Nationals’ Morgan suspended seven games

[gnarburger]

I didn't see anything wrong with how Morgan knocked down the catchers in either game.  They were blocking the plate.  They were in his way.  He was trying to score.  Yeah, he could have slid but he still would have knocked them down. 

He wouldn't have come anywhere near Anderson.  Anderson clearly wasn't blocking the plate.  He was a step in front of the plate and a bit to the first base side.  If he was blocking the plate Morgan likely would have touched it.

[Xiga]

I think it's pretty obvious why Morgan, at the age of 30, has such poor fundamentals. It's not because he used to play hockey. He's been playing baseball probably all his life. The guy is an idiot. The plethora of events that have occurred involving him this year prove that. It's not just that he lacks baseball smarts, he just lacks smarts period.

To be fair, I think the same is probably true of Milledge because a lot of the mistakes he makes out there are just as stupid. Someone mentioned it before, but it's interesting to see the change in attitudes between the two. When Morgan was here, he seemed to be a fun loving guy that played hard. In Washington, he's been a maniac. Milledge always had the reputation of being a punk before he got here but if he's done anything as a Pirate he's hustled and given good effort all the time. Unfortunately both are just lousy ball players regardless of the way their attitudes present themselves. Neither has the baseball acumen to go along with their athletic ability.

[lost_zero]

I see nothing wrong at all with the Marlins play at the plate.  How did he know he would be safe if he slid?  That was a hard-nosed baseball play.  The Cardinals play was over the top and unnecessary.

And Listach did what he could to break up a 6-on-1 melee.  the rest of the Nationals were much further away than the infielders for the Marlins.  He acted how anyone should act when one of your men is in the middle of an uneven fight.

[TNbucs]

I see nothing wrong at all with the Marlins play at the plate.  How did he know he would be safe if he slid?  That was a hard-nosed baseball play.  The Cardinals play was over the top and unnecessary.

And Listach did what he could to break up a 6-on-1 melee.  the rest of the Nationals were much further away than the infielders for the Marlins.  He acted how anyone should act when one of your men is in the middle of an uneven fight.

What I see in the replay is that the catcher receives the ball at about chest-height and while he has the plate straddled, the front of the plate is open.  There is no way that the catcher could have reached down to tag Morgan before Morgan's foot touched the plate if he had slid.  In fact I think Morgan was probably safe as it was--his foot seemed to step on the plate at the same time or an instant before he made contact with the catcher.

As for Listach, tackling the other team's starting pitcher seems excessive.  If anything, go after Gaby Sanchez as he was the one who leveled Morgan.

One last comment--the pitch didn't even hit Morgan and was thigh-high, about the safest place to take a HBP.  I could somewhat understand Morgan's reaction if it was up around the head, but at his thigh?

[CAfan]

I actually think the new unwritten rule shoud be that you don't charge if you aren't hit.  Its not like volstad really seemed to be trying to hit him, but actually threw behind.  That is a message, and then if Morgan wants to give a long glare back, say a few words, or have your pitcher brush someone back the next inning.  I don't get that charge.

As for Listach, he as a coach tried to flatten the opposing pitcher, that is bad form. He wasn't pulling people off he looked like he was out for blood himself. not right.

[ECBucs]

Well not many major league pitchers throw a fastball behind a batter. When that happens it is sending a message.

If Morgan wouldn't have gone out to the mound there is a good chance that the umpire would have issued warnings at that point.

[CAfan]

 guess what I am trying to say is that it was sending a message, not really taking action. Morgan escalated beyond where i think it needed to go.

[Piratesprospects]

Based on what we do know about Morgan (the history of a playful back and forth with the fans, the history of giving balls away to the fans on the road, and the accounts from the game that say he didn't mean to hurt a fan) it isn't likely that he threw the ball in to the stands out of frustration.

Also, while throwing a ball is intentional, the result is out of Morgan's control.  Morgan can't be punished for a circumstantial outcome, such as everyone failing to catch the ball, and the ball hitting a fan.  That's a risk with every throw in to the stands.  If you punish Morgan, you have to punish every outfielder who throws a ball in to the stands, regardless of the outcome.  Otherwise it's like only pulling someone over for speeding if they cause an accident.

Actually, based on recent history, I would say that it is very likely that the ball was thrown in frustration.  This is not the first time Morgan has been involved in something that makes you question him.  Plus, the way I understand it, the person was hurt by the ball.  I am not sure how you can be hurt by a ball tossed into the stands.

His own teammates and manager were embarrassed by him for his cheap shot on Saturday, and then he comes back to take out Bret Hayes a few days later.  He also had a temper tantrum in the outfield when he missed a ball, and now charges the mound when his team is down 10 runs?

Ryan Zimmerman's comment that Morgan is still learning the game is silly, but I suppose he is trying to find some kind of excuse for Morgan.  That excuse is lame.  Despite being a junior hockey player, he has played baseball for quite a while.  He was drafted out of high school, played JC ball, and then 7 full pro seasons.  If he is still learning the game, he will never figure it out.

I think it should be noted that my comments came when the "throwing the ball in to the stands" was an isolated incident.  With all that has happened with Morgan in the last week, I can definitely see how throwing the ball in the stands sounds like something he would do.  Prior to the last few weeks, Morgan was considered a model ballplayer.  He's done a 180 this week.

[shamtown]

I see nothing wrong at all with the Marlins play at the plate.  How did he know he would be safe if he slid?  That was a hard-nosed baseball play.  The Cardinals play was over the top and unnecessary.

And Listach did what he could to break up a 6-on-1 melee.  the rest of the Nationals were much further away than the infielders for the Marlins.  He acted how anyone should act when one of your men is in the middle of an uneven fight.

What I see in the replay is that the catcher receives the ball at about chest-height and while he has the plate straddled, the front of the plate is open.  There is no way that the catcher could have reached down to tag Morgan before Morgan's foot touched the plate if he had slid.  In fact I think Morgan was probably safe as it was--his foot seemed to step on the plate at the same time or an instant before he made contact with the catcher.

As for Listach, tackling the other team's starting pitcher seems excessive.  If anything, go after Gaby Sanchez as he was the one who leveled Morgan.

One last comment--the pitch didn't even hit Morgan and was thigh-high, about the safest place to take a HBP.  I could somewhat understand Morgan's reaction if it was up around the head, but at his thigh?

Listach is the only one that gets my respect.  If you watch the video again you will see the pitcher has Morgan on the ground and was wailing away on him.

[bobster]

I just saw the video of Morgan running into the catcher when there was no play at the plate. It's the ultimate cheap shot. Morgan had to go out of his way (missing the plate) to nail the catcher in the side/back who wasn't looking and was in front and to the 1B side of the plate. Morgan should have been ejected for that and should be suspended for that incident too. He needs a LOT of time off. He's better at being a punk and a thug than he is at playing baseball. He's not even a productive player at this point and has become a major pain for the Nats. He won't last long. 

[Dogknot3]

If you start suspending players for hitting catchers who are blocking the plate or at least trying to block the plate, then you will have to start suspending players for breaking up double plays.  How many times do guys go way out of their way to break up a double play and barely touch 2B?

[bobster]

If you start suspending players for hitting catchers who are blocking the plate or at least trying to block the plate, then you will have to start suspending players for breaking up double plays.  How many times do guys go way out of their way to break up a double play and barely touch 2B?

I'm not suggesting that at all. I'm suggesting suspending a player for doing what Morgan did to the Cardinals catcher on 8/28. The catcher was not blocking the plate. The throw had been cut off and catcher Bryan Anderson had carefully moved out of the way, taking a step toward first base. He was well in front and to the right side of the plate. Morgan had to bypass the plate in order to run in front of it and past it to nail Anderson, who had his back turned because there was no play at the plate. Morgan had a free pass to the plate but bypassed it in order to deliver a cheap shot to the catcher's back. In fact, Morgan was called out because a teammate (or maybe it was a coach) grabbed him and tried to turn him back toward the plate. Essentially, Morgan declined to cross the plate and score a run in order to assault Anderson from behind.

The collision that seperated the Marlins catcher's shoulder was a hard hit on a catcher who was blocking the plate. I think it was a clean play. But the play a week earlier against St.L was an assualt, pure and simple. You better believe I'd suspend him for that. 

[Dogknot3]

It just wouldn't be cut and dry.  We have no idea if Morgan knew the ball was cut off.  he is probably watching the catcher and was getting ready to knock the ball loose no matter what.

It might have been a cheap shot, but that is just an opinion.  The umpire can't rule on that.

[bobster]

I can only assume you didn't see the play. The Nats manager even apologized to the Cardinals for it and benched Morgan the next day.

[gnarburger]

Nyjer just got another 8 game suspension.  That's in addition to the 7 he was given here.  His appeal is still pending on that one (I think the hearing is scheduled for Tuesday).