Gamesmanship

In a bit of gamesmanship 11 years ago today in Miami, Marlins manager Ozzie Guillen complains about the amount of pine tar on the bat of Washington's Bryce Harper, prompting plate umpire Marty Foster to ask the Nationals’ prized rookie to use a different bat on his next trip to the plate.

That comes in the fourth inning, but not before Harper – who only a year earlier in 2011 plays for the Class AA Harrisburg Senators – mockingly points his new bat toward the ever-combustible Guillen, who in an apparent case of projection calls Harper’s actions unprofessional.

As for Harper, he finishes the game 0-for-4 in a game Washington loses 4-0, but ends up as the National League’s rookie of the year after hitting .270 in 139 games with 22 home runs and 59 runs batted in.