Second Thoughts

Reliever tells slugger how to run bases

Washington Nationals’ right fielder Bryce Harper and reliever Jonathan Papelbon got into a fight in the dugout during Sunday’s 12-5 loss to Philadelphia. Papelbon accused Harper of not running out a fly ball.
Washington Nationals’ right fielder Bryce Harper and reliever Jonathan Papelbon got into a fight in the dugout during Sunday’s 12-5 loss to Philadelphia. Papelbon accused Harper of not running out a fly ball.

The Washington Nationals were eliminated from playoff contention Saturday night, but that doesn't mean they were ready to quit fighting -- at least among themselves.

Nationals teammates Bryce Harper and pitcher Jonathan Papelbon got into a fight in the dugout during Sunday's game against the Philadelphia Phillies and were separated by others on the bench.

Papelbon appeared to get angry when Harper didn't run hard to first after hitting a fly ball to left field, instead veering off to the dugout after the ball was caught.

According to USA Today's Gabe Lacques, Papelbon began yelling at Harper while the right fielder was several feet from the mouth of the dugout. Papelbon moved toward the steps as Harper approached, and Harper appeared to tell Papelbon to quiet down.

It was then that Papelbon grabbed Harper by the neck with both hands as teammates interceded.

Harper didn't play in the ninth inning, and Papelbon, who came on in relief in the eighth with the score tied 4-4, gave up five runs in the eventual 12-4 loss.

"I'm in the wrong there. I've got to leave it up to our manager," Papelbon told Lacques. "There's a lot of competition. It's a long season, it's a grind and I think we're going to handle that in house and stuff like that.

"I talked to Bryce and told him how I feel. We're on the same page now."

Manager Matt Williams said the team will handle the matter internally.

"A lot of testosterone flowing among young men competing," Williams said. "This is a family issue, and we'll deal with it that way."

Harper mostly avoided talk of the incident, telling Lacques that he and Papelbon "are good now."

"He apologized so, whatever," Harper said. "I don't really care. It's like brothers fighting. Hopefully, we go forward and do what I can for the next six games.

"You're usually fighting the other team."

Future major leaguers take note: Always run out a fly ball -- or be ready to dodge an angry pitcher.

Century mark

For one California man, age is no reason to stop competing.

Don Pellman of Santa Clara, Calif., is 100 years old and still breaking records in track and field -- world records.

Pellmann set five world records last week at the San Diego Senior Games in the 100 and older category.

He ran the 100-meter dash in 26.99 seconds, beating the previous age-group world record held by Japan's Hidekichi Miyazaki by 2.84 seconds. He also set records in the shot put, discus throw and long jump and became the first centenarian to clear an official height in the high jump.

According to CBS San Francisco, Pellman said he missed on the pole-vault because his assisted living home doesn't have a pit out back to practice on.

Later in the week, Pellman was named USATF's Athlete of the Week.

Pellman realizes what he is doing at his age isn't exactly normal.

"Hundred-year-old people don't pole-vault and don't high jump and don't run," he told CBS San Francisco.

Pellman has been competing in senior track meets since he was 70 years old. He has entered 890 events and has gold medals in all but five of them.

"I like it when somebody says, 'I've been competing with you for the last 20 years and I'm getting sick of looking at your back,' " Pellman said.

What's that smell?

Officials of Scotland's Celtic soccer team, responding to complaints of bad body odor in the stands, sent a letter to several fans urging them to bathe before attending home games.

Wrote Dwight Perry of the Seattle Times, "Hey, it's either that or schedule more games with FC Cologne."

Sports quiz

What major league team drafed Jonathan Papelbon?

Answer

Papelbon was drafted by Boston Red Sox in the fourth round fo the 2003 MLB Draft.

Sports on 09/28/2015

Upcoming Events