Wire Taps: Nationals’ Bryce Harper gets four-game suspension; Hot takes galore + more...

Dusty Baker told reporters before last night’s game that the Nationals were over the whole beanball/brawl drama and didn’t blame it on the Giants as much as on their reliever, Hunter Strickland alone, so the tension was lessened some before the second game of three in AT&T even started.

They ended up just playing baseball in case you weren’t able to stay up with the 10:15 EDT start time, and the Nationals won their second straight, 6-3.

While you wait for another late start, here’s the latest from San Francisco...

WARNING: The brawl was still all people were talking about yesterday and, seriously, people have pored over the footage like it was the Zapruder film..:

NATS BEAT:

Scott Boras: Bryce Harper deserves lesser penalty from Nationals-Giants brawl
"As the Giants and Nationals await the discipline for Monday’s brawl, agent Scott Boras contends that his client, Nationals right fielder Bryce Harper, deserves a lesser penalty..."

If Harper didn't charge, would Strickland still be suspended
"Here's a scary thought: As idiotic as Hunter Strickland's actions were Monday, he might have gotten off scot-free if not for Bryce Harper."

MLB Suspends Bryce Harper And Hunter Strickland For Entertaining Brawl
"If anything, six games feels a bit light, given that Rougned Odor got eight for walloping Jose Bautista last year. It also apparently pays to have horrible aim with your helmet."

Posey body language means Strickland is a short-term Giant
"Strickland believes his 98 miles-per-hour fastball to be invincible. It isn’t. That stubbornness contributed to those two Harper home runs in the 2014 postseason."

What if Buster Posey was following pitcher's wishes in allowing Bryce Harper to charge mound?
"What if Buster Posey knew? What if Giants reliever Hunter Strickland told Posey that he was going to drill the Nationals’ Bryce Harper..."

Honkballers Giants en Nationals slaan erop los
"Nadat werper Hunter Strickland van de Giants de bal op de heup van Bryce Harper van de Nationals had geworpen, sloeg de vlam in de pan."

Bryce Harper gets the meme treatment; ‘Fearless Girl’ faces ‘Pissing Pug’
"I want someone to hold me like Ryan Zimmerman holds Bryce Harper"

NATIONAL(S) BEAT:

MLB trade deadline: Top 25 players who could move by July 31
"Considering the Nats still need a closer, and the New York Mets are desperate for one, the price tag continues to climb, particularly knowing that Robertson is under control through 2018."

Mock Draft 2.0: MLB's No. 1 pick could have the Wright stuff
25. Washington Nationals - Seth Romero, LHP - Kicked off the University of Houston - "He has good stuff and has cleaned up his body since last year, but he has a bad delivery and really bad makeup."

THE STORY YOU’VE BEEN WAITING FOR:

The story behind Wilmer Difo’s walk-up music
“They thought they were joking with me,” Difo said. “But, no, I put them on. I love those songs.” - Wilmer Difo

UP NEXT: Nationals vs Giants - 10:15 PM EDT in AT&T PARK

MATCHUP: Matt Cain (3-3, 4.45 ERA) vs Max Scherzer (5-3, 2.77 ERA)