Bryce Harper is a punk

by Justin84 on Jun 7, 2011 8:55 PM EDT

Like many of you, no doubt. I enjoyed watching all the videos of Bryce Harper's bombs last year. The kid is a freak talent-wise, but apparently he has a poor attitude. This video shows that.

First, some background though. Harper was hit by a pitch in the prior game, which caused him to be taken out. However, he handles it completely inappropriately.

In this video, he rocks a pitch over the right field fence (an excellent response to being hit), but then after he rounds third, he blows a kiss to the pitcher. He also turns back again as though he wants to do something else. I can't blame the opposing team for giving him some chin music later in the game. Well, here is the clip from TV 3 Winchester.

This is a FanPost and does not necessarily reflect the views of the managing editor (Charlie) or SB Nation. FanPosts are written by Bucs Dugout readers.

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Arrested Development.

I think my best friend’s two year old is more mature than Bryce Harper.

There is no love in the World. There's only pain.

by IAPiratesFan on Jun 7, 2011 9:48 PM EDT reply actions

Him?

by wickethewok on Jun 8, 2011 11:17 AM EDT up reply actions 2 recs

What, is he funny or something?

by biggyv on Jun 8, 2011 4:34 PM EDT up reply actions 2 recs

“Her name’s not Annabel, Dad”
“That’s just how I remember it because her name’s Ann and she’s shaped kinda like a…sorry”

by Superstar25 on Jun 8, 2011 5:34 PM EDT up reply actions

and Harper has a history of this going back to both high school and college...

he was even thrown out of a game in college for mocking the other team, even though most reports say it was overblown.

but ask yourself this: what did the pitcher say to Harper when Bryce stood there admiring his homer? the pitcher was obviously talking shit to him the entire time around the bases.

the “smooch” was actually a pretty cool way to dis the guy, IMO… immature, yes. but if youre gonna piss someone off, thats a great way to do it.

by white angus on Jun 7, 2011 10:17 PM EDT reply actions 1 recs

I'd still earhole him

The glare of the spotlight is harsh, and the pressure that success breeds immense. We revere our heroes, but expect much. And criticism can come as easily as praise.
Twitter: @shanecglass

by glass0941 on Jun 7, 2011 10:20 PM EDT up reply actions

not me...

i would hit the guy who bats AFTER him… lets get his own teammates pissed at him

by white angus on Jun 7, 2011 10:32 PM EDT up reply actions

+ one million

by BarryJT on Jun 7, 2011 11:30 PM EDT up reply actions

the guy who retaliates always gets busted

by theatrain on Jun 7, 2011 10:26 PM EDT up reply actions

Doesn't matter...

Getting tossed is a much a part of the game as drilling him.

by BarryJT on Jun 7, 2011 11:32 PM EDT up reply actions

This and recd'

If a pitcher was talking shit to me I’d do the same thing. Harper may be cocky but the kids has a bullseye on his back. Everyone passed judgment on him without knowing the pitcher’s role in this. Ridiculous. Goldstein was bad mouting him on Twitter again (like Law did with Lambo last year) and I think it’s really irresponsible on their part.

#AllTheBuntsAreBad!

by Slick1 on Jun 8, 2011 3:33 PM EDT up reply actions

The unfortunate part for him

is that he has this reputation, from even before he was drafted, and it’s going to follow him around until he gives people a reason for it not to. While it’s very likely that both players are very at fault for this, he is going to take the heat for it not only because he’s a top prospect that everyone constantly watches anyway, but because he has this kind of reputation

The glare of the spotlight is harsh, and the pressure that success breeds immense. We revere our heroes, but expect much. And criticism can come as easily as praise.
Twitter: @shanecglass

by glass0941 on Jun 8, 2011 4:17 PM EDT up reply actions

Are we sure it wasn't because of the SI article and front cover?

Everybody’s cocky in HS. Hormones man. I agree to but I’ll also add that when the media decides to play up the reputation it makes things even worse. They love this sheet because they’ll get 200-300 posts on their blogs.

#AllTheBuntsAreBad!

by Slick1 on Jun 8, 2011 4:25 PM EDT up reply actions

cop out

18 year olds know right from wrong. or should.

by Mr. E on Jun 8, 2011 10:06 PM EDT up reply actions

He's a kid...

who has had everything one would want. I’m not saying I condone the behavior, but I try to think of myself when I was 18 and how I would handle it. Probably not well, and I’d act like a different kind of a-hole everyday. He’ll get knocked down and hit as he goes up, don’t worry. I wouldn’t bail on him for stuff like this…

by NastyNate82 on Jun 7, 2011 10:26 PM EDT reply actions

And the first time he does it for the Nats and Werth or Zimmerman gets earholed right behind him, they will straighten him up pretty quick.

by Thunder on Jun 7, 2011 10:35 PM EDT up reply actions

THIS!

by white angus on Jun 8, 2011 6:43 AM EDT up reply actions

Each of you would also take him on the Pirates in a heart beat. He’s far from the first a-hole in baseball history.

by Dorn on Jun 7, 2011 10:35 PM EDT reply actions

Yeah, I’d take him…but he’s gonna get a teammate hurt if he keeps it up.

by Thunder on Jun 7, 2011 10:36 PM EDT up reply actions

Yea. He’ll definitely learn, at least you’d think he would. BUT, if he lives up to the hype, honestly, it doesn’t matter. The team may not like it, but if he rakes, they’ll deal with it.

I mean, he is really young. We all do stupid things.

by Dorn on Jun 7, 2011 10:41 PM EDT up reply actions

definitely

but even if he were a Pirate I’d blast him for this

by Justin84 on Jun 7, 2011 10:50 PM EDT up reply actions

Absolutely. Judging a player’s character is a slippery slope. Whether its showboating or drunk driving or extracurriculars…it’ gets hairy. Every front office is probably thinking the same thing about Harper…“what a dick…he’ll learn…maybe he’ll continue to be a dick…i wish he was in our system.”

by Dorn on Jun 7, 2011 11:19 PM EDT up reply actions

His manager hopefully gave him ten rations of shit.

I actually think Kyle Stark wouldn’t put up with this crap and would order him benched for a game. The Pirates don’t seem to have much patience for minor leaguers not acting like professionals.

by BarryJT on Jun 7, 2011 11:35 PM EDT up reply actions

I’ll take Taillon, thanks.

by Mr. E on Jun 7, 2011 11:23 PM EDT up reply actions

that’s cool…to each his own

by Dorn on Jun 7, 2011 11:36 PM EDT up reply actions

yep, in a second

#AllTheBuntsAreBad!

by Slick1 on Jun 8, 2011 3:36 PM EDT up reply actions

I don't particularly care whether his actions were warranted or not.

As far as I am concerned, that is not his primary issue. What matters is that he is showing future pitchers that he can be distracted and rattled.

by Joe9195 on Jun 7, 2011 10:37 PM EDT reply actions

All i can say is I cant wait til Harper is facing Cole and Taillon and they let it fly high and inside

We have to unify and watch our flag ascend!

by C Shint on Jun 7, 2011 10:54 PM EDT reply actions

Accidentally??

or on purpose??

by Thunder on Jun 7, 2011 10:59 PM EDT up reply actions

doesnt matter ;)

We have to unify and watch our flag ascend!

by C Shint on Jun 7, 2011 11:15 PM EDT up reply actions

This was posted already

See here: http://www.bucsdugout.com/2011/6/7/2211354/kind-of-puts-the-whole-tony-sanchez-tweet-thing-into-perspective

Which now makes two fanposts about the same thing that Bryce Harper did. The kid isn’t a Pirate and he wasn’t playing against one of our affiliates. Can we not do this?

www.stealingfirstbase.com

by Stealing First Base on Jun 7, 2011 11:03 PM EDT reply actions

apparently

we cannot not not it

by Brian in 317 on Jun 8, 2011 10:48 AM EDT up reply actions

"do", that is

by Brian in 317 on Jun 8, 2011 10:48 AM EDT up reply actions

My apologies...

I did not see it in the earlier post. I simply thought it was an interesting topic, which apparently 39 others agree with since they are commenting. Also, we are actually allowed to talk about other teams on here. The title clearly states what this fanpost is about. If you did not want to read the repeat, don’t click the link.

by Justin84 on Jun 8, 2011 5:34 PM EDT up reply actions

I like it...

I know some of you guys see him as being a punk, but I’m 21 years old, and when I was 18, I acted like a dick on occasion (and still do… not as much.)

I see it as swagger. I like it. Now, I’m sure as he gets older he’ll find better ways to harness that swagger, but I like his confidence and his cockiness.

by Zach Buccos on Jun 8, 2011 12:02 AM EDT reply actions

If this were a game of pickup basketball, or any competition with my friends, yeah, I’d be right there with you, but it isn’t. This is the pros and a kid still in A-ball. What has he accomplished? Dick. I’d like to think their manager would set him straight but since he does this crap all the time I find that hard to believe.

by Mr. E on Jun 8, 2011 9:54 AM EDT up reply actions

I disagree

It is one thing to have swagger.

This isn’t swagger — this is showing up your opponent. You blow a kiss at one of my pitchers? You’ll get hit the rest of the series.

What this is going to do is get this kid hurt. Maybe it will be a bench clearer (again – they seem to follow him), or maybe a baseball in his earhole. He’s going to piss of some never-will-be, and that guy will hit him in the wrist with a 92mph fastball. Some play at the plate, and a catcher will make damn sure he lets Harper know what’s going on….and then the world will come down on the OTHER player for his actions.

This kid is a punk, and he deserves whatever comes his way. I hope it is nothing severe, but if it is…I’m not going to be one of the people that feels sorry for him.

by insane_sanity on Jun 8, 2011 10:42 AM EDT up reply actions

So what..

If I had his talent I would be cocky too. I have no problem being cocky if one can back it up, at his level right now he can back it up.

by psunate77 on Jun 8, 2011 7:56 AM EDT reply actions

I completely agree. I have no problem with what he did….on the contrary, I quite enjoy a little colorful behavior. Our superstars these days are generally so boring. I’d much rather watch someone that is a character vs. someone that has character. After all, it’s just entertainment.

by mak_DC on Jun 8, 2011 10:09 AM EDT up reply actions

I believe

there was a scout that said something along the lines of: You see him on the field and love him; he opens his mouth and you hate him.

by insane_sanity on Jun 8, 2011 9:39 AM EDT reply actions

somehow this reminds me of this

Rumbunter FTW

Players who should be in the Hall of Fame: Pat TIllman, Dwight White, Donnie Shell, L.C. Greenwood, Ray Guy, Steve Tasker, Jack Butler, Greg Lloyd, Andy Russell, Cris Carter, Kevin Greene, Curtis Martin, Willie Roaf, Andre Reed and Jerry Kramer
"Baseball is like church. Many attend, but few understand." Wes Westrum
Canal Street Chronicles resident Steelers Fan

by WVPiratesfan on Jun 8, 2011 10:15 AM EDT reply actions