In baseball’s ‘unwritten rules’ debate, Todd Frazier sees Bryce Harper’s point – Chicago Tribune
White Sox third baseman Todd Frazier said Friday he doesn’t mind a little extra celebration or entertainment on the field, even if baseball’s unwritten rules tend to discourage it.
“I love that stuff,” Frazier said. “I’m not a guy who does it a lot, but in the heat of the moment, I’ll pump my fist. I’m not trying to show anybody up or anything. I don’t think (baseball) needs to change, but if there’s a little more to (the entertainment of it), I’m all for it.”
Frazier’s comments came in response to a social media debate the Nationals‘ reigning National League MVP Bryce Harper sparked in an ESPN the Magazine interview. Frazier said he had heard about Harper’s comment but hadn’t read the story.
“It’s a tired sport because you can’t express yourself,” Harper said in the story. “You can’t do what people in other sports do. I’m not saying baseball is, you know, boring or anything like that, but it’s the excitement of the young guys who are coming into the game now who have flair.”
Frazier, who brought a lively personality to the Sox when he arrived via trade in the offseason, said he thinks the sport of baseball is doing well, but he understood where Harper was coming from.
“When you play in Venezuela, the Dominican or Mexico, there are a lot of celebrations going on,” Frazier said. “They play the game with a little more excitement. He has a point, I guess you could say.”
Manager Robin Ventura said he thinks there are more celebrations now because baseball has become stricter about retaliation from pitchers.
“Sometimes it’s good,” Ventura said. “Sometimes it leads to some contentious situations.”
Recovering: Designated hitter Adam LaRoche, who is recovering from back spasms, fielded groundballs, ran the bases and took batting practice Friday. He said hitting was the only activity that still gives him trouble, and he felt a small spot in his lower back acting up. He said his swing was at about 80 percent.
“I don’t want to drag it out forever because I still want to get some at-bats and get out there and get the feel back,” LaRoche said. “If it’s going to happen, it happened at a great time. But time flies here too. We have some games left. If I can get out there in the next three or four days and not have any setbacks, that would be ideal.”
Minor moves: The Sox made their first roster moves of the spring Friday, including optioning right-hander Chris Beck and outfielder Daniel Fields to Triple-A Charlotte.
The Sox also reassigned right-handers Colin Kleven, Peter Tago and Josh Wall, left-handers Will Lamb and Nik Turley and catcher Omar Narvaez to minor-league camp.
Beck, who is recovering from ulnar nerve transposition surgery in his right arm, has appeared in two Sox spring games this year. He gave up four earned runs on six hits with four walks and three strikeouts over 31/3 innings.
Ventura said the Sox made the move to allow Beck to pitch more innings in minor-league games.
“He has made progress,” Ventura said. “Velocity-wise, he seems to be stronger as he’s doing this. … He feels pretty good going down there and getting started on his program and starting a routine with it.”
‘B’ role: Right-hander Mat Latos is slated to pitch about three innings in a “B” game Saturday against the Rangers.
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