Earlier this week Bryce Harper and Hunter Strickland teamed up for baseball's fiercest brawl since Rougned Odor clocked Jose Bautista last season. Strickland apparently plunked Harper for hitting two home runs during the 2014 NLDS, a series in which the Giants beat the Nationals. San Francisco then went on to win the World Series. Strickland really knows how to hold a grudge, huh?
Both Harper (four games) and Strickland (six games) have been suspended for their roles in the brawl, as expected. There is at least one physical casualty from the brawl as well. Giants first baseman/outfielder Michael Morse has been placed on the disabled list with a concussion suffered during the fight.
The kicker there is that Morse was hit by Jeff Samardzija, his own teammate. Morse and Samardzija were among the first players to reach Strickland and Harper on the mound. Here is their collision:
Samardzija is listed at 6-foot-5 and 225 pounds. Morse is listed at 6-foot-5 and 245 pounds. Those are two big dudes colliding at full speed. I'm not surprised Morse suffered a concussion. Heck, I'm surprised there wasn't even more damage.
Morse, now 35, rejoined the Giants on a minor league contract earlier this year. He returned the big leagues a few weeks ago and is 7 for 36 (.194) with home run so far this season.