While Sunday's feud between Marlins manager Ozzie Guillen and Nationals rookie phenom Bryce Harper died down slightly a day later, the most publicized pine-tar incident since the legendary George Brett temper tantrum in 1983 was still a major topic of conversation before Monday night's game.

Guillen tried to reach out to Nationals manager Davey Johnson by telephone but the 69-year baseball lifer wasn't interested in rehashing the fourth-inning incident in Sunday's 4-0 loss to Washington.