UPDATE, 12:43 p.m.: Nyjer Morgan's act is clearly wearing thin with Brewers management. General manager Doug Melvin told a Wisconsin radio station today that manager Ron Roenicke will handle the Morgan situation, and that Roenicke was very upset by Morgan's actions in Wednesday's game.
EARLIER:
Tony Plush fears no man.
The Milwaukee Brewers are headed to the postseason with a pair of bona fide superstars in Ryan Braun and Prince Fielder, and a spunky center fielder who certainly won't back down from anyone.
Nyjer Morgan -- along with his alter ego, Tony Plush -- has barged his way through three stops in his major league career, at times enraging opponents and grating on teammates.
Wednesday night, he tossed a wad of chewing tobacco at a former Cy Young Award winner, and then dropped some Twitter bombs on a three-time MVP.
Morgan, claiming St. Louis Cardinals starter Chris Carpenter swore at him after a ninth-inning strikeout, responded in kind and then disdainfully tossed some tobacco toward the mound. In stepped first baseman Albert Pujols to intercede, causing benches to clear.
And so began the latest chapter of Tony Plush, polarizing baseball figure.
It continued hours later when Morgan -- as Plush -- launched some pointed words toward Pujols on the Twitters:
Where still n 1st and I hope those crying birds injoy watching tha Crew in tha Playoffs!!! Aaaaahhhhh!!! ... Alberta couldn't see Plush if she had her gloves on!!! Wat was she thinking running afta Plush!!! She never been n tha ring!!! ... Anywayz!!! On our way back 2 tha Brew City 2 welcome them Phillys!!! Itz gonna be an electric series ... Ray Charles to the haters! Ahhhhhhh
Morgan drew the usual rebukes from the Cardinals. Carpenter, who finished off the 2-0 shutout, claimed he was upset with Morgan's verbose reaction to a double he hit earlier in the game:
"Every time, every time. When he hit that double he was screaming. Yesterday he screamed, a couple days ago when he hit that ... Which I don't mind. Do whatever you want. But when you strike out like that and try to throw the chew (at) the mound to our pitcher and yell? Come on, man. You need to be more professional than that."
Perhaps Morgan wasn't aware, before he tweeted, that Pujols actually has no beef with Morgan the player, or, for the most part, Plush the alter ego. Said Pujols:
"I just got in the middle to make sure that Morgan didn't jump on Carp. The last thing you want is our guy that's trying a shutout game to lose his focus. I actually like that guy. I don't mind having a guy like that on my team. He brings a lot of energy to the ballclub, and you want to have a guy like that. But sometimes I think he goes (a little overboard) and tries to put too much energy."
That energy eventually frayed his standing some in previous stops with the Pirates and Nationals. The latter stint featured Morgan at the bottom of the pile in this epic brawl with the Marlins.
This spring, the Nationals traded him to the Brewers, and Morgan is now enjoying the finest season of his career. It will culminate with a playoff appearance, which will be an interesting test of what Morgan likes to call "Plushdamentals."
Will the Brewers insist he tone down his act? Will Plush use the national stage to up the ante on his histrionics, resulting in greater fame (or infamy)?
Perhaps only two men -- Morgan and Plush -- know the answer to that.
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