Free pass: Bryce Harper sets record while getting Bonds treatment

The Chicago Cubs have finally found a way to combat against Washington Nationals slugger Bryce Harper. The club can’t stop Harper from coming to the plate, but they don’t have to give him anything to hit … ever.

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Cubs manager Joe Maddon unveiled his new strategy against the reigning National League MVP, and it was something we’ve seen before. Each time Harper came up to the plate during Sunday’s game, Maddon had Cubs pitchers treat him like peak Barry Bonds.

Harper took six walks during the game, including three intentional walks. And in the at-bats where Maddon didn’t order a walk, it’s pretty clear Cubs pitchers were told to keep the ball away from the strike zone at all costs. In the one plate appearance where he didn’t walk, Harper was hit by a pitch.

So, to recap, Harper stepped up to the plate seven times during the contest. He reached base in all seven. But since walks and hit-by-pitches don’t count as official at-bats, he technically reached base seven times despite not receiving an at-bat. That set a major-league record.

Bryce Harper is the first player in MLB history to reach base 7 times without an at-bat. (6 BB, 1 HBP) pic.twitter.com/NdjgpDUBgv

— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) May 8, 2016

It’s pretty bold to just automatically put a runner on base every time he comes up, but the strategy worked out in the end. Harper scored once during the game, on a Ryan Zimmerman double in the third inning.

Every other time he was put on, Harper failed to come around to score. Much of that has to be placed on Zimmerman. Zimmerman did make the Cubs pay on the double, but it was his only hit of the contest. He finished 1-for-7, with an RBI, two strikeouts and left an astounding 14 men left on base.

Oh, and the Cubs managed to come away with a victory too. The game went into extra innings, which is how Harper received so many plate appearances, and the Cubs managed to win on a walk-off home run from Javy Baez. Chicago won 4-3, and Harper did very little to impact the outcome of the game.

Following the win, Maddon discussed his decision to give Harper free passes all night.

Maddon on walking Harper:”[Because of] how good he is — why tempt fate? If the other guy gets you, that’s fine. You have no problem w/that”

— Jamal Collier (@JamalCollier) May 9, 2016

In this instance, it worked out. Not surprisingly, though, at least one player on the Nationals didn’t agree with the strategy.

Tanner Roark said was “very, very surprised” that Cubs walked Harper so many times. “I think it’s scared baseball.”

— Chelsea Janes (@chelsea_janes) May 9, 2016

We’re guessing Maddon is willing to deal with being called “scared” after a big win. In fact, it probably doesn’t bother him at all. The Cubs clearly pitched around Harper all series, walking him 13 times in the four-game set. It worked. Chicago won all four of the those games.

[Elsewhere: Actor Kevin James called into a radio show to prove that he loves the Mets]

You can criticize Maddon for being afraid of the best hitter in the game, but as long as he’s able to point to center field and yell “scoreboard,” we’re guessing that insult won’t bother him much.

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