Earlier this week, we documented some obvious signs of discontent between Washington Nationals teammates Jonathan Papelbon and Bryce Harper. Today against the Phillies, that tension boiled over in a big way after Harper apparently didn’t run out a fly ball:
Want another angle? Sure you do:
Even for Papelbon, fighting with the MVP candidate on your own team (and again, Harper should win the award) is a new one. In recent history, it’s difficult to think of a trade more harmful from a chemistry standpoint than the July deal that the Nats made to acquire Papelbon from the Phillies.
To add insult to insult, Papelbon later surrendered a two-run homer off the bat of Andres Blanco that gave the Phillies a 6-4 lead in the ninth inning. The Phils would tack on six more runs and they eventually went on to win the game, 12-5.
Just like the Phillies, the Nats season will be done next week. Unlike the Phillies, the Nats still have to deal with Jonathan Papelbon.
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