10:32 pm: The Phillies sent Harper to a hospital for evaluation, manager Joe Girardi told reporters (including Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch). Fortunately, Harper himself offered a positive update on Instagram, noting he “feels good,” that tests “came back good,” and he’ll “see (the fans) soon.”
8:59 pm: In a scary development, Phillies star outfielder Bryce Harper left thi”s evening’s game against the Cardinals after he was struck in the face by a 97 MPH fastball from St. Louis reliever Génesis Cabrera (via Matt Gelb of the Athletic). Harper was bleeding but left the field under his own power and was replaced on the bases by Matt Joyce.
It’s obviously far too early to know if Harper will be forced to miss any time. The 28-year-old is off to an incredible start to the season, mashing at a .321/.448/.615 clip with six home runs over his first 96 plate appearances. The left-handed hitting slugger entered today’s game with a 190 wRC+ that ranked eighth among qualifiers.
Brad Miller and Joyce would seemingly be the likeliest candidates to pick up starts in right field if Harper winds up needing some time off. Both have been productive offensive players within the past couple seasons and Miller, in particular, is off to a strong start at the dish this year.
That looked scary
Thoughts and prayers for a speedy recovery.
Wow, the last time I saw a direct hit in the face that bad was way back in the 60’s when Tony Conigliaro was beaned & it ruined his career. I’m not an extreme fan of Harper, but I hope he comes back from this. It will be a battle within his mind vs. his physical injury. This guy is too good to lose. Good luck Harper.
poor guy, hope he gets better
Where’s the thoughts and prayers guy?
Sorry I’m late!
Thots and players for all involved
Tough break for Bryce. One of the true class acts in baseball. He will be missed.
Class acts? That’s highly debatable…but that said It would suck for anyone.
That’s a clown statement, bro.
Harper was extraordinarily obnoxious in his very young days. He’s a class act now.
Agreed, I am a braves fan and he has matured a lot and has become true leader. Hears hoping he recovers soon even though he’s a braves killer lol.
I was going to say the same thing. In his younger years he was a snot. People forget he’s in his 10th Season and he’s still just 28.
I started seeing it his last year or so in Washington and really a lot since he has come to Philly. He’s matured a ton. He hustles, doesn’t take a play off, and he doesn’t do any crazy shenanigans. He’s come into his own as a leader and has really embraced Philly.
When the all star game was in KC in 12, after the home run derby the MLPPA held a private party at a local music venue. Being too young to drink he was sitting in a lounge area just playing MLB the Show by himself. I went over to him and started chatting him up and played the game with him. He seemed really down to earth and a good guy. Public perception isn’t everything. He was also thrusted into the spotlight at a very young age. Hard to say how any of us would handle life in front the the cameras. Not giving him a free pass, he just didn’t come across as cocky or arrogant. Verlander and McCutchen did though that night. Very cocky.
@RoyalBC – Funny sotry involving both the Royals and Cutch:
I traveled to Kauffman in 2019 to watch the Phillies. Was sitting behind home plate 2 rows behind Kayla Harper (great seats). There was a little girl there, had to be 8 or 9 years old, that made her own shirt all glittered up that read “Cindy from the Loo, here to see #22) and it was all done up for Cutch. She ran down to the dugout every 1/2 inning to cheer him. About the 4th or 5th inning, Cutch points to the girl taps his heart and say “I got you” as he enter the dugout. He emerges a couple minutes later, calls this little girl to the dugout, and gives her a high five and and autographed baseball. The girl immediately broke out into tears.
Perhaps these players do grow and mature as their careers age, just like the rest of us.
On a side note, I absolutely loved the K and is one of the best ballparks I have visited/experience (and I’ve been to quite a few). Absolutely underrated venue and a must visit. Now I’m hooked on Boulevard Beer!
Fun story about sports people in KC. I worked security for the Chiefs radio show they used to do from a hy-vee supermarket. One time Len Dawson was there signing photos or whatever you brought. I heard Len rip a massive fart. Me & the other security guy just laughed. Soon realized he had pooped his pants. What do we do? He just kept signing away. Same never quit attitude that made him a Superbowl champion. When he walked away his backside was wet to his feet & some got on the floor. He was off the radio team the next season. Wish I could find the video of it. Cheers
That’s a clown statement, clown.
I haven’t seen the incident yet, hopefully it’s not serious for Bryce.
He looks to have taken the hit on his nose and left cheekbone. I hope it only looks bad and he dodged serious injury like a broken cheekbone or a concussion.
I saw (and heard it) live. I thought his nose and/or cheekbone were broken. During Post-Game, Ricky Bo and Michael shared his instagram post and he looked like he’d never been hit. Crazy!
It was bad. Then Didi was hit and Joe Was tossed.
I was watching and the umpire really mishandled the whole thing. When two players get hit like that on the first two pitches the guy throws then you have to let the manager vent. This is specially true when your star player is hit right in the face. I don’t think it was on purpose. His third pitch was down but still wild. The umpire should have tossed the pitcher. That would have deescalated things a bit. Shildt couldn’t take him out because of the three batter rule. Hopefully, the Phillies win today and this is over as these two teams don’t play each other again this year. But if they’re losing by 3-4 runs in the seventh inning you can expect at least one Cardinal player to be hit.
Absolutely handled as bad as can be. I also believe they were both accidents but the pitcher should have been tossed regardless. He’s erratic and could have just as easily hurt the next/3rd batter he was forced to pitch to. After that, the Manager should not have been ejected. Finally, you simply can NOT warn both benches. The Cards deserve a star player getting plunked, and hard, in retribution. Now Harper and Didi out today. Once again, the Cards benefit again with no repercussions. It’s complete insanity and anyone who thinks differently is either a homer Cards fan or can’t objectively see the problem. If something isn’t fixed, why not start every game with some scrub bullpen guy to come in and bean/injure the other teams top 2 players then sub him out after the 3 batter minimum?
Not a fan of Harper, but it certainly sucks and wish him the best. My question is, when will MLB stop letting the Twigs and Sparrows get away with things they would hammer other teams for.
That wasn’t the issue here. Despite beaming 2 players on two pitches, there was no intent. The problem was giving the Phillies a warning for doing nothing. The other problem was, because of the stupid 3-batter rule, the Cardinals were forced to leave a dangerous player with no control in the game to face another batter.
This time it worked out for PHI allowing the runner to score. But yeah, he had no control with a lot of velocity…could have done a lot more damage. Shildt looked more thankful to get him out than the next batter.
@VonPurpleHayes sometimes intent doesn’t matter. When you are throwing 97 miles per hour and are wild you need to be responsible in how you pitch. If you can’t control your pitching that night then make sure to miss down or miss away. Throwing inside like that is asking for trouble. Let’s say it was a mistake. To hit Harper in the head and then not change how you pitch to Didi and then hit him is inexcusable.
Cardinals weren’t forced to leave him in. Umpires could’ve tossed him and ended it right there.
@Spanky umpires should have tossed him for sure, but Cardinals by rule had to leave him in.
@VonPurpleHayes – I get it. Cardinals had to leave him in because of the rule. Had the Ump tossed him after hitting Didi, that would’ve been irrelevant.
I understand and truly believe he did not mean to hit either batter, however, due to the nature, it’s my belief that the Umps failed in this instance by not tossing him after Didi got hit. I understand the Harper thing was not intentional and he deserves a pass on that one, but after Didi, enough was enough. With how hard guys throw in this day and age, if a pitcher can’t come within 3′ of the plate, there’s a safety problem there.
Von,
If I’m ever on trial for my life, I want you as the judge. Always the voice of reason…
@Spanky totally agree.
Just seen it, wow that could of ended a lot worse, scary moment.
Looked seriously scary. He got right back up but was bleeding on the outside of his nose. He looked more pissed than hurt. But hoping he’s just alright. Even after Cabrera then hit Didi right in the kidney and the umps warned BOTH benches….
I have never understood warning the team that hasn’t done anything yet. I know they are trying to stop something before it happens, but it’s really ridiculous when you think about it. If a person gets mugged, the judge won’t put both the mugger and the victim on probation just in case the victim wants to get retribution..
They have to warn both sides, because warning one side is essentially a license for the other team to bean a guy.
Warning both sides gives the Phillies no chance to retaliate. Additionally, if a Phjillies pitcher throws inside and accidentally scrapes the jersey of a Cards player, then that pitcher gets tosses, fined, and possibly suspended. Warning both teams is a joke.
Warnings will go out in today’s game and the Phillies have Nola on the hill. He makes one mistake and now he’s tossed.
How is that fair to the team that did nothing wrong?
The MLB has no responsibility to let one side potentially end a guy’s career by retaliating. In fact, warning both sides is specifically designed to keep the other side from retaliating.
So when Nola gets tossed this afternoon for throwing inside unintentionally, that’s fair?
Give me a break. The only entity hurt besides Harper in this instance, is The Philies, for doing nothing.
A warning isn’t a punishment. With your analogy, it’s like putting a cop near where the robbery happens so if the first victim goes after the aggressor they can stop the second crime.
I think warnings are dumb though. If it’s deemed intentional – throw the pitcher out or make it a rule that each team needs a batter hit before warnings are issued.
Hopefully he’s alright. I want the Phillies to be at full strength when they finish below .500 again.
It’s funny because it’s true. The FA signings of Harper and Wheeler have been a huge succes, and yet the team still finds ways to be mediocre consistently. It’s pretty impressive.
You forgot to add JTR into that mix.
JTR wasn’t originally a free agent signing.
Well, no, but his new deal was brokered by DD, not Boy Blunder.
Harper got hit pretty squarely. Truly hope he’s ok and can return quickly.
Why is this a MLBTR story
They post on anything related to MLB, not just trades and free agent signings.
It’s just a rumor.
Because it is one of the biggest stars in MLB that was forced out of a game and could potentially face an IL stint. Is it really that hard for you to understand?
Hi flew…I think jury rigger was being intentionally obtuse as a weak attempt at humor.
@flewrightoveryourhead I just do it to trigger people like you
@jury…Making myopic comments is easier for some(you?) instead of contributing in a thoughtful, positive way.
Well, its an injury and he may miss time. They report all injuries as soon as they hear about them.
I hope that the orbital rim around his eye is okay. A hit like that in that particular spot could cause vision problems that might seriously impact his career.
Shades of Tony Conigliaro.
That’s the same name that came to mind for me. Sincerely hoping it’s not the same outcome this time.
I know nothing about this JABRONI Cabrera, but The Rock says, this little roody-poo candyass better get suspended for a long time.
What?
A+ comment
Holy hell this thread is gold.
@Egon Spengler – Who. . . in the Blue Hell. . . . is this. . . Roody Poo!
Love it!
When I said he had a hittable face that’s not what I meant. Hopefully he is ok
Hitting a batter in the head should be immediate ejection and 10 game suspension. This only brings the sport we love down
Can’t do a blanket suspension. I honestly don’t think Cabreara was trying to hit Harper in the head. After he hit him, Cabrera went down. He was visually upset. Cabrera was really wild. He hit his first two batters. He then bounced his first two pitches to McCutchen. He was nowhere near the strike zone the entire appearance. No control at all for Cabrera.
Which raises the issue of why he is in the MLB in the first place.
In the second place, it must take balls like grapefruit to bat against some of the wild pitchers in the minors.
Just a strong desire to earn millions of dollars…..
Look up Steve Dalkowski
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steve_Dalkowski
So upset he hit the next batter with his next pitch? Maybe he needs more time in AAA if he can’t calm his fragile nerves. The poor dear…
I concur that hitting a batter above the shoulders should warrant immediate ejection. The pitcher either hit the batter intentionally or can’t control his deadly weapon. Either way, he doesn’t belong in the ballgame. I would also suspend the three batter rule for any pitcher who hits a batter from the shoulders down.
HBPs are at an all-time high so far in 2021, as are wild pitches and, of course, strikeouts. MLB is on pace for 7,000 more strikeouts than hits (it was 1,001 entering the day).
Also, five of today’s first eight completed games ended in a shutout, bringing the season total to 65.
Time to move the mound back 12-18 inches. It would solve so many of the game’s problems, just like lowering the mound did after the terrible 1968 season. MLB needs to do something because the current trend is not going to reverse itself.
Let the players use sticky stuff on the ball.
Well we could use the dh in the NL. What are pitchers hitting .050?
I have not seen a single pitcher get a hit and I have watched 20+ games.
Why the heck do we have to watch pitchers strike out 3-4 times every game? That’s so exciting for traditionalists.
I don’t disagree with your point. But Kersh’s AB against Darvish was fun to watch. But that is one maybe AB in 200 pitcher ABs that has been fun to watch.
Watching pitchers hit is not the only strategy in real baseball. Anyone that’s says that clearly don’t understand the game. Clueless actually!
I just watched Logan Webb hit a triple. It was very exciting. But I also believe a well executed sacrifice bunt is exciting. I love baseball, and all of its foibles, and thankfully I have enough patience to enjoy almost everything the game brings.
I can say that pitchers who take 30 seconds between every pitch and step off/throw over all the time, and batters that have excessive tics and rituals stepping out of the box between every pitch, can try my patience.
However, pitchers batting is part of the game, and an important part of offensive and defensive strategy. Plenty of other valuable specialist players that hit lightly (many catchers, for example, and middle infielders) but you just work around that.
Did they unjuice the ball or something and everyone forgot how to hit the old one?
Yup they un-juiced the ball
Still fascinates how little coverage that whole lie got….
Mention Barry Lamar Bonds name and people putting down what their doing and grab their pitchforks …..Why is that ?
He was unlikable. Even his teammates didn’t like him (Jeff Kent). Its not the MSM narrative you’re fishing here for.
Bonds earned his reputation. When he was asked about all the people he was a jerk to throughout his career he basically said he should have been nicer because he would have made more money. The guy has no remorse about anything that he did and is a classic narcissist. There’s a reason that despite being one of the best hitters of all-time that he lasted one season as an MLB hitting coach. The dude, simply put, is an @sshole to the highest level.
That’s not true. It’s true that Kent and Bonds didn’t get along, but many of Bonds’s teammates did like him. Some resented the superstar treatment he got, others the salary.
What is true is that Bonds was a jerk to the press, specifically.
As an arrogant young star he stated that he behaved as he did because he grew up seeing how poorly the press and public treated his dad and his godfather. He didn’t see any reason to bow and scrape to people that treat you like garbage.
I think that now that he has the benefit/curse of more maturity, he likely sees that money isn’t everything, drinking from the bitter well of your dad’s resentment can be toxic, and that the relationships you make and nurture (or don’t make) are super important.
He’s feeling isolated, misused and misunderstood, but it is partially reaping what was sown and partially being the poster boy for a widespread corporate strategy.
Just the last few years, scoring was skyrockting, with the average ERA reaching a peak of 4.51 in 2018. Before that, the last time it was that high was in 2005 when it reached 4.53. This year, the average ERA is down to 4, about what it was in 2015 (3.96). Home runs are also down to 1.2 per 9 on average, about what it was in 2016 and 2018.
25% of all batters are striking out this year. Overall, strikeouts have been steadily rising since 2005 and have reached an all-time high. At this rate, this will be the second year in a row the average amount of strikeouts in a 9 inning game will be at least 9. Compare that to a decade ago when the average K/9 was 7.13.
MLB definitley deflated the ball, but the ‘boom-or-bust’ mentality is still there. In a weird way, I think we’ve gotten to the point where we are overvaluing the three true outcomes and undervaluing the on base/drive the gap kind of guys. It comes down to what works vs what’s fun. Sure, home runs will win games. There’s no way to defend against a long ball. But there’s more excitement when a guy tries to stretch a single into a double/double into a triple than a long ball.
People will say “iT’s ThE aNaLyTiCs, tHeY’Re KiLlInG tHe GaMe”, and while that has to do with some of it, advanced analytics and forward thinking has been around forever. Branch Rickey was the great grandfather of moneyball. Earl Weaver was it’s grandfather. At one point, we undervalued things that now are potentially being overvalued. Ovbisously, you need some power in your line-up, but I think in the very near future, we’ll be seeing more of the .300/.400/.450 hitters than the .250/.350/.500 hitters. There’s a lot of guys coming up through team’s prospect systems who are more hit-over-power guys. Even the #1 prospect in baseball, Wander Franco is more of a drive-the-gap/OBP guy than a big power guy.
MLB1225…..A well-formulated comment. Nice!
Maybe MLB should leave the baseballs alone. Maybe the game doesn’t need any executive level mad scientists figuring out ways to make improvements.
HBP are at an all time high because hitters crowd the plate more than ever before. Pull up video from every year over the last 40 years and you won’t believe how much that has changed.
Part of the problem is the cheat pads hitters wear to kill pitchers’ careers. They would not crowd the dish without them. You won’t see arms sticking out for the HBP on strikes like Conforto or Trout. If you stand close to the plate the odds of being hit increases.
Command and contact both depend on repetition. The pitchers and batters both lost a lot of that repetition last year and are still getting it back. Some need more than others. It’s understandable that there would be more failures this year than normal. Failures include a lot of different things: injuries, errors, strike outs, wild pitches, hit batsmen, base running blunders, etc.
Yadi is gonna take one in the ear ..
Phillies will need his home address since he is on the Injury list
Yadi on IL. Tomorrow is the last time the meet this season.
It’ll be Arenado, not Yadi.
97 mph? Yikes!
The warning both sides rule is idiotic. If an umpire thinks a player has been thrown at with intent to injure, then throw the pitcher out, period.
Just a heads up, the Matt Joyce link sends you to a Baseball Reference page of some reliever named Matt Joyce. I didn’t even know their was a pitcher named Matt Joyce lol.
Thanks for the heads up! I’d also never heard of the other Matt Joyce, who’s apparently a freshman at Coastal Carolina and gets priority because B-Ref calls the Phillies outfielder Matthew Joyce.
There was an actress named Joyce Matthews. She was married seven times, though to only five different men as she wed (and divorced) both Billy Rose and Milton Berle twice.
Cey Hey sounds like she gave Liz Taylor a run for her money
Glad to hear the encouraging report. Hope he’s OK.
So neither pitch was intentional, but a guy with lack of control like that is dangerous. My question to you all is, doesn’t this emphasize how bad the three-batter rule is? Cardinals couldn’t pull this guy if they wanted to even after he drilled two players on two pitches.
bingo
Simple solution. The victimized team should have their DB (designated brawler) rush the mound and get the pitcher ejected for fighting.
I’ll take Farnsworth.
Excellent point VPH, wondered this myself when the rule was implemented and kind of forgot about it until you pointed it out here
I concur that Genesis needed an earlier Exodus.
Nice Revelation
The Numbers say different.
That’s being simply Ruthless.
Great point, but how often does a pitcher come into a game and drill the first two batters?
I don’t like a few of the new rules, but the 3-batter rule is a good one. Pulling a pitcher after just one batter is a waste of time and waste of resources.
We’ve got teams with 9 guys in the bullpen, stop the insanity!
@Fever Pitch Guy I disagree because I feel it takes some managerial skill away from the game. It also takes away jobs like lefty reliever specialists for example. Managers should be allowed to use the matchups they want. Also some days a guy doesn’t have it, and you want him out of there before the game gets out of hand. While not all pitchers will hit back to back batters, I have seen plenty of relievers walk the first 2-3 batters without throwing a single strike. The game can get out of hand quickly. In this case, the Cardinals were sort of lucky that the Phillies bats are cold as ice. They only got 1 run out of the mess. Other teams could have turned this into a laugher quickly.
Wear it kid
Hopefully he won’t have to face any time on the IL. Wishing him a super speedy recovery!!
Thankfully sounds like he will be ok.
I sure hope he’s okay. Anytime somebody takes one to the head I can’t help but think of Dickie Thon.
If Harper is feeling fine taking 97 to the face, the hospital must have given him the good stuff.
Mercifully it was a glancing blow – looked horrible when the ball bounced directly back towards the mound, but ricocheted off the side of his face onto his arm.
Say what you like about Harper, but I want to watch the best players play. Can understand why Girardi was apoplectic one pitch later…
Glancing blow? It hit him square in the nose without hitting anything else first, how in the world is that a glancing blow?
Glancing does’t mean it hit something else first, just that it grazed the target without imparting a significant amount of energy. It was a glancing blow because it brushed past his nose and continued on, nearly at full speed. That is the fortunate part, that it didn’t hit him “square on” as you say. His nose didn’t stop the ball dead in its tracks, which would have been grusome.
Not that I’m saying it wasn’t scary.
Cheers Ted. Had it have him flush on the nose he’d have had a nostril underneath each ear lobe. Pretty chilled message he sent too.
Hope he’s back tonight or tomorrow. The Phillies are a fun watch – a jolty mix of dominance and ineptitude. Usually in the same inning. Girardi had no choice but to get thrown out there. He got a good response from his team.
I’m just disappointed it wasn’t Al. Am I a bad person?
I glad Harper’s not.the powderpuffs you guys all are…….suspensions, ejections…. ridiculous. Concusion IL…..lol
Rocky Colavito?
Turns around , hits the catcher in the head with the baseball bat….for talking smack…HUGE
Fight…no suspensions….lots of stitches and both guys are playing ball the next day…..
NOT Powderpuffs!
Maybe, just maybe…it’s the powderpuff fans that are ruining baseball?
What a Boss!
With all the stupid rules that Manfried is trying to implement, how about making a rule that a hits batsman, an intentional walk and a four pitch walk is worth two bases?
MLB wants to talk about improving the quality of the on field product, make pitchers actually have to challenge hitters and make pitchers have some type of control.
I’m also an advocate of utilizing the automated strike zone so if a hitter (Anthony Rizzo) crowds the plate so much that he gets hit on a strike up in, it’s a strike (or an out) vs. a HBP.
If you want the on-field product to be better you’d have to ask the Commissioners office and MLBPA to stop agreeing on rules that do not benefit the pitcher. Want to solve the Rizzo problem? Ban arm protection for hitters. He’ll back off the plate after one drilling.
You don’t watch Cub baseball, Rizzo doesn’t wear any type of protection and he generally is top 5 in HBP.
As far agreeing to rules that do not benefit the pitcher… What rules do you speak of? Moving the mound back? (which is ignorant). The quality of the game sucks because pitchers cannot command their pitches and do not challenge hitters. Also, based on what I’ve been watching this season, the quality of umpiring behind the plate is lacking. Not a lot of consistency when it comes to balls and strikes.
Oh great, so these armored-up batters have even more incentive to lean over the plate? How about we enforce the rule that you have to get out of the way, and if your armor gets hit you get nothing. Don’t need anything automated to do that.
BBC
How in the hell did he walk off the field after getting drilled like that?
One tough kid right there. Hope hes back soon
He took that fastball like a damn champ. Stayed on his feet and everything. Just a single knee afterwards. Glad he took the ball to the cheek and not in the nose, eye, etc.
That was scary and, yes, Harper is a class act. And tough. BTW, if I’m not mistaken the pitcher who hit him was Oviedo, not Cabrera.
They had taken Oviedo out. It was indeed Cabrera. He faced 3 batters. He hit Harper on his 1st pitch. He hit Didi on his second pitch. And he gave up a basehit to McCutchen on fifth pitch. Phillies took the lead 4-3.
How about this for a simple solution: allow waiving of the three batter minimum with the consent of the opposing manager. That would allow removal for safety reasons while preserving the spirit of the rule.
You shouldn’t need a manager’s approval. That discretion is solely on the umpire, be it for fairness or safety. When you hit two guys the way that he did last night, the umpire should’ve just tossed him and allowed the Cardinals enough time to get another reliever warmed and into the game without a time limits. That would’ve solved everything right there.
Now, this afternoon, if Nola even clips a jersey, he has the potential to be ejected and fined/suspended because you know both teams will be warned at lineup card exchange. This effectively eliminated Nola’s ability to use the inner 1/3 of the plate. Ultimately the Phillies are paying for their franchise player getting struck in the face with 97.
Ejections happen regardless of the rules in every other circumstance and this should be no different.
I agree with your thinking (please see my earlier comment about ejecting any pitcher hitting a batter above the shoulders) but the way things stand now, ejections are only given as a penalty for doing something wrong, not unsafe.
I did read your earlier comment and I agree with that statement, However, Umpires can throw fans out of the stands for heckling. Umpires have tossed pitchers before for a single throw to the head and then even more so when two batters are hit like what we saw last night..
I’m unaware, but is there a rule that states something to the effect of the Umpires limitations on ejections? You’ve peeked my interest, I may have to look that up.
Took a heater off the snot locker, and says he’s okay. The old hockey player in me gained a new found respect for the guy.
Harper said he “feels good” after being hit by a pitch, adding “I look forward to being hit by another.”
The perfect redemption would be to play today and get a Slam to bury the Cards. That’d be some good, clean, professional payback.
That’s what they get for taking the stick’em away from the pitchers
Here’s to Harp having a speedy recovery. I’m not one of those Nats fans who feels compelled to hate him. Before he left DC, he restored the baseball field at a DC rec center near where I live.