After failing to run out a ground ball in the sixth inning of a recent 4-to-3 loss to the St. Louis Cardinals, Bryce Harper was benched for a lack of hustle.
It’s ironic that the scorecard that day had a picture of Bryce Harper with the words “Nothing But Hustle.”
Because, if anything, Las Vegas’ best-ever baseball player was mostly know for playing too hard.
Harper, 21, who is still the youngest player in major league baseball, told the Washington Post he absolutely understood manager Matt Williams’s decision.
“I respect what he did,” Harper told the Washington Post. “It’s part of the game.”
Still, there are lingering questions about Harper’s attitude.
Harper’s quick assent to the Washington Nationals began at Las Vegas High School and the College of Southern Nevada. Williams, who grew up in Carson City, Nevada, starred at third base for UNLV before playing for the San Francisco Giants, Cleveland Indians and Arizona Diamondbacks.
GUEST
Jason Wager, sports writer with the Washington Post
Copyright 2015 KNPR-FM. To see more, visit http://www.knpr.org/.
