matt Harvey, guys who play with emotion? That’s fun. That’s legit.”
Harper wants to see players express more emotion in the field of play, which is something that you see much more often in the other professional sports like the NFL and NBA. Harper has a history of bringing his emotion to the field, and at times that has gotten him in some trouble…
Harper just wants players to enjoy playing the game and show they are having a good time when things are going well. Really, is that such a bad thing?
“Little kids don’t want to play the game of baseball because they’re bored. They get bored. They’re like, ‘I want to go play basketball or football,’ because at that young of an age, it’s fun. And they see that, Cam Newton and all these guys, they’re running the ball and having fun and doing all these touchdown things. As a young kid, that’s fun. Going onto a baseball field, until you’re about 12 to 13, that’s when you can really start to understand baseball better, the fact of knowing, ‘Hey this is fun, I enjoy coming out and learning and playing the game of baseball.’ But there has to be a balance.”
Harper has a decent point. Take a look at how the game is played in other nations. You will see players from other nations from central America have a much more enjoyable time as they express themselves and celebrate following big plays and home runs. Meanwhile, Team USA follows the code of ethics that has been upheld by unwritten rules for decades in the major leagues. Maybe Harper is on to something.
“I always try to respect the game, because I admire so many people from ages before me. And I know the history of the game, and I understand it completely. But, it’s a new generation of the game. You have to adapt to those circumstances. You have to adapt to that part of life. … You have to live in the times that you’re in. I think everybody’s adapting to that, slowly but surely.”
Who wouldn’t like to see a little more emotion from big leaguers?
Well, Goose Gossage for one.
Gossage and Harper have been creating the dividing line for this topic of old school vs. new school, and Gossage is not backing down either. He even took time to address Harper’s previous comments but suggesting Harper should just be thankful to be able to benefit from playing the game today because of the hard work and sweat that old timers put in to create the game as it is today.
“What does this kid know? This kid doesn’t know squat about the game, and [has] no respect for it,” Gossage said with audible disgust. “Here he is making millions of frickin’ dollars; that’s great. I’m happy for all the players and all the money that they’re making, because it’s hard-earned by all the players that came before these guys.”
Someone else who agrees with Harper and disagrees with Gossage and his silly rant about emotions – Hall of Famer and Minnesota Twins broadcaster Bert Blyleven.
HOFer Bert Blyleven on Gossage rant: "I like emotion. I think of Mark Fidrych, I think of Oil Can Boyd… the game needs more emotion."
— MLB Network Radio on SiriusXM (@MLBNetworkRadio) March 11, 2016
That’s not a bad person to have in your corner.
