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There's plenty more to talk about after the brawl between the Nationals and Marlins, but I'm curious to hear what all of you think about it. So here you go:
--After Nyjer Morgan got plunked in the fourth inning, he took off and stole second and third, despite the fact the Nationals were down 14-3. There's an unwritten rule in baseball that you don't steal in a blowout, kind of like how you don't throw downfield when you're up by three touchdowns in football or celebrate a dunk when you're down 20 in the fourth quarter of a basketball game. But this was still early enough in the game that the Nationals could make a comeback, and they added seven more runs after falling behind early. In his televised postgame interview, Jim Riggleman said he didn't have a problem with what Morgan did, adding, "We'll decide when we run. We won't let anybody else decide when we run." Did you think Morgan earned another brushback with the steals? Or was Riggleman right in saying the issue should have been over after the first beaning?
--What was your take on the brawl? I don't have a big problem with Morgan sticking up for himself after Chris Volstad threw at him a second time, but the way he taunted the fans after he came off the field will likely add to his suspension. By the way: He's got a Sept. 7 hearing scheduled to appeal his first suspension, which stemmed from him throwing a ball into the stands in Philadelphia last month. Think they can just book back-to-back appointments for him now?
--Doug Slaten was also tossed for hitting Gaby Sanchez with a pitch in the seventh inning; Sanchez, of course, clocked Morgan during the brawl (in my opinion, the most impressive shot landed during the fight). Warranted, given how much things had escalated? Or was Slaten in the right for throwing at Sanchez when the Marlins had hit two other Nationals players (Alberto Gonzalez and Wil Nieves) in addition to Morgan?
Let me know what you think, and anything else you've got on your mind from the brawl or the rest of an eventful night in Florida.
I'll be talking about all this with the Sports Junkies at 7:45 on Thursday morning. Tune in on 106.7 FM.
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