Bryce Harper appeared to be ejected for not getting into the batters box while the home plate umpire was yelling at the dugout. I was listening on the radio while I was driving home, and Chelsea Janes account matches what I heard from the Washington radio crew. I have to assume that Bryce said something naughty, or that could be interpreted as arguing the strike call. Otherwise, there was no reason to toss him.
Hudson and Harper have quarreled before. In 2013, Harper hollered at Hudson after Hudson said Harper did not check his swing in the ninth inning of a game against the Braves. This is Harper’s fifth career ejection. In 2012, Hudson even ejected then-Manager Davey Johnson, who has only been ejected twice this decade.
So they have a history. With the 3-2 win over the Yankees the Nationals are 2-0 when Harper gets ejected this season.
37% of players in the 3 dollar for 100K Draftsking special tonight lost Harper after 1 AB. MLB has an equity stake in Draftskings. Can umpires play? LOL
Seriously, Harper did not do anything but gripe a bit after the call which was not that awful (compared to the called strike the night before from Miller), so nothing too obvious. Then the ump started yapping at the dugout as the manager must have said something, and Harper then stepped out of the box. It looked like he was giving the ump a hint to move the game along by stepping into and then out of the box as the ump was still yapping at the dugout, and then the ump started to yap at Harper, and Harper said something and got tossed.
I hope this ump is disciplined. They have to keep their emotions in check and not escalate these things. Nobody is paying or spending time to watch these umps. The purpose of interleague play is to expose fans to all the players, and Yankee fans lost an opportunity to see Harper at his best although most will not complain as it gave them a better chance to win. Not to mention the Nationals fans who pay good money and endure tough travel to see Harper.
I won’t even mention the money lost on Draftkings.
I like that conspiratorial thinking you got going there pft.
Maybe this has to do with the new rules regarding staying in the box after pitches and whatnot. The was definitely the most benign of Harper’s ejections, as far as him seeming irate.
He may have said something, but it’ll be interesting to see what MLB does and if it turns out to be a case of bad judgement on the umps part.
As for those draft kings people, the ejection is certainly an unlikely wildcard that can totally ruin one’s chances of winning. I bet those who had Harper in their lineups and lost will be pretty upset with this ump for the foreseeable future.