Paps file grievance against Nats

[gunnarthor]

He's arguing that their 2 games suspension of him wasn't legal and he actually might win.  But the best part are the comments.

 

http://deadspin.com/report-jonathan-papelbon-files-grievance-against-natio-1746622376

 

I honestly can't see how the Nats can let him be on their roster next year but they might have to give him away.

[DaveW]

 

He's arguing that their 2 games suspension of him wasn't legal and he actually might win.  But the best part are the comments.

 

http://deadspin.com/report-jonathan-papelbon-files-grievance-against-natio-1746622376

 

I honestly can't see how the Nats can let him be on their roster next year but they might have to give him away.

Trade him to the Twins!

[Mike Sixel]

I would have been fired for choking a co-worker. This is the kind of thing that makes athletes look like spoiled brats.

[gunnarthor]

 

I would have been fired for choking a co-worker. This is the kind of thing that makes athletes look like spoiled brats.

Well, sure.  But the fact that athletes get away with things you don't is so obvious now I can't believe people still get upset about it. 

 

I think Paps could actually be a good fit for the right team although I'm not sure the Twins are it.  He's owed 11m next year so the Nats aren't going to get much (if anything) for him.  But he's still a pretty good pitcher.  It would be interesting to see if the Twins could deal with him.  I think they could and he'd be a pretty nice piece in the pen.

[Hosken Bombo Disco]

Maybe someone with the PA could suggest to him that if he wins the grievance he will donate that recouped salary to an anti-abuse organization.

[Mike Sixel]

 

Well, sure.  But the fact that athletes get away with things you don't is so obvious now I can't believe people still get upset about it. 

 

I think Paps could actually be a good fit for the right team although I'm not sure the Twins are it.  He's owed 11m next year so the Nats aren't going to get much (if anything) for him.  But he's still a pretty good pitcher.  It would be interesting to see if the Twins could deal with him.  I think they could and he'd be a pretty nice piece in the pen.

 

I'm not upset, more eye rolly......

[DaveW]

 

I would have been fired for choking a co-worker. This is the kind of thing that makes athletes look like spoiled brats.

Meh, I think these things happen all the time (reminder that Torii "the bestest leaderest, leader of all time" threw some punches at Twins team-mates.

 

Paps problem was it was caught on camera, also there have been plenty of players who have tried to fight Harper so far in his career.

 

Is Paps a douchebag? Absolutely

Is he still a dominant pitcher? Absolutely

[DaveW]

 

 

Maybe someone with the PA could suggest to him that if he wins the grievance he will donate that recouped salary to an anti-abuse organization.

I think that is a reach....this was two teammates fighting, not an "abuse" situation.

 

If he really wanted to do something good he could donate the money to Bryce Harpers charity.

[mickeymental]

maybe the twins could also get milton bradley and albert belle to come out of retirement and solve all of their problems.

[biggentleben]

$11M for his performance is really not bad at all when you look at what the going rate in the market is. It's the off field stuff that makes him untradeable and laughable when the Nats acquired him in the first place, creating a rift with their closer they already had on board, a huge issue in the clubhouse between players and management that Dusty Baker sure isn't going to change, and bringing in a guy who'd sparked multiple dust ups with his new teammates as division rivals over the previous few years.

 

Matt Williams and Nats' management did many things to ensure that Strasburg and Harper will extend their careers elsewhere upon reaching free agency, but this is definitely a prominent nail in that coffin, especially with Harper.

[Hosken Bombo Disco]

If he really wanted to do something good he could donate the money to Bryce Harpers charity.

That's a clown question, bro.

[jimmer]

 

I would have been fired for choking a co-worker. This is the kind of thing that makes athletes look like spoiled brats.

Not to mention arrested, and also sued.

 

He's got to be in the top 5 of jerks in the game today, along with A.J.

[Hrbowski]

 

$11M for his performance is really not bad at all when you look at what the going rate in the market is. It's the off field stuff that makes him untradeable and laughable when the Nats acquired him in the first place, creating a rift with their closer they already had on board, a huge issue in the clubhouse between players and management that Dusty Baker sure isn't going to change, and bringing in a guy who'd sparked multiple dust ups with his new teammates as division rivals over the previous few years.

 

Matt Williams and Nats' management did many things to ensure that Strasburg and Harper will extend their careers elsewhere upon reaching free agency, but this is definitely a prominent nail in that coffin, especially with Harper.

Dusty was the worst possible person for that job.

 

[Thrylos]

Perkins filed a grievance against the Twins way back then when he sucked and they sent him to the minors.

 

SOP.

 

Union stuff.  Nothing to see here...

[DocBauer]

Ridiculous is a pretty big word.

 

But not big enough to cover the absurdity of this situation. 

[h2oface]

This whole thing is another non story. Big deal. Like Papelbon had any intent at all to "strangle" anyone. Seriously? Squeeze the neck with intent to kill? Seriously? Strangle? The example of Torii Hunter's temper is a good one. Only difference - one was in the clubhouse and one was in the dugout. Many parents still do far far worse to their children, unfortunately, and the same folks that are miffed about this might be some that believe they have the right to "discipline" their children (I bet they don't want that on TV) the way their misguided parents did them. Tempers flared. People are so quick to judge without any real knowledge of the real personal history between these two, other than what they may read from attention seekers writing about it, or media talking heads beating it into the ground. Hockey players assault each other in almost every game (and not as part of the game, but an actual fighting assault, by law) with much more intent than this, and the crowd cheers. What do you expect from baseball players that will throw a ball at each others heads and jump out of the dugout with chests pumped pretending to be tough. It is what it is, and it was nothing, really. Two hot tempered adult children getting into a tussle. Trade him if you like, but give him his money back. I bet Papelbon wins this. 

[DaveW]

 

Perkins filed a grievance against the Twins way back then when he sucked and they sent him to the minors.

 

SOP.

 

Union stuff.  Nothing to see here...

Exactly, in fact this isn't going to "lose" him any points with ANY of the players including Harper (whose attitude may find himself getting suspended some day)

 

CBA deal is coming up in a year or two, players are already getting a much smaller "piece" of the pie then they were, we will see a lot of these type of grievances in the next 12 months is my guess.

 

And at the end of the day, the $100k he lost out on is a lot of money for anybody, no reason not to file the grievance.

[DaveW]

 

 

This whole thing is another non story. Big deal. Like Papelbon had any intent at all to "strangle" anyone. Seriously? Squeeze the neck with intent to kill? Seriously? Strangle? Many parents still do far far worse to their children, unfortunately, and the same folks that are miffed about this might be some that believe they have the right to "discipline" their children (I bet they don't want that on TV) the way their misguided parents did them. Tempers flared. People are so quick to judge without any real knowledge of the real personal history between these two, other than what they may read from attention seekers writing about it, or media talking heads beating it into the ground. To compare it to the "workplace" of a business office is really reaching. Hockey players assault each other in almost every game (and not as part of the game, but an actual fighting assault, by law) with much more intent than this, and the crowd cheers. What do you expect form baseball players that will throw a ball at each others heads and jump out of the dugout with chests pumped pretending to be tough. It is what it is, and it was nothing, really.

 

Yeah the workplace comparison doesn't make much sense, a more appropriate comparison would be a couple of brothers or buddies getting a small scrap. It happens, people move on etc.

 

Papelbon is getting a lot more **** because of the fact he is a douche too boot (so in some ways he has brought it upon his self) but then again, as mentioned, Torii Hunter actually threw a hard punch and hit Punto. That is worse IMO)

[DaveW]

 

 

$11M for his performance is really not bad at all when you look at what the going rate in the market is. It's the off field stuff that makes him untradeable and laughable when the Nats acquired him in the first place, creating a rift with their closer they already had on board, a huge issue in the clubhouse between players and management that Dusty Baker sure isn't going to change, and bringing in a guy who'd sparked multiple dust ups with his new teammates as division rivals over the previous few years.

 

Matt Williams and Nats' management did many things to ensure that Strasburg and Harper will extend their careers elsewhere upon reaching free agency, but this is definitely a prominent nail in that coffin, especially with Harper.

I wouldn't be so sure about Harper leaving, I wouldn't be shocked if they ink him to an 11 or 12 year contract before the season starts.

Money (especially record breaking money) heals a lot of sore feelings.

[DaveW]

On that note: I could definitely see a 12 year, 375 million contract offer to him, with an opt out after 6 years (giving him a shot for another 10+ year deal)

[biggentleben]

 

Not to mention arrested, and also sued.

 

He's got to be in the top 5 of jerks in the game today, along with A.J.

 

AJ really surprised me with how "anti" that reputation he was last year in Atlanta. He did all the right things, which is why they brought him back.

[h2oface]

 

Yeah the workplace comparison doesn't make much sense, a more appropriate comparison would be a couple of brothers or buddies getting a small scrap. It happens, people move on etc.

 

Papelbon is getting a lot more **** because of the fact he is a douche too boot (so in some ways he has brought it upon his self) but then again, as mentioned, Torii Hunter actually threw a hard punch and hit Punto. That is worse IMO)

 

Ha. Well, I didn't want anyone to think that I was referring directly to them, so I "edited" the workplace part out while you were responding, I guess. But I do believe that.

 

Yes. Brothers that are not liking each other. Aggressive, proud, strutting, and in each other's face, passively and directly, and snap.

[biggentleben]

 

On that note: I could definitely see a 12 year, 375 million contract offer to him, with an opt out after 6 years (giving him a shot for another 10+ year deal)

 

I doubt he misses out on free agency for anything short of being the first $400M man.

[DaveW]

 

I doubt he misses out on free agency for anything short of being the first $400M man.

12 years 375 if he signs it before this off-season, next off season it prob is 12 years (400 million)
He makes a little less if he signs now because it buys out his arb years earlier etc.

 

Anyways, I don't see Washington letting him go, and if anyone is going to "earn" a 12 year contract, it is him, since he would still be like 34 when it ended, no?

[h2oface]

 

Not to mention arrested, and also sued.

 

He's got to be in the top 5 of jerks in the game today, along with A.J.

 

An off topic AJ dig in a Papelbon thread. I guess sometimes, when someone has decided that they don't like someone and their behavior and sense of humor, that they can't help themselves, even in a dugout. 

 

I have always liked AJ's sense of humor (on talk shows and in interviews for example). I think Sheriff McCann's behavior - stopping a baseball game to interfere with something that he isn't even a part of -  is more fitting for a jerk. But I like to laugh. 

 

 

[biggentleben]

 

12 years 375 if he signs it before this off-season, next off season it prob is 12 years (400 million)
He makes a little less if he signs now because it buys out his arb years earlier etc.

 

Anyways, I don't see Washington letting him go, and if anyone is going to "earn" a 12 year contract, it is him, since he would still be like 34 when it ended, no?

 

I just can't see him doing it right now. The guys I talk with in the Braves organization talk about how distant he's become in the clubhouse. It's about the worst kept secret among those in the game that he wants badly to be a Yankee.

[jimmer]

 

An off topic AJ dig in a Papelbon thread. I guess sometimes, when someone has decided that they don't like someone and their behavior and sense of humor, that they can't help themselves, even in a dugout. 

 

I have always liked AJ's sense of humor (on talk shows and in interviews for example). I think Sheriff McCann's behavior - stopping a baseball game to interfere with something that he isn't even a part of -  is more fitting for a jerk. But I like to laugh. 

When a player goes out of his way to try and injure another player, I think it's fair game to call him a jerk.  That's what he did to Morneau twice in one game by running up the first-base line on the inside and purposely directing his cleats to Morneau's ankle.  He connected the first time, Morneau pulled his leg in time the second time.  And it was obvious both times.

 

As far as it being off topic, I don't see it that way.  The conversation had already gone to players purposely going after other which AJ clearly did as well.

[biggentleben]

 

When a player goes out of his way to try and injure another player, I think it's fair game to call him a jerk.  That's what he did to Morneau twice in one game by running up the first-base line on the inside and purposely directing his cleats to Morneau's ankle.  He connected the first time, Morneau pulled his leg in time the second time.  And it was obvious both times.

 

As far as it being off topic, I don't see it that way.  The conversation had already gone to players purposely going after other which AJ clearly did as well.

 

So I'm assuming you'd never want Johnny Cueto on the Twins?

[jimmer]

 

So I'm assuming you'd never want Johnny Cueto on the Twins?

Well, for one, I wasn't talking about whether or not I'd want AJ on the team (I wouldn't), so that question was out of the blue.

 

Second, I don't think it's okay to be a complete donkey as long as you are a very good player.  A donkey is a donkey.  I, personally, would rather not have players on our team who go out of their way to intentionally injure other players.  Makes it harder for me, personally, to root for players like that.  It's probably why, as a fan of multiple sports, I find myself rooting mostly for teams as opposed to being fans of specific players (though I still have some favorite players).

[h2oface]

Harper probably should have run the ball out. I agree. Harper was loafing, and should have run the ball out. Molitor and Ryan might bench and demote and then trade someone like Aaron Hicks for doing something like loafing or not paying attention, and even if it is just spring training and not a real regular season game that really counts. I think Papelbon was right for telling Harper so. Williams should have, no? Everyone in the dugout probably should have told him so. A team player might have responded.... "You are right. I should have run it out. You never know what can happen. Next time I will bring it. Thanks for caring and getting in my face about it."  Sure, eh? That's gonna happen. I think the games served is punishment enough for Papelbon's behavior of losing his temper from what Harper snapped back, and he will and should win his grievance. Washington ought to just settle and do if voluntarily. Why make a further issue of it. Harper was a contributing factor, in behavior and mouth. And it really is no big deal, here.