General Sports Water Cooler

I'll make a post later tonight, because it'll be a long post that describes stuff over several games. But basically tonight he trucks a catcher, gets hit in response and goes to the mound, clearing the benches. But that's not really why he's a headcase, just the latest in a series of incidents.

So, Steven Souza. First off, you have to know that he was suspended 50 games last year for a violation of the drug policy, though it was supposedly amphetamines, not steroids.

The first series we played Potomac at home, this was back in May, he gets hit with a curveball that got away, definitely unintentional, and it was a breaking pitch, so not that hard. He walks up the baseline calling our pitcher a Latin fag the whole way. He then starts taking suicide leads at first, diving back and before the first baseman can even release the ball, taking the lead again. Basically being an idiot. I think he ended up being caught stealing second.

Second series they're in town, nothing happens on the field, but when my broadcast partner goes into the clubhouse to deliver the box scores after a game Potomac had won, he sees Souza go after one of his own teammates and start a fight.

In the meantime, he gets into incidents with every other team in this league, including being ejected for charging the mound back in June. When I sent out the recap for yesterday's game, I got emails back from three different people saying something to the effect of "Souza involved in a bench-clearing incident? I'm shocked!"

Now, yesterday, play at the plate, he trucks our catcher. Nothing inherently dirty about that, except he does the hands to the chest and extend them once he makes contact move. Can't entirely fault him, but just adds to his reputation. But obviously he's gonna get hit the next time he's up and does. Instead of being a normal person and walking up the line, since he knew he was going to be hit, he takes three steps towards the mound, barking at our pitcher. Benches and bullpens clear, etc. etc. The weird thing was that he wasn't even ejected. Oh, and when he struck out later in the game, he goes back to the dugout and flings his helmet into the dugout wall when he gets there.

So yeah, that's Steven Souza in a nutshell.

When does he become a free agent again? But I assume he'll be traded well before it gets to that point.

No, that's way too early. You have 7 years - or 6 1/2 - and I don't think that clock starts until you reach the majors. Even if that started this season he wouldn't be free until after the 2017 season. And I don't think that's accurate.

It doesn't affect it directly....and probably not at all for a guy like Harper.

You need 6 years of major league service time before free agency starts in that particular offseason.

The only way having a major league deal affects free agency is that Harper MUST be in the major leagues by the start of the 2015 season or he'd have to be exposed to waivers (because he'll be out of his minor league options).

A mediocre player could get stretched out like this: 4-6 years of minor league time not on the 40 man...then 3 years on the 40 man but optioned the minors...then another 6 years on the ML club. Harper went straight to the 40 man so at the latest, Harper will be a free agent by age 28 or so (4 option years plus 6 years of ML service)....but 26 is more likely.

Strasburg had a disappointing outing. he gave up some hits and hit a batter.