10
2012
An Air Of Old School
An article by 
I know I am a little late on the issue and that most of you really do not want to read anything about Cole Hamels. That is fine by me. I still think he is a goddamn idiot for announcing to the world that he hit Harper on purpose. He basically went out of his way to say, “Suspend me! Or fine me, that would be ok too.”
Of course, my only quibble here, is the fact that he could not keep his mouth shut. I had no problem with Hamels drilling Harper – in fact, a part of me actually felt like he did the right thing. So hear me out before you jump, aye? If you want a good laugh, go read Mike Rizzo’s hissy fit about the whole scenario, because I am going to take a shot at being serious here.
Hamels drilled a kid who was notorious…frankly, for being a horrible person. If you google Bryce Harper’s name with an expletive or two, you will see him losing it on an occasion or two – and you will also see him admiring a home run he hit and blowing a kiss to the opposing pitcher at that point in time.
“It’s impossible to find any talent evaluator who isn’t blown away by Harper’s ability on the field, but it’s equally difficult to find one who doesn’t genuinely dislike the kid.
“One scout called him among the worst amateur players he’s ever seen from a makeup standpoint, with top-of-the-scale arrogance, a disturbingly large sense of entitlement, and on-field behavior that includes taunting opponents.”
“He’s just a bad, bad guy,” one front-office official told Baseball Prospectus. “He’s basically the anti-Joe Mauer.”
So there you go. Apparently, Harper had it coming. That was not going to fly in the big leagues. He has kept a low profile since the call up and what I believe was a forced deletion of his twitter, but nevertheless, I do not believe that sense of entitlement would just magically humble itself away.
In addition, Hamels did not go head hunting – he threw at the body to avoid any serious injury and sent a message the way it used to be sent. I never root for any player to be injured – even a rival. First and last time you will see me complimenting Cole Hamels, by the way.
I might be young, but I picked up my knowledge on pitching from some old-school philosophies. If a guy is crowding the plate, you do not try to make a perfect pitch, you go high and in with the fastball first. If he stays there, you bean him. If that ticks you off as a batter, take the pitcher deep. Simple as that.
Someone gets drilled on your team – expect retaliation soon. It worked like that because there was a different air around back then; it was an air of swagger, confidence, and pride. And I really do wish I grew up in the 80′s instead of the 90′s/00′s. It seems like Johnny Bench understands my logic here, too.
Outside of my dreams there, understand that I am not saying baseball players of this day and age are not proud of the game or are not confident. I know they damn well are. But I want to feel the confidence and pride radiating from my team…the interesting thing is – this might a good time to pick that up.
The youth movement has begun with the Mets and the young guns are notorious for having a little pep in their step – a little more swagger in their stride. There is a fine line between arrogance and confidence, but these kids could usher in a new feel to Mets baseball for the next few years.
Nolan Ryan wants to bring back some old pitching knowledge – I welcome it with open arms, and I say bring back the toughness as well. (Let’s avoid the Mets DL jokes, hm?)
So what do you think? Can these Mets be tough? Or are they doomed to fall into the softer culture of today’s game?
About the Author: Satish Ram
I am a Senior Writer and Editor here at MetsMerized - where I specialize in Minor League coverage. I have been on the staff since 2007 and I am currently in my third semester of college in New York City. You can find me at www.facebook.com/SatishRam or @SilverHeatMMO. Feel free to message me - I love talking about the Mets or baseball overall with anybody.
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“Hamels drilled a kid who was notorious…frankly, for being a horrible person. If you google Bryce Harper’s name with an expletive or two, you will see him losing it on an occasion or two – and you will also see him admiring a home run he hit and blowing a kiss to the opposing pitcher at that point in time.”
What did Harper do once he got promoted? He’s been a solid citizen. He left the showboating in the minors.
” I do not believe that sense of entitlement would just magically humble itself away.”
Hey, if we are going to throw at every arrogant jerk in baseball, we’re going to see a lot more base runners.
What do you think Bryce Harper learned from the whole thing? Do you think the supposed sense of entitlement has been lessened? Would perhaps completely over powering the kid with a strike out have worked better?
Here’s Curt Schilling’s opinion on the matter as well as the idea of “old school baseball” and “unwritten rules”.
http://espn.go.com/espnradio/play?id=7900255
Hey Donal,
I don’t have sound on my home computer, can you summarize what Schilling said?
At the very least, I know that Bench agrees with the ideology behind it. I think the HBP was an attempt to let him know that the MLB is aware of the type of person he has been painted to be, and if he gets any ideas, he should kill them early.
I do agree that he’s kept his mouth shut since being called up and I’m happy to see that. Harper handled it well, by stealing home on Hamels right after. He has guts and a lot of confidence. I just don’t see a problem with the HBP, I guess.
I’ll see if I can find a transcript for you. Basically, he called Hamels a dope for hitting a guy for no reason and hurting his team.
He also went on to say that the unwritten rules and “old school baseball” are mainly a tool for reporters who just need to find support for whatever point they are trying to make. According to him, you can’t find 2 people who even agree on the unwritten rules. What is an offence to one guy is just part of the game to another.
Looks like there is a reason they are “unwritten”.
Thanks.
Would you agree with me that there are unwritten rules, though? Or do you think Schilling is about right?
It isn’t really a rule if it isn’t written somewhere for people to see and understand. Schilling and Charlie Manuel have both come out and said they had never heard of rule about plunking a rookie just for the heck of it.
I think there are certain courtesies and such that players may extend, but what are the unwritten rules?
Stealing signs? Nope, there are players who have no problem with the runner on second reading the catcher. That’s why batteries use different methods.
Admiring a home run? I’ve heard a lot of guys say this is wrong (I tend to agree), but some dudes look like they are posing for an oil painting and nothing happens.
How about this for an unwritten rule? Pretty boys from SoCal who pitch 6 innings every 5th day don’t get to talk about being old school.
I think it was just him trying to play all tough guy, as part of his ramp up campaign toward FA. That and he is a bit of a dope.
Unwritten rules? Easier to change when they aren’t written down I guess.
stealing with a big lead? trying to score more with a big lead? But these days, what lead is big enough to stop playing the game with?
Oh and of course, don’t bunt to break up a no hitter.
Mostly just a bunch of old guys sitting around talking about how they did things in their day, when guys played the game the “right way”.
But, when you actually looked at what happened, a lot of the old guys didn’t play the same way.
I disagree, I think there are many unwritten rules in baseball.
Don’t swing at a 3-0 pitch with a huge lead – don’t steal with a huge lead., don’t bunt.
Don’t step on the pitchers mound when crossing back to the dugout (See: A-rod being an a-hole to Dallas Braden)
I know the posing for a HR becomes something that’s borderline. I think it was Weaver who got pissed at Guillen not too long ago.
I’ll give you that Hamels isn’t really old school, at all. But the act was, in my mind. Do you happen to agree with Rizzo or do you think he overreacted?
I think Rizzo and Hamels are both idiots.
Harper stuck it to Hamels the best way possible.
That should have been the final word.
I am a supporter of “you have to earn your stripes” and while I respect his talents, Harper has to earn his way in the “Bigs” just like everyone else, period. It is a privilege to play professional sports and many of these guys come in and have a sense of entitlement. I like what Hammels did, but confirming to the public was breaking the code and stupid. I would never advocate the injuring of another player, but there are certain rules in baseball and one of them is knowing when to be humble. Imagine if Mr. Harper were to have faced Pedro Martinez, Sal “the barber” Maglie, or Bob Gibson, there would be no sympathy!
What has Harper done since getting to the Show that warrants getting pegged?
Real brushback and beanball pitchers would scoff at the concern shown for Bryce Harper’s situation, especially since he seems to be a bit of a punk who feels entitled to stardom. Don Drysdale, Bob Gibson, Jaret Wright, Roger Clemens and Pedro Martizez are just a few examples. As Satish points out, Hamels did not go head hunting – he threw at the body to avoid any serious injury and sent a message the way it used to be sent. Hamels wanted to call attention to himself and Harper and he achieved his goal.
On the other hand, the Commissioner’s office can’t let these situations get out of hand. Take a look at a composite team of guys hit by pitchers. Roy Campanella (skull concussion) at catcher. Around the infield — Jackie Robinson (fractured batting helmet) at first base; Cass Michaels (fractured skull) at second; Pee Wee Reese (concussion) at short; Pete Reiser (concussion) at third. Joe Medwick (fractured skull), Hank Leiber (concussion) and Carl Furillo (six beanings, various effects) make up the outfield. Then there is the inspiring but sad story of Don Zimmer and the killing of Ray Chapman.
Harper has done nothing in the majors to warrant a pegging.
Also, none of those guys threw at a batter just because.
preemptive strike?
I think it had more to do with the Phils unravelling as they were getting exposed as old news, and trying to stagger off the mat to throw a punch back at the young upstarts. Living on reputation in a sense, and trying to remind the kid who they were dealing with (so more to do with the nats then Harper).
Donal — Just like a manager who tries to excite a team by getting thrown out of a game on a call he knows he can’t win, maybe ‘stick’ has the reason – a preemptive strike. In any case, the issue is what was going on in Cole Hamels mind, not yours or mine. These are just possibilities being suggested. We need to remember that baseball isn’t chess. Emotions count.
Apparently Charlie Manuel doesn’t know what Hamels was thinking either.
well, making him the #1 pick and handing him millions of dollars before playing a pro game, not to mention being on the cover of SI at ~16 (branded the next big thing) certainly supports a sense of entitlement!
though I think that was there already, with the whole skipping HS (GED?) deal or whatever exactly he did to get to the draft sooner.
But, most likely the swagger (attitude, whatever you want to call it) will resurface as long as he is backing it up on the field.
Gibson welcomed Tommie Agee to Mets by hitting him in the head in 68.