I've never been a big fan of the purposeful throwing at a guy, even though they call it old-school baseball.

In football, if you grab someone on the line, or 'give 'em the business' at the bottom of a pile, that guy gets to line up across from you on the next play.

Guys like Hamels never have to be put in a situation where Harper gets a chance to get even, so I think that's what makes it gutless.

But, I'm sure Hamels will get a close up view of a Ross Detwiler (or whomever) fastball in a few months, but it won't be Harper who gets the chance to get even.

This is likely one of the best arguments for eliminating the DH.

It's fascinating to see the way Harper and Trout are starting off on their big league careers. Both are high-energy, both are loaded with talent. One is in-your-face in every single thing he does, an irritant from the way he paints his bat to the way he cuts his hair to the way he stands at the plate. The other seems to be a nice guy you wouldn't dream of drilling with a pitch, at least not until he's earned it.

What's even better about the whole scenario is that Hamels didn't make any bones about it. "Of course, I was throwing at him." Seems like a Hamels suspension will be coming. Maybe he needed a vacation.

Steals home on a pickoff throw to 1st.

Agreed, pal...what we just saw was awesome!

First time up vs Phils Hamels drills him in the back.
It was a "welcome to the Bigs, Punk" moment if ever there was one.
Harper Goes to third on a Werth single and then STEALS HOME.

Gotta love baseball.

Sorry, Alex, can't help you there. But, it wasn't like the ball sailed over the cutoff, it was a seed.

But I actually kind of tuned out for a bit because I was watching with my cousin and I went on a 10 minute rant about how I continue to get ripped off in the wins category in all my leagues (Ramos dropping the ball meant I lost the chance at a Starsburg win).

My guess would be that generally there are a few seconds from the time the runner realizes the cutoff has been missed, and the time the ball actually gets to the plate. Harper's throw was so good that that period of time was about as small as it could be in that situation.

(the actual truth is probably something like Loney just made a baserunning blunder a few days ago and was a little gun-shy, or something like that)

Your vivid description, and question, got me to watch this play on MLB.TV just now, Andy, and I have another question. How come the other baserunners don't end up on second and third? It is indeed a great throw but it misses the cutoff, so Loney shouldn't be stopping at second. Even if he foolishly stops, he should head on to third when the ball gets away. The next batter grounds into an inning-ending double play.

In the top of the eighth, the Nats announcers endlessly scratch their heads over the rule but never mention the terrible baserunning.

Yes, really impressive debut. That throw (and it was great), happened with his team leading 1-0 in the bottom of the 7th inning, so it was super-clutch.

One thing though, and a question:

Hairston didn't slap the ball out of Ramos' glove, Ramos simply dropped the ball. But, since Ramos blocked the plate, Hairston initially never touched home plate. So, after the initial encounter where the runner didn't touch the plate and the catcher didn't tag him out, Hairston ATTEMPTED to slap the ball while it was rolling away, so he could scramble back to the plate. Hairston missed the ball and never actually touched it.

The question is, would Hairston have been called out if he actually touched the ball and made it roll away from Ramos? I think so, and that's what Johnson was arguing. But, if he would have been out for slapping the ball away, should he also have been called out for ATTEMPTING, but failing, to slap the ball away?

I'd just like to know, because the Nats announcers never addressed that part of the rule. By the way, great game last night. Makes me think I should watch more than 2-3 games a month.

And had a great throw from left field that would have nailed Hairston at the plate if Hairston had not slapped the ball out of Ramos' glove (which Johnson argued). Pretty impressive debut.