Harper's second unsuccessful encounter this month with the physics of smacking into an outfield wall led to him doubling down on the hair-on-fire approach. He told reporters "I'm trying to kill myself out there" and, really, that's what the collision looked like.
Bryce Harper has left the game in the fifth inning after the Washington Nationals star ran full-on into the scoreboard in right field at Dodger Stadium on Monday night.
As blood dripped down his neck and head trainer Lee Kuntz examined him Monday night, Harper tried to convince manager Davey Johnson that he could stay in the game. That wasn't happening.
Bryce Harper arrived at Dodger Stadium a little bit smarter Tuesday.
Regardless of how long he plays, or how many ballparks he does it in, Dodger Stadium will always have a special designation for the Nationals outfielder. "Absolutely," he said. "It was my first park."
With Jayson Werth dealing with right hamstring tightness for the last week, Harper has shifted from left to right field twice, and was in the lineup there on Wednesday night.
The Nats have changed their policy to basically say unless your tickets are part of a season-ticket plan, you use them or you lose them. It's a move that pretty much violates every fundamental of Customer Service 101. Take care of those who pay for your services.
The good news for the Washington Nationals as they trickled into the clubhouse on Tuesday afternoon, was that Jayson Werth was able to test his right hamstring on Monday and felt strong.
The Nationals' slow offensive start has been concerning to some, worrisome to others and downright nerve-fraying to certain factions of the fanbase. For plenty, it's been maddening to watch them strike out, swinging or looking, so often. To see them come up small in large situations. To hit the ball on the screws, and right at a waiting fielder.
