Bryce Harper Not A Fan Of Baseball’s Unwritten Rules

Washington Nationals outfielder Bryce Harper sat down for an interview with ESPN’s Tim Keown and Harper discussed how he felt about baseball’s so-called “unwritten rules.”

“Baseball’s tired,” he said. “It’s a tired sport, because you can’t express yourself. You can’t do what people in other sports do. I’m not saying baseball is, you know, boring or anything like that, but it’s the excitement of the young guys who are coming into the game now who have flair.”

Harper has criticized the ‘rules’ before, perhaps most notably when Nationals closer Jonathan Papelbon hit Orioles’ third baseman Manny Machado after the latter cranked a home run to give Baltimore the lead.  After that game Harper said, “I mean, Manny freaking hit a homer.  Walked it off and somebody drilled him. I mean, it’s pretty tired. It’s one of those situations where it happens and, I don’t know, I’ll probably get drilled tomorrow.”

Harper and Papelbon were involved in an altercation in the dugout a few days later, with Papelbon putting his hands around Harper’s throat.

Harper was referencing the ‘rule’ that says if one of your players gets hit intentionally, especially your best player, you retaliate likewise.  Baltimore did not retaliate the next game so maybe the new generation of MLB stars will push out the tradition of the rules.

Harper then mentioned how Marlins’ pitcher José Fernandez plays the game with flair, competitiveness,and has fun doing it.  “Jose Fernandez is a great example. Jose Fernandez will strike you out and stare you down into the dugout and pump his fist. And if you hit a homer and pimp it? He doesn’t care. Because you got him. That’s part of the game. It’s not the old feeling — hoorah … if you pimp a homer, I’m going to hit you right in the teeth. No. If a guy pimps a homer for a game-winning shot … I mean — sorry.”

You can see an example of Fernandez giving up a moonshot to Carlos Gonzalez and still having a good time playing the game.

via GIPHY

Harper also mentioned how other sports allow superstars like Cam Newton and LeBron James to celebrate without any threat of retaliation and how much fans like to see them do it.

It remains to be seen how players will continue to act in regards to the ‘unwritten rules’, will we see more emphasis on traditional players enforcing them or more flair and emotional celebrations we’ve seen from players like Yasiel Puig or Jose Bautista?

With all the young superstars in the league it will be interesting to find out when the regular season begins on April 3.