Cubs 3B Kris Bryant and Nationals RF Bryce Harper are battling to be MLB's "‘it’ guy for 2015" while the league has "found a way to forget” about Pirates CF Andrew McCutchen, according to ESPN's Howard Bryant. McCutchen is "in his prime, the Pirates have reached the postseason the last two years and he’s been a top-three MVP candidate every year since 2012, so what’s not to like?" Bryant said, "You’d have an easier time finding him on the side of milk carton than in a commercial. Instead of looking to the future, baseball should be better served to market what it already has” (“The Sports Reporters,” ESPN, 5/31).
SHOW ME SOME GLOVE: In Pittsburgh, Rob Biertempfel noted two young Pirates fans "celebrated in the front row of the outfield seats after Saturday's 5-2 win" against the Padres at Petco Park after McCutchen "jogged over, handed them his batting gloves and gave a quick fist bump." The kids "were practically hysterical with excitement." A Root Sports camera "captured the encounter, and the video went viral on social media within a couple of hours." McCutchen said, "We as players can bring smiles to kids' and adults' faces just by saying, ‘Hey, what's up?' It was cool that I was able to make their day maybe that much cooler." McCutchen "heard the boys cheering during the game then noticed their throwback jerseys." He said, "They looked like some old-school kids with those unis. It reminded me of watching a Jackie Robinson movie when you see some little kids at the ballpark. I thought it was pretty neat, all the way out here in San Diego, to have some kids and their family cheering us on." Biertempel noted McCutchen on Sunday "seemed a bit uncomfortable talking about the quick meeting." He said that it "was an impromptu gesture," and that he "didn't do it to draw attention to himself" (PITTSBURGH POST-GAZETTE, 6/1).
TWITTER REAX: McCutchen’s gesture elicited several positive comments on Twitter. Orioles CF Adam Jones: "One of the many reasons why @TheCUTCH22 is an MVP. Doesn't take talent to do what he did." ESPN’s John Buccigross: "What a beautiful, thoughtful person the Pirates' @TheCUTCH22 is. A little others-awareness is the answer." Pittsburgh-based KDKA-TV's Bob Pompeani: "Classy ending by McCutchen who MADE night for two kids." ESPN’s Buster Olney: "This might be the best example of joy at a baseball field that you will ever see."
