04/25/24
October 16, 2019
SportsFilter: The Wednesday Huddle:
A place to discuss the sports stories that aren't making news, share links that aren't quite front-page material, and diagram plays on your hand. Remember to count to five Mississippi before commenting in anger.
And a happy birthday to Bryce Harper today!
posted by NoMich at 01:03 PM on October 16, 2019
This Nats fan isn't really down for the piling on of Bryce Harper that a lot of folks around here can't get enough of. However, this birthday's gotta sting quite a bit. He could have been spraying champagne around the locker room when the clock struck midnight.
posted by bender at 02:35 PM on October 16, 2019
Remembering now that Jayson Werth also got piled on a few years ago when he went in the opposite direction, from the Phillies to the Nationals. Different situation though, since the Phils had just won the Series a year or two before.
posted by beaverboard at 02:43 PM on October 16, 2019
Jayson Werth was on the field last night after the game:
Jayson Werth is pumped. pic.twitter.com/ki1bdmCpo1
" Grant Paulsen (@granthpaulsen) October 16, 2019
posted by bender at 04:15 PM on October 16, 2019
The Washington Nationals become the latest team to advance to a championship opportunity after parting company with a defining player (Bryce Harper).
Other examples are the 2004 Red Sox, who traded Nomar Garciparra and won the World Series, and the Tennessee Vols, who won the national championship the year after Peyton Manning moved on.
I'm having a bit of a brain fog, so can't readily recall more examples. Perhaps others can fill in the blanks.