(Bryce Harper's war paint appeared to be making a comeback during the Arizona Fall League Final. Screengrab of TV by Nationals Enquirer staff.)
Biggest news out of Viera Tuesday morning as the Nationals held their first full squad workout? Jayson Werth shaved his beard again? Nope. Bryce Harper's first official BP session with the Nationals? Nope. Elderly Matt Stairs puts an end to Bryce Harper's eye black? Ding ding ding! CSN Washington's Kelli Johnson delivered the news via Twitter:
Vet Matt Stairs told Harper "no more eye black, it's a HS thing" Nats broke team huddle w/"1,2,3 eye black"
(via @kjohnsoncsn, 2/22/2011)
However, chances are Stairs won't even be around in Washington by the time Harper makes his major league debut in 2012 -- unless there's a September call up.
But even without Stairs applying the pressure, the Washinton Post's Adam Kilgore had more on the issue of Harper and his war paint over at Nationals Journal Tuesday morning:
"There's a lot of peer pressure. What looked like probably a different look that maybe he played with at times all of a sudden became nation-wide. You saw kids doing that. You turned the TV on to a college game or you saw a high school kid playing, and it's like they're emulating Bryce Harper. I think that that'll be something that the veteran players may peer-pressure him into an adjustment."
(Jim Riggleman, via Nationals Journal, 2/22/2011)
Just one day into his first Spring Training, it sounds like that adjustment is already underway.
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I think Matt Stairs is yesterdays news and Bryce is the straw the stirs the drink, so who cares if he wears war paint, I personally think it is awesome that kids are emulating him over the bland personalities out there in MLB.
Posted by: Harper_ROY_2012 | February 22, 2011 at 03:53 PM
So you're all for the Ultimate Warrior look, eh Harper_ROY_2012?
Posted by: The Nationals Enquirer | February 22, 2011 at 06:40 PM
I'm glad he took Stairs' advice. If I was an MLB veteran pitcher and saw a kid come up with the painted up face--->fastball to the ribs.
Posted by: Jeff | March 01, 2011 at 09:33 AM