Nats-Marlins Takes Center Stage

The big news from last night in the sports world wasn't the first MLB win for Cincinnati Reds phenom Aroldis Chapman. It wasn't that American Andy Roddick dropped a four setter in the second round of the U.S. Open. It wasn't the the Big Ten announced its plans of splitting up Ohio State and Michigan into separate divisions.

Far from it. It was undoubtedly the brawl during the Nationals-Marlins game. All because of one player, Nats center fielder Nyjer Morgan.

What transpired last evening at SunLife Stadium should have never happened. When the Cincinnati Reds and St. Louis Cardinals brawled earlier this season, it was due to Brandon Phillips saying a few disparaging words about the Cardinals. No, Morgan didn't have choice words about the Marlins. He did it totally with his actions.

Before this series even started, Morgan was benched by Nationals skipper Jim Riggleman for unprofessional conduct. During a game against the St. Louis Cardinals, Morgan was heading home on a play. Morgan purposely avoided the plate and chose to brush Cards catcher Bryan Anderson. A throw was never made to Anderson. Morgan was eventually called out (when he touched a teammate in an attempt to go back and touch home plate. Keep this is mind.

During Tuesday night's game, another situation involving Morgan and a play at the plate. Marlins catcher Brett Hayes had received a throw as Morgan was approaching home. Morgan did his best impersonation of Pete Rose and chose to plaster Hayes instead of sliding. The result was a separated shoulder for Hayes. Done for the year.

Last night arrives. In the 4th inning, the Marlins have a 14-3 lead. Marlins pitcher Chris Volstad plucks Morgan in retribution for the Hayes incident from the previous night. No big deal. It happens in baseball. You get one of us, we'll get you back. Instead of letting the situation go, Morgan exacerbated it.

Morgan, whose team was trailing by 11 runs, proceeded to steal 2nd and 3rd base. Morgan would score on a sacrifice fly by Ian Desmond to brings the Nationals within 10 runs.

I know there are those that scream that baseball's "unwritten rules" are ludicrous, inane, outdated and moronic (or throw whatever negative adjective you like in there), but they are there to avoid future feelings of "bad blood". Adhere to them and all is forgiven. That's not too much to ask. Instead, Morgan completely ignored them in order to pad his stats and show up the Marlins. Brawls start because things such as this.

The Marlins took notes. I guarantee you that was the talk of the dugout. Forward to the 6th with Morgan, once again, at the plate.

Volstad didn't pluck him again. He didn't drill him either. He didn't go head hunting. Volstad threw behind him with an obvious message pitch. Morgan dropped his bat and rushed toward Volstad and the brawl was on.

And it didn't get any better. After the smoke cleared, Morgan was led off the field by the bullpen coach, Morgan was displaying more defiance. He thrust both arms in the air as if he was at a concert. That's so classy, Nyjer. Remind me to send you tickets for Metallica later this month down in Australia. I know you'll be getting some time off soon.

Throw this in the mix. Morgan is in the process of appealing a 7-game suspension for throwing a ball into the stand in Philadelphia. Granted, the fan and Morgan have "repaired" their differences. The fan even stated all was cool. Still, that suspension still looms over Morgan and he does this.

MLB Network's Harold Reynolds with his dish:

"I know they're losing, but there are protocols within the game, so once he did [steal the bases] then it's open war again, he brought that back on himself and that's why I think this thing continued to escalate."

Notice the word "again". After Volstad hit Morgan in the 4th, as I stated, it should have been over.

And I was appalled at Riggleman's response:

"No, I think they were going hit him again anyway, and I'm glad Nyjer stole those bases to tell you the truth. They hit him, he went to first base, he took his medicine. I don't know that yesterday's play was right or wrong, but we were going to let it go. Nyjer went to first base, but if they hit you and you feel like you didn't do anything wrong, which that's the way Nyjer felt about it, he took those bases, that's his business. We'll decide when we run, we don't let anyone else decided when we run. So whatever their reason was for throwing at Nyjer again, I've got no problems with what took place after that."

I get the part about having your player's back. That's what Riggleman was doing here. Glad he stole the bases, Jim? Really? You played in the bigs. You know these "rules" and protocols. Yes, maybe they are "outdated", but the purpose is to ensure this type of development does not occur.

The decision to steal the bases is not totally on Morgan either. Riggleman:

"If [Morgan] felt that he had done something wrong than I would have put the hold on him, so I didn't put the hold on, he chose to run, I didn't know he was going to run, but I didn't care that he ran, because I know Nyjer felt that he didn't have a place to slide [the previous night], that's a decision he made. But right or wrong, they hit him and for him to steal the bases, I don't have a problem with it..."

Need more be said?

When Morgan was asked about being plucked the second time:

"That was garbage. That’s just bad baseball. It’s only the fourth inning. If they’re not going to hold me on, I’m going to roll out. The circumstances were kind of out of whack, but the game was too early. It was only the fourth inning. If it happened again, I’d do it again. It’s one of those things where I’m a hard-nosed player. I’m grimy. And I just wanted to go out there and try to protect myself. I didn’t want to get outside the box. There’s been a little bit of controversy surrounding the kid lately. But it’s just one of things. I’m a solid, hard-nosed player. When I’m out there between the lines, I’m out there to win and I’m out there to play hard, and play hard for this organization."

The kid? Did he just refer to himself as the kid? Time for an ego check!

And the best part was saying he's "grimy". According to http://reference.com/:

"(adj.) Covered or smudged with grime. See synonyms at dirty"

Grimy it is.

Morgan and Volstad will be suspended, no question. Morgan's may even be longer than Volstad's as it is former player Bob Watson that metes out the punishment.

I promise you he knows the "unwritten rules".

Update: Morgan received an additional eight game suspension on top of the seven he's currently appealing.