Tom Verducci>THREE STRIKES
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Cubs' wanna-be tough guys embarrass sport and themselves
Cubs catcher Steve Clevenger was far from a peacemaker when the Cubs threw at Bryce Harper on Thursday night.
Chuck Myers/Landov
Today we are supposed to believe a couple of nobodies named Lendy Castillo and Steve Clevenger are very tough guys. You see, the pitcher and catcher for the Cubs wanted to show the world how macho they are by hatching a plan to throw at Bryce Harper last night. Why throw at Harper? Well, it seems the Cubs didn't take kindly to the Nationals stealing two bases and Jayson Werth taking a hack at a 3-and-0 pitch with a five-run lead in the fifth inning.
That's right: the fifth inning. Though you may not know it sometimes by the way the Cubs play, this is not Williamsport. We play nine innings in big boy baseball. Apparently the Cubs think you're not supposed to play hard against them when they are down five with four turns at bat still remaining.
So a bunch of Cubs, especially coach Jamie Quirk, whined enough about it to empty the benches. And self-appointed sheriffs-for-a-day Castillo and Clevenger decided they would take it a step further. Castillo threw his first pitch at Harper, the next batter he faced. Clevenger didn't bother to move his glove even a bit to try to catch it. He immediately got up and thrust his body into Harper -- straight out of Tough Guy 101.
Castillo has an ERA that looks like somebody's birthday: 10.22. He walks almost six batters every nine innings. The point is, when he throws at Harper he can't be exactly sure where the baseball is going. He is just as likely to break Harper's hand as he to "send a message." (Cue the scary music here.) The Nationals will be playing in the postseason. Harper is one of their key players and, of import in a different way, one of the most marketable players in baseball. And somebody named Lendy Castillo is going to put him out of action all in the name of being macho?
It's not macho, partner. It's stupid. There's a place in baseball for upholding the unwritten rules of the game, but this wasn't it -- not by a long shot. Sure, the Cubs were frustrated about the Nationals whacking 14 home runs in three nights against them. But they ought to try another tactic than endangering the health of opponents who actually have something to play for: try executing a few quality pitches.
Castillo, Clevenger and manager Dale Sveum all are due heavy fines and suspensions for such stupidity.
Read more:
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2012/w ... z25o943UlG 
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