I guess this blog post would get a lot more clicks and have a higher appeal to teenagers if I trashed Harper and ridiculed any pundits that agree with him.

But I understand.  I wake up every single morning and thank the Gods of Shame that Youtube didn’t exist when I was 24. It would have captured a man on stage who had no filter. Sometimes this could be entertaining, I reckon.  But I wouldn’t want a permanent record of the times it wasn’t.  It’s part of being 24.  Or 29.  Or however old Goose Gossage is. Maybe Bryce will look back down the road with similar eyes.

But here is where I think Harper is totally wrong.  His supposes that if you belittle (as opposed to respect, a term often used in baseball when money is being negotiated) your opponent this will make more young people interested in baseball.

Wrong. It will make more young people interested in going to Youtube clips of players taunting each other.  It won’t make them buy a glove.  It won’t make them join a team. It won’t make them ask dad for a few more pitches in the back yard.  It will make them more skilled at being sarcastic. Look, I have a lot of respect for sarcasm- but it’s not a great tool for inspiring people to scoop up a grounder and throw a guy/gal out at first.

And who says players don’t show emotion? Ever seen how quick an entire team of grown men will clear the dugout to celebrate a walk-off homer or join a fight?

Another point: Baseball isn’t tired to a lot of people out there. I have been in Scottsdale for the last week attending sold out games and packed stadiums with people of all ages and races in attendance. It’s some of the most fun I’ve had.  How else could I not gripe when buying a five dollar bottled water?

Every morning I eat breakfast at U.S. Egg (get the hash browns, seriously) which is packed with people, wearing jerseys from teams from all over the country, excited beyond belief to be here watching baseball every single day. Some have traveled a long way at some expense to see these games. None of them look tired. One young server also worked at the Rockies stadium in PR.  She didn’t look tired despite holding down two jobs. Hunter Pence didn’t look tired coming back to his first game after months of injury sadness.

Look, I’m sure Bryce wants a more exciting game.  We all do.  But belittling players who have dedicated their lives to entertaining and inspiring us might not be the trick he’s looking for.

Lower the mound, maybe?