There’s no choking your own teammate in baseball, right?
Right. Unless, of course, you’re relief pitcher Jonathan Papelbon of the Washington Nationals who was seen choking teammate and “likely NL MVP” Bryce Harper during the 8th inning of today’s games vs. the Philadelphia Phillies.
According to reports, Harper had just gotten out on a pop-up and Papelbon wasn’t happy that he didn’t run the ball out to first. And after a few curse words were exchanged, this happened:
Here's Jonathan Papelbon "confronting" Bryce Harper because Jonathan Papelbon is the worst. http://t.co/bTz9KvYDpL pic.twitter.com/eS0FLBG1jL
— Sporting News (@sportingnews) September 27, 2015
The Nationals' season in six seconds: Idiot closer tries to fight the MVP who's too good for this garbage. https://t.co/aYBIOnzfGL
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) September 27, 2015
http://t.co/o8sp9L9Qvq via best move #Phillies made this year was ditching Papelbon #douchebag
— Coop (@King_Coop1) September 27, 2015
Talk about a Natitude pic.twitter.com/t2m1NhLMla
— Baseball Bros (@BaseballBros) September 27, 2015
Bryce Harper and Papelbon brawling in Nats dugout #Natitude #LOL pic.twitter.com/5g6HAix5nm
— SportsBlogNewYork (@SportBlogNYC) September 27, 2015
Papelbon stayed in the game after the fight and … you guessed it … choked:
Papelbon chokes NL MVP.
Manager leaves Papelbon in game.
Papelbon chokes (again!)—gives up 5 runs.#ThatsAClownTeamBruh
— Judge Don Willett (@JusticeWillett) September 27, 2015
Many are wondering why Papelbon wasn’t immediately cut or suspended after the incident:
The #Nats need to cut Papelbon tonight. There is no reason for him to be on the team. He's a cancer. Cut him. https://t.co/h3URDTrerJ
— Luke Russert (@LukeRussert) September 27, 2015
Recommended
As the kids say, WTF? Why was Papelbon not fired as soon as he swung on @Bharper3407? https://t.co/8prY7BchKY
— Paul Begala (@PaulBegala) September 27, 2015
How does Matt Wlliams put Papelbon in the game after he attacks the MVP of the league? Unreal.
— Zach Braziller (@NYPost_Brazille) September 27, 2015
maybe it wasnt such a great idea to keep papelbon in the game after he attacked his team's franchise player. #natitude
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) September 27, 2015
The Papelbon/Harper thing was bad enough. But Papelbon is STILL in the #Nats dugout rather than, say, suspended? Fire manager. Fire GM.
— Keith Olbermann (@KeithOlbermann) September 27, 2015
The two seemed to have made up, however:
https://twitter.com/masnKolko/status/648245844777549825
Harper on Papelbon: "He apologized, so, yeah. Whatever. I really don't care…It's like brothers fighting."
— John Ourand (@Ourand_SBJ) September 27, 2015
Just like brothers, if brothers were paid millions of dollars that is.
***