Althouse: "It takes away from the player that he's been for them with his fuse being so short and actually looking for things to instigate."

September 8, 2011

"It takes away from the player that he's been for them with his fuse being so short and actually looking for things to instigate."

"He's close to the edge as far as creating problems and trouble... I hope he gets a clue. It's the truth. He could be the player that he is without instigating."

Tony La Russa on Nyjer Morgan.

49 comments:

kjbe said...: La Russa's right, on this. Roenicke knows it, too. As a fan, I like his play, but not, so much, this side of him. He might end being too much trouble to keep around - once they stop winning, his shine's gonna wear off.; 9/8/11, 9:34 AM
Lincolntf said...: I've been a Nyjier fan for a couple years. He was the only National on my Fantasy team ever. He's a bit like Albert Belle/Rickey Henderson, with a dash of Steve Lyons thrown in for laughs.; 9/8/11, 9:35 AM
Lincolntf said...: He could still go either way, of course. The "Ochocinco" route of class clown/crowd pleaser or the Pac-Man Jones route of real-life thuggery. We'll see.; 9/8/11, 9:37 AM
Curious George said...: LaRussa's right. Morgan dialed to 11 is not good for the Brewers or Morgan.

Pujuls v Morgan? Brewers would need a new CF.; 9/8/11, 9:37 AM
Ignorance is Bliss said...: Nyjer Morgan, the Ann Walsh Bradley of the MLB.; 9/8/11, 9:42 AM
garage mahal said...: I hope he gets a clue. It's the truth. He could be the player that he is without instigating.".

Oh shut your fucking piehole! This from a guy that sat back and did nothing as he watched one of the most heinous and unholy assaults in sports history, Roger Maris's home run record.; 9/8/11, 9:49 AM
I'm Full of Soup said...: The Phils will put the Brew Crew on the wagon today, tomorrow and Sunday!; 9/8/11, 9:54 AM
Anonymous said...: Not many teams can have the class that the Yankees display day in and day out.

(Let the trash talking begin.); 9/8/11, 9:55 AM
m stone said...: To Morgan's credit, he focuses all that hyper-energy at the plate. That makes him the igniter of this team on occasion. He's a firecracker, but definitely not a hot dog.

So what was with Pujols rushing Morgan before he even made his move? Pujols was 15 feet and closing judging by the replay last night.; 9/8/11, 9:55 AM
Curious George said...: "garage mahal said...
Oh shut your fucking piehole! This from a guy that sat back and did nothing as he watched one of the most heinous and unholy assaults in sports history, Roger Maris's home run record."

You mean the Brewers' own Bud Selig, right? That's where the blame lands.

By the way dumb shit, Sosa and Bonds also topped Maris' record. No way LaRussa had anything to do with that...again fucking Bud Selig. Bonds holds the all-time...Bud Selig.; 9/8/11, 9:56 AM
traditionalguy said...: A salty fighting attitude determines a lot about who will win.

No wonder the Cardinals are losing and the team with Morgan is winning.; 9/8/11, 9:57 AM
I'm Full of Soup said...: Mark McGuire did not do steroids in his rookie year when he hit 49 dingers.

My point is McGuire needed less help from steroids than the others did.; 9/8/11, 9:58 AM
Curious George said...: "traditionalguy said...
A salty fighting attitude determines a lot about who will win.

No wonder the Cardinals are losing and the team with Morgan is winning."

Seriously?; 9/8/11, 9:59 AM
Wince said...: He could be the player that he is without instigating.

Does that makes him an "inside aggitator"?

That rare breed in the mind of Saul Alinsky.; 9/8/11, 9:59 AM
Mark O said...: McGuire did infinitely more harm to baseball than Pete Rose, yet he sits in the dugout. Go back a few commissioners to find some prickly, puritan oafs, including one whose pals tossed him out of the dorm windows.

This Nyjier kid is so full of himself that he doesn't realize that people are laughing at his post-game idiocy because he's nuts. It's like interviewing the "challenged" kid in junior high.

Let Albert hit him hard. I'm for it. A real fight. With phantom "Plush."; 9/8/11, 10:03 AM
madAsHell said...: Nyjer Morgan....I just can't get over that name.

It's like naming a white kid Dewd.; 9/8/11, 10:11 AM
Chip S. said...: Or Nigella!

Oh, wait....

wv dogypo

wv is watching.; 9/8/11, 10:16 AM
garage mahal said...: By the way dumb shit, Sosa and Bonds also topped Maris' record.

Yes Captain Obvious, and Bond's record should be wiped entirely from the record books, and
sosa and McGuire should enter the Hall with a big fat asterisk. Henry Aaron's forgiveness nonwithstanding.; 9/8/11, 10:19 AM
Curious George said...: "garage mahal said...

Yes Captain Obvious, and Bond's record should be wiped entirely from the record books, and
sosa and McGuire should enter the Hall with a big fat asterisk. Henry Aaron's forgiveness nonwithstanding."

All thanks to Bud Selig.; 9/8/11, 10:24 AM
kjbe said...: Pujuls v Morgan? Brewers would need a new CF.

lol. that's what I said, last night.; 9/8/11, 10:25 AM
traditionalguy said...: Curious George...Yes, a team sport is a group of men who will fight to back up their team mate no matter how eccentric he acts.

When Morgan refuses to lose gracefully that sets a mark for his team mates.

The Gas House Gang was the Cardinals own version of a team full of Nyger Morgans. Dizzy Dean was the epitome of a player using a salty fighting attitude.

And of course The Georgia Peach, Ty Cobb, had taught them all how to do it.; 9/8/11, 10:25 AM
Brian Hancock said...: @AJ

How do you know McGwire didn't do roids his rookie season?

It is McGwire, not McGuire. FYI only

La Russa may be right or wrong, but should mind his own business. He ran a roids infested A's team in the 1980s and obviously went along with performance enhancing drugs.; 9/8/11, 10:26 AM
Ann Althouse said...: "No wonder the Cardinals are losing and the team with Morgan is winning."

I can't tell if you're being sarcastic or not. The 2 teams have played 6 times in the last couple weeks and the Cardinals have won 5 times, including last night.

Morgan distorts his face with a big ugly wad of tobacco and last night, after he struck out in the 9th inning, he pulled that disgusting thing out of his mouth and threw it at the pitcher. He started walking up the 3d base line yelling "fuck you, fuck you" at the pitcher, Carpenter, who had turned away and walked off the mound (in the other direction). Pujols came running over, apparently to protect the pitcher who wasn't watching where Morgan was.; 9/8/11, 10:27 AM
Ann Althouse said...: Morgan is very amusing, verbally, and the TV people love to interview him, but I can't tell whether he's in control of what he's doing. I like to think he is, but he says some weird things that are funny if you think he's not out of his mind, but would stop being funny at all if he really had mental problems.; 9/8/11, 10:30 AM
kjbe said...: So what was with Pujols rushing Morgan before he even made his move? Pujols was 15 feet and closing judging by the replay last night.

Morgan was yapping toward the mound (after a strikeout) and took something out of his mouth and tossed it in that direction. Pujols was coming toward Morgan, during. They broke, toward each other, when Pujols came into Morgan's line of site. Typical baseball jawing.; 9/8/11, 10:35 AM
Chip S. said...: Morgan distorts his face with a big ugly wad of tobacco...

If Mark DeRosa had been on the mound he'd have the perfect response.; 9/8/11, 10:39 AM
Henry said...: Sosa should not make the Hall of Fame. McGuire is borderline. Bonds should go in on the first ballot.

Why? Bonds had a hall-of-fame career even (allegedly) before he began taking steroids.

Last night the Red Sox announcers were talking about the season record for lead-off hitters hitting homers. Tops is Brady Anderson, but not far down the list is Barry Bonds. Twice. Long before he became the large-headed Giant he used to bat leadoff. He hit a lot of home runs and stole a lot of bases.; 9/8/11, 10:41 AM
Automatic_Wing said...: I've been following Nyjer for a while and it's pretty clear he is not fully in control of his emotions.

Check this clip where he misplays a fly ball, than throws down his glove in disgust while the ball is still in play and the batter races around the bases. You really don't see that sort of thing from other pro ballplayers.

He's definitely got some issues. Hopefully he can keep things somewhat in check because he does have a lot of personality and in a lot of respects he's a breath of fresh air compared to most MLB players who do nothing but recite cliches Crash Davis style.; 9/8/11, 10:45 AM
A. Shmendrik said...: So what was with Pujols rushing Morgan before he even made his move? Pujols was 15 feet and closing judging by the replay last night.

"Personal space" can be defined differently in different contexts. In chambers, 15 inches could be personal space. In baseball, 15 feet could be within the bounds of "personal space." Especially when some big muthafukkah is just breaking the plane of that radius, at speed, in your direction.

Beyond that observation, I will continue to do what I always do with respect to baseball, and that is not give a shit until about the last 4 days of September.; 9/8/11, 10:51 AM
Curious George said...: traditionalguy said...
Curious George...Yes, a team sport is a group of men who will fight to back up their team mate no matter how eccentric he acts.

When Morgan refuses to lose gracefully that sets a mark for his team mates.

The Gas House Gang was the Cardinals own version of a team full of Nyger Morgans. Dizzy Dean was the epitome of a player using a salty fighting attitude.

And of course The Georgia Peach, Ty Cobb, had taught them all how to do it."

This is just dumb. I mean, you are going back decades to prove your point? And to teams (or a player) that had tons of talent?

The Brewers leading their division over the Cardinals has everything to do with their skills and nothing to do with Morgan.; 9/8/11, 10:52 AM
I'm Full of Soup said...: Brian- I don't know with 100% certainty but have never heard any claims he did plus he was way less muscular back then.; 9/8/11, 10:56 AM
slarrow said...: Morgan is this year's Brandon Phillips: a talented, brash, Twitter-happy taunting player whose antics are getting attention mostly because of his team's ability to beat the teams they're supposed to beat. This year, the Reds aren't doing well, and the more-talented Phillips isn't getting the headlines.

I also don't know how the "looser" Morgan is supposed to be responsible for the Brewers' recent success, either. They had an insane August because their pitching was amazing. Usually it's the hitters that are told to loosen up; with pitchers, it's usually a "bear down" thing. Whatever it is, the Brewers have swept the teams that the Cardinals lose series to, and that's why they'll win the NL Central.; 9/8/11, 10:58 AM
The Dude said...: Don't be trashin' Crash Davis. Cliches are your friends, know them, use them.; 9/8/11, 10:59 AM
sakredkow said...: It's time to vote Pete Rose in.; 9/8/11, 11:01 AM
Scott M said...: Color me unsophisticated, but I have long understand that being a playah required instigatin'.; 9/8/11, 11:01 AM
traditionalguy said...: So lets wait and see who wins the division.

The crowds come to see and applaud the winners, but they also come out to see Morgan's act.

Think of him as the James Harrison of Baseball.; 9/8/11, 11:04 AM
AllenS said...: Nyjer Morgan bringing football moves to major league baseball. All hot dog, all the time.; 9/8/11, 11:04 AM
Scott M said...: In baseball, 15 feet could be within the bounds of "personal space." Especially when some big muthafukkah is just breaking the plane of that radius, at speed, in your direction.

Much further than that. Baseball has very rigidly defined base lines and no reason whatsoever to run to the pitcher's mound in any case whatsoever. Thus, the distance from the pitcher to just in front of the plate could be considered personal space.

Even longer if you replace the pitcher with, say, the short-stop, who's further from the plate. If the batter started running right at the short-stop, it would only take a couple of steps paste the plate for the SS to realize an attack was coming.; 9/8/11, 11:06 AM
Fred4Pres said...: Players are supposed to help the team win. That's it. If they are not doing that, they are a detriment to the team.; 9/8/11, 11:10 AM
Trooper York said...: Morgan is my kind of player. I would take him on the Yankees any day of the week.

There are two prototypes of Yankee players.

You have your dignified elegant corporate types like Lou Gehrig, Joe Dimaggio, Bobby Murcer, Don Mattingly and Derek Jeter. They are the class of the team and set the tone.

But you still need the hard ass wild types who bring the spark and the crazy to the team. Babe Ruth, Billy Martin, Mickey and Whitey, Thurman, Sparky Lyle and Sweet Lou. Guys who won't back down and fight you every step of the way.

You can respect and root for the first group. You can admire them.

But the second group are the guys you love to have on your team.; 9/8/11, 11:17 AM
Trooper York said...: Anybody who has a problem with Morgan is by definition...a pussy.
Just sayn'; 9/8/11, 11:18 AM
Salamandyr said...: Mark Mcgwire and Sammy Sosa deserve Hall of Fame status for saving baseball after the disastrous 94 strike, regardless of their steroid use. Their competition got people caring about the game again.; 9/8/11, 11:26 AM
traditionalguy said...: "Nice guys finish last," said Leo Durocher who was the the Gas House Gang's SS.

"That God damned Dutchman ( Honus Wagner) is the only man in the game I can't scare," said Ty Cobb.

Cobb also said, "I had to fight all my life to survive. They were all against me, but I beat the bastards and left them in the ditch."

Is Morgan the next Ty Cobb. They are all against him.; 9/8/11, 11:28 AM
Jed said...: Pujols stays on 1st base where he belongs, nothing happens besides Morgan embarrasing himself. Pujols should have been ejected too.; 9/8/11, 11:35 AM
laddy said...: Morgan said something to Carpenter as he walked across the plate after striking out. He then got pissed 'cause Carp had his back to him doing what pitchers do between batters and then threw the wad in his direction. Pujols did what all 1Bs do, he came in to defend his pitcher before anything could get started. Morgan was upset/frustrated he had struck out and the Brewers were losing. Carp could have said what Morgan said he did, but it doesn't matter. Had Morgan not thrown the chew and instigated the alteration, he wouldn't have been ejected. Teams will use his short fuse to manipulate him and get inside his head unless he learns to get under control. Imagine the Brews make The Series and the other team goads him into a Game 1 ejection for fighting. he's probably gone for the Series. He's a good player. He just needs someone to knock some sense into him.; 9/8/11, 11:40 AM
ndspinelli said...: There is a well documented record of how much I despise LaRussa and everything he stands for. I'm even glad he got shingles. But, as others have said..TLR is right on this.; 9/8/11, 12:05 PM
Blue@9 said...: So this is all about some cussing and a wad of tobacco thrown from 60 feet away? That's what started the ruckus? Seriously?; 9/8/11, 12:25 PM
ndspinelli said...: Professor, I believe your armchair shrink assessment of Nyger is correct. I think he is a bit whacko and that's one reason a guy of his obvious talent has been traded a couple times @ an early age. He's also not very bright. There are a lot of pussy pitchers but Carpenter is not one. He's a throwback to the era prior to free agency when baseball became a gentlemen's club. Carpenter will put one in your fucking ear. They're done for this season, but watch next year when they first face each other. When a pitcher K's you then you trot back to the dugout and shut the fuck up!

The Yankees had a similar clown play for them, Deon Sanders. The Yanks were playing the White Sox and Carlton Fisk was catching. Deon hit a pop fly and just just stood near home plate, not running it out. Fisk got in his face and told him he better respect the game or he was getting drilled the next time he pulled shit like that. To his credit, Sanders said he got his mind right and thanked Fisk for getting on him. Maybe someone has to have Nyger dig a ditch. And, after he's dug a 5 foot ditch, a man w/ sunglasses should come up and ask him.."Nyger, what's your hole doing in the boss man's yard." He just needs to get his mind right..like Cool Hand Luke.

Finally professor, chewing tobacco is disgusting and a known carcinogen. When I played as a youth we all tried it, most of us puked and went to bubble gum..but some of my teammates got hooked. Thankfully, that is not nearly as widespread now, but it making a comeback in just the last several years. I coached baseball for 25 years. I was coaching a little league team on the eastside of Madison back in the early 90's. Sunflower seeds had become the rage and all of my players were eating them on the bench. A prissy mom came up to me after a game and said, "Coach..I'm concerned about the salt content all these boys are getting w/ those seeds." At first I thought she was joking. I quickly realized she was not. I then gave her a brief history including tobacco and sugar bubble gum and told her she should be grateful her son ws eating sunflower seeds. I don't think that poor kid had a fucking chance w/ that woman being his mom.

I apologize for taking up so much cyberspace, I'm usually more Hemingwayish. We're heading down to see his house in Key West later this month.; 9/8/11, 12:32 PM
m stone said...: Baseball has very rigidly defined base lines and no reason whatsoever to run to the pitcher's mound in any case whatsoever.

Scott M. is correct. Pujols was not being defensive or protecting. He has been the instigator on many occasions, but gets a pass because of his performance.; 9/8/11, 2:59 PM