MLB

Nyjer Morgan’s Tantrum Caps Notorious Week

The Washington Nationals aren’t among the most nationally relevant teams – and you don’t have to take my word for it because the Sports Grid agrees, ranking them 20th among MLB squads. Perhaps the only reason the franchise down on the Potomac is that high has more to do with uber-stud prospects like flamethrowing pitcher Stephen Strasburg or the likely number one pick in next month’s draft, Bryce Harper, than the on-field performance of a .500 team.

Either that, or the bump is coming courtesy of a week of infamy supplied by Nyjer Morgan from the outfield of Nationals Park.

Rewind one week ago and Morgan found himself the center of a SBNation-driven meme, courtesy of a Seattle Mariners blogger, Lookout Landing. It wasn’t long before this dainty, acrobatic catch of the center fielder:

Turned into oh-so-many great remakes, including two of my favorites, below:

Then, earlier this week, Morgan upped his place in history more than just some silly photoshopping. In a Nats’ victory over the New York Mets, Nyjer found himself involved in two of the rarest plays in the sport. First, he misplayed a ball that led to Angel Pagan’s inside-the-park homerun. Then? He was the third out of a triple play when Pagan made a highlight reel catch of Christian Guzman and Nyjer stood on second when he didn’t think Pagan caught it.

Still, we haven’t even gone through seven days and Morgan once again made some more noise from the outfield. Once again, he was involved in allowing an inside-the-parker, this time to Adam Jones of the Baltimore Orioles. It’s even better because we got a tantrum out of him this time, too.

Morgan isn’t having a terrible season (batting .264 with a .344 OBP), but the other exploits of the last week have certainly been just as fun to watch. If this is what it takes to notice the Nationals until Strasburg takes the mound for his first major league start on June 4, at least it’s a fun way to pass the time.