Washington Nationals: Takeaways after Bryce Harper’s scare

There are lessons to learn from Washington Nationals superstar Bryce Harper’s knee injury. Here are three ways to prevent this from happening again.

The Washington Nationals indeed dodged a major bullet Saturday night as Bryce Harper did not do structural damage to his left knee.

After hyper-extending it awkwardly skating on first base, Harper suffered a serious bone bruise. Although surgery is not required, the injury will take time to heal. The Nats hope he can return in a couple weeks and ready for the National League playoffs come October.

As with Adam Eaton’s injury, Harper lunged at the first base bag and fell. For those of you at Nationals Park, along with us watching on MASN, his screams sent chills. You hoped for the best and feared the worst. Somehow, hope won out.

Yet, you can argue the injury should never have happened. The game started three hours late because of thunderstorms and rain fell at the start. Or, with such a large lead in the NL East and a doubleheader following on Sunday why was Harper playing?

Although nothing serious came about, the sight of Harper being carried off the field scared fans around the area, the Nats front office and ownership along with anyone watching from Park Avenue in New York at the Commissioner’s Office of Major League Baseball.

Regardless of the star power of any one player—and, you do not get much bigger than Harper—there are lessons teams and MLB must learn from Saturday night. If you play sports, you open yourself up for injuries. They play a sad but integral part of athletics. Yet, not enough attention goes to player safety.

Here are a few things everyone should change in baseball so this scare does not happen again.

ASSESS WHETHER THE GAME SHOULD BE PLAYED

The Nats and MLB started Saturday night in a rough spot.

Because this was San Francisco’s lone visit to Washington this year, MLB and not the Nats carried the responsibility to delay or postpone games. Friday was a wash out. Saturday saw torrential rains slam DC. The WNBA Washington Mystics had a rain delay as the roof at the Capital One Center leaked. MLS’ DC United postponed their game at RFK Stadium when the locker rooms flooded.

If MLB scrubbed the game, no one would have batted an eyelash. The Nats might grumble losing a home gate and the side money with it, but that sometimes happens. There is no retractable roof coming.

With a split doubleheader Sunday, MLB wanted to get this game in. Once the rain passed, they had a window.

Why on earth would you force this game to happen? The Giants stand no chance of making the playoffs while the Nats are likely locked into the second-seed in the NL. Outside of ensuring Washington has 81 home games; the game meant nothing for either side.

Although you cannot make that judgment in the first half, after mid-July, you know what games will matter for the playoffs. Baseball has a history of cancelling games outright if they do not matter for playoff spots or home field advantage.

There is that Monday after the regular season ends if needed. Yes, it would be a headache for the Giants to fly back, but better than waiting three hours on an unsafe field.

MLB instead should reimburse Washington, and any other teams affected, the equal to an average attendance figure up to four times a year. You will hardly ever see four games scrapped, but it would protect owners and players.

ENSURE THE EQUIPMENT IS SKID PROOF

Whether it was Harper’s cleats or the wet base itself, there should never be a case of any player slipping on MLB provided equipment.

MLB has made strides in recent years by mandating coaches wear protective helmets and stadiums expanding foul ball netting areas. The sport plays more than mere lip service to safety.

Still, players and umpires must have more say over field conditions and equipment in use. Likewise, shoemakers must ensure cleats do their proper job. Outside of those portable on-deck circles with the painted team logos, everyone from a ball boy to the umpire crew chief must feel secure walking around the field.

With everything in a game considered souvenirs, cleats, gloves and even bases are future sale items and changed as often as uniforms and socks. That is part of the business. We want a piece of the action.

Although the technology of constructing playing fields has grown as new parks are built, sometimes they remain unsafe for play.

No player should ever lose footing on an actual base by running. Yes, the base is anchored into the ground with a rod so they stay in place. But, if the canvas or plastic surface becomes slippery when wet, then there are problems.

Instead of having special bases for every game or series, perhaps have special ones built for heavy weather. We have hats and uniforms that wick water and sweat away why not a specific rain bag with heavier canvas?

Or, have the umpires check to see if everyone has proper cleats for the weather. Traction is important.