Who was at fault for the Bryce Harper-Hunter Strickland fight?

I've said this before but I think it needs to be repeated.  Baseball players can be the most sensitive, grudge-holding, fake tough guys in all of sports who hide behind these stupid "unwritten rules" of baseball for way too long.  Giants pitcher Hunter Strickland is example 1A.

Three years ago Bryce Harper went deep twice on Strickland in the playoffs in the only two plate appearances they have faced off.  Strickland did not like the way Harper did his HR trot and ran the bases on the first one.  On the second one he did not enjoy Harper launching one into McCovey's Cove because Harper stood at home plate too long (OH MY GOD!) because the ball was right down the fair pole line and it was questionable if the San Francisco wind would keep it as a HR.  Strickland covered his mouth with his Rawlings glove while yelling sweet nothings at Harper as he ran the bases.  This is the kind of shit that needs to be squashed right away from baseball.  This unwritten rule that you can't enjoy hitting a HR is so fucking stupid.  It's one thing if you do a bat flip and act like an idiot like Jose Bautista and stare down pitchers who don't give a shit.  It's another thing for you to throw meat and the batter crushes it out of the park and for you to act pissed off when all they are doing is running the bases and doing their jobs.

Strickland is 99.9% at fault for this fight.  He clearly threw it at Harper because of some BS from three years ago.  Grow the fuck up Strickland.  I think it's telling that even Buster Posey wanted nothing to do with it.  Everybody in the park knew Strickland was out of line.  You don't bean people for your inability to get that person out.  It's a chicken shit move.  And I honestly don't blame Harper for charging the mound and throwing punches like a kitten.  If someone was trying to bean me with a fastball because they suck at getting people out I too would either charge the mound or laugh at the idiot who throws me BP in playoff games.

What sucks about these baseball fights is the guy who gets hit and charges the mound always gets suspended when it shouldn't be that way.  The pitcher was clearly trying to hurt Harper.  It's a bush league move and some will say Harper needs to be the bigger guy and let it go but you try taking some baseball stitches on your side and see if you are all hunky dory.  People pay good money to see Harper.  Nobody cares about Strickland except his close family and friends and even that's probably questionable at this point.  Strickland is basically your ex girlfriend who holds on to conversations that happened years ago and says "SEE I knew you were a bad guy!"

Suspend Strickland for 8-10 games but let Harper play.  Harper shouldn't be suspended for this soft pillow slap fight and MLB can't afford to keep their brightest star (now that Mike Trout is out with a thumb injury) in the dugout because of some petty shit some loser relief pitcher felt.

Handicapping the 2017 Heisman Race

Two of the top 3 Heisman vote getters from 2016 are back including the winner Lamar "Action" Jackson.  But like last year Jackson came from out of nowhere to win the school's first ever Heisman Trophy for Louisville so don't take this list as the end all, be all.

Here is a look at the preseason candidates I feel have the best chance of hoisting the hardware in New York City.

THE FAVORITES

Lamar Jackson, QB, Louisville: A playmaker with his arms and legs the reigning Heisman winner will have his work cut out for him this season as every opponent's objective will be to contain him.  He took an insane amount of sacks last year: 46.  Needs to cut it in half if he hopes to even walk to NYC.

Baker Mayfield, QB, Oklahoma: Wake n Bake has back-to-back NYC invites in his back pocket as a Heisman finalist.  If he wants to win one this season he has to beat Ohio State in Columbus.
Sam Darnold, QB, USC: Darnold seems to have the early momentum going for him in terms of preseason Heisman hype.  Not a starter at the beginning of the 2016 season, he led USC to 9 straight wins to close out the year.  If he puts up the numbers he did or exceeds them he's a lock for an invite.
JT Barrett, QB, Ohio State: It was a rocky up and down season for Barrett last year despite getting the Buckeyes to the College Football playoffs.  His QBR continues to decline as he gets older which is alarming.
Jake Browning, QB, Washington: After having shoulder surgery it appears the Pac-12 Offensive player of the year is ready to roll and get the Huskies back to the playoffs.  After finishing 6th last year in Heisman voting his main competition will be Darnold for West coast votes.

FOUR MORE

Deondre Francois, QB, FSU: Francois will get plenty of chances to make a Heisman push starting with week 1 in Atlanta vs Alabama.
Saquon Barkley, RB, Penn State: The Big Ten offensive player of the year appears to be the best returning back in the nation.  If Barkley puts up another 2000 plus all-purpose yards and has Penn State in National Title consideration he should "hurdle" to get an invite.

Jalen Hurts, QB, Alabama: The SEC offensive player of the year as only a true freshman Hurts will need to improve his passing efficiency as teams will continue to stack the box in order to stop the run.

Mason Rudolph, QB, Oklahoma State: The rising senior had a spectacular 28 TD-to-4 INT ratio last year.  Perhaps one of the more underrated players in the nation, if Rudolph can get the Cowboys a Big 12 Championship he will be a contender for the Heisman.

BACK FROM INJURY

Seth Rosen, QB, UCLA: Coming off shoulder surgery the Rosen One will need to live up to his high school hype and beat the likes of crosstown rival USC in order to crack consideration.
Derwin James, S, FSU: James is coming off a meniscus tear in his left knee that caused him to redshirt 2016 season.  While he is a safety he is also a special enough athlete to garner recognition like Jabrill Peppers did last year for Michigan.
Bo Scarbrough, RB, Alabama: Coming off a broken leg in the National Title game vs Clemson no Heisman list would be complete without at least one Bama running back on it.  Scarbrough will get plenty of chances to make a statement like Mark Ingram and Derrick Henry did starting in week 1 vs FSU.

DON'T FORGET ABOUT

QUARTERBACKS: Trace McSorley (Penn State), Luke Falk (Washington State), Nick Fitzgerald (Mississippi State), Quinton Flowers (South Florida), Josh Allen (Wyoming)

RUNNING BACKS: Royce Freeman (Oregon), Nick Chubb (UGA),  Josh Adams (Notre Dame), Derrius Guice (LSU), Kamryn Pettway (Auburn)

WIDE RECEIVERS: James Washington (Oklahoma State), Calvin Ridley (Alabama), Equanimeous St. Brown (Notre Dame), Courtland Sutton (SMU)

THE MULTIPURPOSE CANDIDATES

Christian Kirk, WR, Texas A&M: Coming off nearly a 1000 yard season receiving Kirk also had 3 kick returns for TDs last season.  He's one of the most dynamic players in the nation and will be feared by all special teams coordinators.


NOTABLE NEWCOMERS

Jarrett Stidham, QB, Auburn: The Baylor transfer is already getting serious Heisman dark horse consideration talk down in Auburn because of his dual-threat capabilities.  If Stidham can lead Auburn to a SEC Championship game you better believe he can also make it to NYC for a Heisman invite.
Brandon Wimbush, QB, Notre Dame: The redshirt sophomore is the unquestioned leader of the ND offense now with Deshone Kizer in the NFL.  Wimbush has the same build and leadership skills of Brady Quinn who was a two-time finalist and also has plenty of offensive weapons around him to lead a potent Fighting Irish attack this fall.
Kyle Allen, QB, Houston: The Texas A&M transfer put up some impressive numbers in the SEC before suffering a AC sprain in his shoulder.  At Houston he will be given the chance to run Major Applewhite's offense that should put up points and contend for a New Year's six bowl.

DEFENSIVE LONGSHOTS

Ed Oliver, DT, Houston: Defensive players have basically next to none shot at winning the Heisman but I still gotta put Oliver on this list because he's that special.  As a true freshman last year he started all 12 games and despite the constant double teams he managed to sack the QB five times.
Arden Key, DE, LSU: Key is one of the top underclassmen's in Mel Kiper's 2018 NFL Draft position rankings.  Coming off a 12 sack season the rising junior will be a force to be reckoned with all year vs the Bayou Bengals.
Dexter Lawrence, DT, Clemson: Still just considered a freshman Lawrence is a future #1 overall draft pick who is so great it would be impossible for me to keep him off this list.  While playing nine games as a true freshman Lawrence racked up 7 sacks, two fumble recoveries, two block kicks and a team-leading 20 QB pressures.  It would not be shocking to see Lawrence get double digit sack numbers this season.

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Is This Florida Head Coach Jim McElwain Naked, Humping a Shark?

It's one thing to be the head coach of the Florida Gators and look goofy as your team gets it's ass kicked once again in the SEC Championship by Alabama but Jim McElwain is taking it to a whole other level with this viral picture.  Now Florida and McElwain have come out and flat out denied it's him but we all know it's him.  If it walks, talks and looks like a shark fucker it's definitely McElwain.

You can't look at this face and say that's not a shark fucker:

Those teeth and that shit eating grin are dead give aways for a person who likes to catch sharks, get naked, and hump them.  These are stone cold facts just like Aaron Hernandez and Tim Tebow were gay lovers in Gainesville.  You can't fight what the heart wants and we all know Florida is filled with shark fuckers.

Gotta love the social justice warrior aspect of this.  How dare this man get naked and hump a man eating shark!

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Manny Machado Goes off on Epic Rant after Red Sox Throw At Him Again

You can't blame Manny Machado here for wearing his emotions on his sleeve.  The Red Sox have had their pink hat panties in a bunch ever since Machado slid into Dustin Pedroia 10 days ago.  It was pretty clear when the slide happened that Machado wasn't trying to hurt Pedroia.  He even caught him and tried to hold up to prevent further injury.  If you have ever watched Machado run the bases despite his enormous talent you will realize he is an awful baserunner and even worst slider.  It's could be due to the fact he's blown out both knees already.  

Anyways the Red Sox kept drinking their cranberry juice and two days later Matt Barnes threw at Machado's head.  It was a bush league move and honestly it was expected because the Red Sox are managed by a notorious cocksucker in John Farrell.  I mean that as respectfully as it's written.  The Orioles take the high road and Machado shows his maturity by not charging the mound.  

It should have been over but fast forward to Monday night with Baltimore in Fenway Park.  You have racist fans throwing out N-word insults to Orioles centerfielder Adam Jones and even throwing a bag of peanuts at him as he's leaving the field.  It was an ugly scene.  We all know Boston has a reputation for being a racist city it just sucks to see it in 2017.  As liberal as it is it's still a place where black people aren't really welcomed unless they are helping you win a championship and even then you still aren't completely welcomed.  Case in point Bill Russell.  So Boston does the right thing and their mayor, governor, team president, GM, players, etc. all come out and apologize for the behavior and actions that Jonesy was victim to.  All appeared good when the Fenway faithful gave Jonesy a standing ovation with his first plate appearance in the first.  Even Sox starting pitcher Chris Sale backed off the mound and let Jonesy sink in the moment.  I give props to those actions.  Unfortunately all the good will ended with the next batter.

Machado comes up after Jones strikes out and the first pitch is directly behind his knee caps.  Sale clearly threw it at Machado but missed him.  Machado and the Orioles again took the high road and didn't start a bench clearing brawl.  The Red Sox apparently still had a heavy flow of vaginal secretion from the night before because Mookie Betts got hit by Dylan Bundy in the 6th inning of a two run ball game.  A game in which the Orioles were winning.  A game in which they put Betts at first with the hot hitting Hanley Ramirez coming up next.  But the Red Sox insist it was intentional.  You can't fix stupid.

I don't blame Machado at all for going off on the entire Red Sox organization.  Could he have said it more eloquently with less profanity?  Sure.  But we are talking about a player who did nothing wrong and even Pedroia acknowledged it and threw his own team under the bus saying they handled it wrong and it wasn't him.  They have now thrown at Machado five times this year.  Of course he is going to get pissed off and drop some F bombs and call out the Red Sox as a classless organization because that is the way they are behaving.

The Red Sox need to grow the fuck up.  Not every hard slide or inside pitch is meant to injure you.  I've never seen a more sensitive bunch of babies on a baseball field and I blame it all on their manager in Farrell.  He's the douche who keeps poking the flames.  He's the one telling Eduardo Rodriguez, Barnes and now Sale to throw at Machado.  Farrell should be suspended for a long, long time but of course MLB does nothing to protect one of their biggest stars in Machado.  They gave Barnes a 4 game suspension.  Now imagine if they throw at Machado again tonight and he charges the mound like he did last year on Royals pitcher Yordano Ventura (RIP).  Machado is looking at a 4 game suspension at a minimum.  

You know it's got embarrassing for the Red Sox when ex-players like Mike Lowell and Pedro Martinez basically apologize and are embarrassed by the actions of the team right now.  This bush league shit needs to stop before somebody gets seriously hurt.  One fastball to the head can not only end a career but it can end a life.  Unfortunately the Red Sox don't have the leadership to accept responsibility for their idiotic behavior.