Fansided

Nats fan is willing to pay to have Jonathan Papelbon fired

By Kyle Franzoni

Sep 23, 2015; Washington, DC, USA; Washington Nationals relief pitcher Jonathan Papelbon (58) walks through the dugout after being ejected form the game for hitting Baltimore Orioles third baseman Manny Machado (not pictured) with a pitch during the ninth inning at Nationals Park. Baltimore Orioles defeated Washington Nationals 4-3. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 23, 2015; Washington, DC, USA; Washington Nationals relief pitcher Jonathan Papelbon (58) walks through the dugout after being ejected form the game for hitting Baltimore Orioles third baseman Manny Machado (not pictured) with a pitch during the ninth inning at Nationals Park. Baltimore Orioles defeated Washington Nationals 4-3. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports /
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One Washington Nationals fan is offering up a sizable donation to  spur the team to release closer Jonathan Papelbon.

New Washington Nationals closer Jonathan Papelbon ruffled a few feathers when the decided to be the embodiment of the unwritten moral codes of baseball and put his hands on team superstar Bryce Harper. Now once Nationals fan is willing to fork over some heavy coin to make the headache go away.

After watching Papelbon first get into Harper’s face for not running out a flyball and then put their star into a choak and push him against the wall, Nats fans have had enough. Now they are calling for Papelbon to be released by the team and some are lining up to chip to and make it happen.

The incident occurred during the bottom of the eighth inning on Sunday, with the Nationals up 4-2 in the game. Harper popped up to left fielder Jeff Franceour and apparently opted not to haul it all the way down the first base line. Papelbon, who had come in during the top half of the inning to secure the save started jawing with him.

And then this happened.

The fracas certainly turned a few heads among a Nationals fan base that has seen its team wilt from World Series favorites to playoff bystanders since the beginning of September. It certainly didn’t help matters when Papelbon returned to the mound in the top of the ninth and coughed up five runs (two earned) while getting just two outs in a blown save.

With a coach already under fire, it was only a matter of time before another lightning rod presented itself and its only fitting that it is Papelbon. With a history of being a clubhouse cancer, both in Boston and Philadelphia, it was only a matter of time before Papelbon became a focal point in Washington as well.

Of course, the fans can certainly line up and chip in a few buck here and there, but the most sizable donation may be the $11 million that the Nationals will be on the hook for in 2016 should they opt to outright release Papelbon. That’s a big chunk of change to pay a player to suit up for another team, even if he is a cancer.

That said, Washington may have little choice in the matter if they want to send the right message to the fans. That message is clear; Bryce Harper is the franchise and no one puts baby in the corner.

(h/t For The Win)

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