Players You Love To Hate

[Stephen]

Personally, I don't read his comments in that article like that at all. If you look a diamond long enough you can claim that you still see coal. I think it's a reach. Being an NL East guy I watch a lot of Nationals games and almost anytime I listen to the opposing teams commentators they'll make comments about how surprised they were regarding how level headed and eager to soak up information Bryce is. Brian Jordan was introduced to Bryce Harper this spring by a friend in the Nationals organization as "someone who played the game a lot like Bryce does." Jordan also played the game at 200 mph and he said that he suggested to Harper that he has a ton of talent and he should consider easing up just a little bit to not cut his career short or deal with those nagging injuries. Jordan indicated that Bryce was extremely attentive and took in the information and seemed genuinely appreciative of what the veteran was relaying to him. That isn't always the case when "elders" try to help the young, entitled wunderkinds out.

Let's see how he reacts when he's 30 instead of 20.

The kid has been being told he is the next big thing since he is was barely at teenager. Of course he's going to be a little arrogant and feel entitled. I know when I was 19 & 20 years old I was cocky, felt like I had it all figured out and I was working at a Sunglass Hut in Santa Barbara not leading a major league baseball franchise to the promised land. I can only imagine how it must feel to be hailed as the savior of a sport before you're old enough to drive.

I'm willing to give him the benefit of the doubt and hope that he matures and gains a more grounded perspective. Well as grounded as you can be when you're a millionaire and potentially one of the best people in the world at your profession.

[Judge Jude]

"I think that all ballplayers -with few exceptions- are entitled jerks who are completely and totally out of touch with the lives that their fans lead."

I didn't found that to be the case at all. They really run the gamut, imo.
I did find that there were more a-holes in baseball than the other sports, followed by football. Most NBA players were pretty cool, and hockey players even better than that.

I hate Reed Johnson because I paid $5 last Sept as "add-a-player" - and I'd have won $100 if I had skipped the draft, but lost the $100 because Johnson sucked and cost me a pt in AVG.

Xavier Nady had ZERO RBI in 52 AB in Sept 2010, costing me a pennant! fock him, too.

I hate Juan Uribe because his mere existence reminds me that I paid $3 for him last year. I recoiled even as my mouth made the bid, but it was too late. He really needs to retire so I can try to move on.

[NIN]

I don't like Braun. He is a cheater and his mannerisms and actions make him seem like he is very full of himself.

[Stephen]

I hate Tim Salmon, but that's because I witnessed a kid at Dodger Stadium who was 6 at the most ask him to sign a baseball during batting practice and he nastily barked back, "I don't want to sign your fucking ball kid." I also like Bengie Molina a lot because I saw him shoot Salmon a dirty look, toss the same kid the batting gloves he was wearing and then shout into the dugout, "What the hell, Tim?"

[DMT]

I guess I've mellowed because most of the players I can recall 'hating' are retired.

Juan Gonzalez (one afternoon at Wrigley when he was with the Tigers, fellow bleacher bums and I heckled him mercilessly and he ended up exiting the game in the 3rd inning due to a 'leg injury'.)
Roger Clemens (before the White Sox won the WS they drew about 6K fans a game...I bought a nose-bleeder and snuck down to the box right above the Yankees dugout. I was pretty hammered and yelling 'ROGER ROGER' after every inning...of course no one else joined in.
Alex Rodriguez (a friend of mine went to HS with him and had nothing good to say about him...and this was back in the late 90s before all the shit went down)
Derek Jeter (he was the leader of the Yankees, whom I hate, but I gotta admit my ill-will toward him has softened)
Curt Schilling (stuff that bloody sock down your throat and gag)
Sammy Sosa (I was one of his biggest supporters even as many in the Chicago media were saying to trade him right in the middle of his epic peak, but I was at the corked-bat game and had money on the Cubs to beat the Devil Rays...they did win, but only by 1 since the run that scored on his groundout was erased so I lost the bet. I felt like he kicked me in the balls, and the steroids completed his transformation from hero to shithead)
Jonathon Papelbon (just seems like a huge douche)
Steve Bartman (after watching that documentary I felt bad for the guy considering they were literally ready to string him up, but there's no question he influenced the game and at the time it happened I was completely unsympathetic)
Jeffrey Maier (along with every other Os fan)

[DMT]

I hate Tim Salmon, but that's because I witnessed a kid at Dodger Stadium who was 6 at the most ask him to sign a baseball during batting practice and he nastily barked back, "I don't want to sign your fucking ball kid." I also like Bengie Molina a lot because I saw him shoot Salmon a dirty look, toss the same kid the batting gloves he was wearing and then shout into the dugout, "What the hell, Tim?"

Wow, what an asshole. Up until reading this, he was a guy I liked and always had him on my fantasy teams.

I had sort of a similar experience with Ken Griffey Jr, but he was being mobbed in the parking lot after a game. He was signing autographs but then some kid got ink on his silk shirt and he threw a hissy fit and just stormed off. I guess I'd be pissed too but gimme a break, sneeze and buy 1000 more.

[The Dane]

I watch a lot of Nationals games and almost anytime I listen to the opposing teams commentators they'll make comments about how surprised they were regarding how level headed and eager to soak up information Bryce is. Brian Jordan was introduced to Bryce Harper this spring by a friend in the Nationals organization as "someone who played the game a lot like Bryce does." Jordan also played the game at 200 mph and he said that he suggested to Harper that he has a ton of talent and he should consider easing up just a little bit to not cut his career short or deal with those nagging injuries. Jordan indicated that Bryce was extremely attentive and took in the information and seemed genuinely appreciative of what the veteran was relaying to him. That isn't always the case when "elders" try to help the young, entitled wunderkinds out.

Not really an argument. I'm sure Scott Boras works as hard or harder than any sports agent who ever lived. Does make him "good" guy? Hell, no. Simply working hard to make your millions is not a redeeming quality at all. Not one bit. Do I respect it? Sure, I do. But it doesn't make him any less a rotten spoiled kid.

Let's see how he reacts when he's 30 instead of 20.

The kid has been being told he is the next big thing since he is was barely at teenager. Of course he's going to be a little arrogant and feel entitled. I know when I was 19 & 20 years old I was cocky, felt like I had it all figured out and I was working at a Sunglass Hut in Santa Barbara not leading a major league baseball franchise to the promised land. I can only imagine how it must feel to be hailed as the savior of a sport before you're old enough to drive.

Just because you have a reason to be a prick, doesn't mean you are not a prick. As I said, I'll give him a mulligan based on youth and inexperience, but I'm not going to say he's a "good" guy until he actually doesn't something "good" besides reluctantly taking a few hacks at the National Mall. Look at the good Milton Bradley did for his community. He's a roundly despised player, but he has done considerably more good for others than he ever did for his own career. On the good scale, Bradley is good and Harper is undecided. On the good player scale, well... it isn't even close.

[Hornsby]

Not really an argument. I'm sure Scott Boras works as hard or harder than any sports agent who ever lived. Does make him "good" guy? Hell, no. Simply working hard to make your millions is not a redeeming quality at all. Not one bit. Do I respect it? Sure, I do. But it doesn't make him any less a rotten spoiled kid.



Just because you have a reason to be a prick, doesn't mean you are not a prick. As I said, I'll give him a mulligan based on youth and inexperience, but I'm not going to say he's a "good" guy until he actually doesn't something "good" besides reluctantly taking a few hacks at the National Mall. Look at the good Milton Bradley did for his community. He's a roundly despised player, but he has done considerably more good for others than he ever did for his own career. On the good scale, Bradley is good and Harper is undecided. On the good player scale, well... it isn't even close.

I'm really having a difficult time following where this is all coming from...as far as I've read/heard, the worst things that he's done are slow HR trots in the minors, and tell a reporter that he asked a clown question. Nowhere have I ever seen anything ti indiate that Harper was in anyway a prick, or that he won't do things for charity and his community.

[ThatRogue]

LMAO

Anyway - Delmon Young - Jose Reyes - Manny Ramirez...... with the exception of Vin Scully and Sandy Koufax.....anything Dogers

Sorry Eric.......I f'n love Bryce Harper and what he brings to the table on game day...kind of player I would love as a teammate or pay watch play......I just hope he doesn't become a POC like Carlos Gonzales or worse.

What? What's wrong with Carlos Gonzalez?

[Fresno Bob]

I hate Tim Salmon, but that's because I witnessed a kid at Dodger Stadium who was 6 at the most ask him to sign a baseball during batting practice and he nastily barked back, "I don't want to sign your fucking ball kid." I also like Bengie Molina a lot because I saw him shoot Salmon a dirty look, toss the same kid the batting gloves he was wearing and then shout into the dugout, "What the hell, Tim?"

Benji always seemed like a good guy when he was in SF

[B-Fly]

Luke Scott
Jonathan Papelbon

[Stephen]

Papelbon is another good one.

Also, not a player - but I used to despise Larry Bowa when he was managing the Phillies.

[Controller Jacobs]

A friend of mine in high school went to Moeller the same time as Griffey Jr and Rose Jr. He said Griffey was a great guy and Rose Jr was unbearable, a sore loser and a sore winner. Dave was captain of the wrestling team and a linebacker on the football team, so Rose Jr. must have off the charts competitive to get under his skin. Rose Jr ended up doing a month in federal prison for dealing GHB to teammates in the minors.

I don't know if there's any particular players I root against anymore. The way I've traded away my good keepers, I've got to be prepared to take anybody on my team.

[dslaw]

Most of my personal experiences come from when I had minor league season tix years ago.

Doug Sisk was a great guy on the way up. He would sign autographs and chat with you before games. A few years later he was back in Norfolk and wouldn't talk or look at anyone as he walked from the tunnel to the dugout.
Jody Reed when asked for an autograph - "No, all you will do is sell it anyway". Really? Jody Reed? Here is my $.50 your autographed card would get.
Saw Schilling mentioned and I thought he was great. Had a 5 minute chat with him between double headers one day. He made fun of his picture on his card, we talked about restaurants, he seemed like a normal guy. This was also 1989 (?) before he hit it big and maybe he changed.

I hate the steroid guys-Bonds, etc. They cheat the game and sometimes, like the Minnesota RP whose name I forget, they cheat and get the bigs while other guys at their talent level are left behind because they have the integrity to not cheat.

Most of the players I am pretty indifferent as long as you don't hear bad things. I read a story about Kevin Garnett when he was in Minnesota. For years you never heard of him doing anything good or bad then a story came out about his visiting a kid in the hospital. Turns out he had been doing it for years but managed to keep it quiet because he didn't want the publicity he just wanted to make some kid happy for a little while. I am naive but I like to think most players are like that, not like Milton Bradley.

[bryanbutler]

carlos quentin.