Goose Gossage continues to rail on about Bryce Harper

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Bryce Harper's comments concerning the current culture surrounding baseball have really struck a nerve with many figures in the game. From players like Sergio Romo expressing disagreement with the reigning National League MVP's thoughts on baseball's unwritten rules to guys like Carlos Gomez backing up Harper's comments, it's clear that Harper's opinion has sparked an interesting conversation around the game. Unfortunately, this also caused Hall of Famer Goose Gossage to unleash his opinion on the matter, and it's a bit of a mess.

Gossage has had multiple chances walk back the wild things that he's been saying in public, and so far he's refused to do so. In fact, he's doubled down on it! In an interview on Friday with ESPN Radio Chicago (h/t to CBS Sports), Gossage claimed that Harper "doesn't know squat about the game" and implored him to "look at the history" and "quit acting like a fool." The 'history' that Gossage was talking about was the work stoppages that his generation went through that ultimately paved the way for players to make the money that they're making now.  It almost seems as if he's wistful for the days of labor wars between MLB and the player's union. The fact that we're currently in the longest period of labor peace since collective bargaining began is something that should be unilaterally praised, and yet Gossage nearly found a way to defend the old days of labor strife in his efforts to run down Harper.

It's an extremely bizarre situation, and it's also unfortunate because the comments just reek of jealousy and bitterness towards one of the most inevitable occurrences in not just sports, but life as well -- change. Expecting baseball to remain the same as it was decades ago is foolish, and even though Gossage has earned the right to his opinion thanks to having a stellar Hall of Fame career, he still doesn't have immunity from people like Jeff Passan calling him out on his outlandish statements. This will keep on happening as long as he continues to rail on about Harper and players of Harper's ilk.

• During Gossage's initial rant, he blamed Buster Posey "being in the wrong position" for the rule changes concerning home plate collisions. It's time to stop blaming Posey for this.


• Third baseman David Freese has finally found himself a home for the 2016 season, as the Pittsburgh Pirates have signed him to a one-year deal.


• Oakland Athletics pitcher Jarrod Parker has re-fractured his elbow, and it's another unfortunate setback for a player who's dealt with way too many long-term injuries.


• Atlanta Braves first baseman Freddie Freeman may have re-injured the wrist that bothered him throughout most of the 2015 regular season.


• World Baseball Classic qualifiers are back on next week, and Los Angeles Dodgers first baseman Adrian Gonzalez has confirmed that he'll be taking time off from Spring Training to help Mexico in their qualification efforts.


• Jenrry Mejia continues to claim that his lifetime suspension from baseball was all part of a conspiracy against him, and his lawyer has vowed that they are going to take this to court.


• Willie Bloomquist announced his retirement, and marked the occasion by posting a video of himself hitting a homer and flipping the bat afterwards. Awesome.


• PECOTA already made a bold prediction about the defending World Series champion Kansas City Royals, but Royals Review decided to make six more bold predictions as well.


• 40-year-old pitcher Randy Choate has somehow made his way to a major league spring training camp, as the Blue Jays signed him to a minor league deal.


• Last year, a woman was hit in the head with a foul ball at PNC Park. Now, she's decided to sue the Pirates and two other defendants for $35,000 each.