Tanner Roark calls Cubs walking Bryce Harper ‘scared baseball’ – CBSSports.com

The Cubs swept the Nationals on four games, culminating with a 4-3 extra-innings win on Sunday thanks to a Javier Baez walk-off homer. It was also thanks in part to walking Bryce Harper six times, tying an MLB record. Three times Harper was put on base intentionally, twice in extra innings to load the bases (more on the “Barry Bonds” treatment here).

After the loss, Nationals starting pitcher Tanner Roark had the following to say about the Cubs just avoiding Harper for most of the series:

Tanner Roark said was “very, very surprised” that Cubs walked Harper so many times. “I think it’s scared baseball.”

— Chelsea Janes (@chelsea_janes) May 9, 2016

We’ll chalk that up to being frustrated after the sweep, because it’s pretty ridiculous.

First of all, baseball is a team sport. If Harper is being pitched around, his teammates (namely cleanup hitter Ryan Zimmerman) need to get the job done. Secondly, maybe manager Dusty Baker should put someone who is swinging a better bat than Zimmmerman after Harper. Third, is being a macho “hey, I’m not scared to pitch to you” guy worth losing the game? I’m gonna lean toward maybe just trying to win being more important.

Again, though, I’m fine with just believing Roark was upset with the four losses in a row. People can be irrational when angry and none of us are immune to that.