Author Topic: Should Harper be platooned? (Read 7023 times)

NatsDad14 · « **Topic Start:** August 11, 2012, 12:43:25 AM »

When the Nats make the playoffs (Im calling it officially), do you think Davey would be willing to platoon Harper and Moore in the playoffs? I mean it makes sense since Harper is bad vs. lefties and Moore mashes them. Is Davey willing to make the tough decisions to win ballgames? I would consider platooning Harper now in the regular season but he needs PA's vs. lefties for experience.

stats vs. LHP:
Harper .225/.301/.380/.681 OPS/ .298 wOBA

Moore .270/.343/.492/.835 OPS/.360 wOBA

Based on my nerd math skills, the difference between the two in wOBA means over 4 PA vs. LHP, Moore has a 0.22 run advantage (35 runs over full 650 PA season). That could be a huge difference maker

Slateman · « **Reply #1:** August 11, 2012, 12:57:04 AM »

No. He needs to be benched for a few games. Spend his time in the cage, working on his approach. Then he can come back in the number 7 hole.

cmdterps44 · « **Reply #2:** August 11, 2012, 01:00:09 AM »

mmzznnxx · « **Reply #3:** August 11, 2012, 01:24:06 AM »

Well, the question is sort of irrelevant in my opinion, just because the Nationals won't do it even though he's struggling, but my is he struggling right now. I don't know why a pitcher would throw him anything but offspeed until he breaks out of it.

rileyn · « **Reply #4:** August 11, 2012, 07:01:10 AM »

Platoon? No. However, he should not be automatically playing every day either. Give him more time off. As a 19 year old he must be exhausted mentally and physically right now. We have depth in the OF so give him a breather. I would say play him 7-8 out of 10 every games.

Minty Fresh · « **Reply #5:** August 11, 2012, 07:02:42 AM »

Send him to the minors and recall him in September.

JCA-CrystalCity · « **Reply #6:** August 11, 2012, 08:52:04 AM »

Quote from: Slateman on August 11, 2012, 12:57:04 AM

No. He needs to be benched for a few games. Spend his time in the cage, working on his approach. Then he can come back in the number 7 hole.

When you say spend time in the cage, are you talking about where they kept Borat's brother Bilo?

Kevrock · « **Reply #7:** August 11, 2012, 08:54:38 AM »

Quote from: cmdterps44 on August 11, 2012, 01:00:09 AM

No

Tyler Durden · « **Reply #8:** August 11, 2012, 09:13:28 AM »

Maybe have him sit against really tough lefties sometimes. But he still needs at bats against left handers because he's still developing. So no, not a straight platoon but it would help out in games down the stretch and even in the playoffs to have Moore's bat in there more often.

Lintyfresh85 · « **Reply #9:** August 11, 2012, 09:31:54 AM »

Yes, he should be platooned.

PANatsFan · « **Reply #10:** August 11, 2012, 09:51:15 AM »

Reject his AB's against LHP

blue911 · « **Reply #11:** August 11, 2012, 10:21:42 AM »

Harper is games started by a lefty .255/.344/.464
Harper in games started by a righty .248/.322/..384

It doesn't appear as if he has troubles with left handed starters, just the LOOGY types. Probably a good stat for LaRoche use to get a contract extension.

Terpfan76 · « **Reply #12:** August 11, 2012, 10:29:30 AM »

No. Give him a few more days off, but let him play through it. He's still playing at a better level that we expected, but we got spoiled early. Let him do his thing, but like I said, give him a little more rest.

Bloo · « **Reply #13:** August 11, 2012, 11:12:01 AM »

No. Legalize Harper.

HalfSmokes · « **Reply #14:** August 11, 2012, 11:15:13 AM »

if this continues in september yes- if Moore is hitting lefties better, he should get the playing time assuming there is a big enough gap to justify the defensive fall off, and it appears that there is

Evolution33 · « **Reply #15:** August 11, 2012, 11:57:00 AM »

Young players need to work through their struggles. Haven't we had this debate about Zimmerman, Desmond, and Espinosa in various years?

tomterp · « **Reply #16:** August 11, 2012, 12:00:01 PM »

Moore to start tonight over Harper, per Kilgore.

Quote

Adam Kilgore‏@AdamKilgoreWP

Davey says Bryce Harper will sit tomorrow to get Tyler Moore in the lineup. Jayson Werth will bat leadoff and play center.

Fan037 · « **Reply #17:** August 11, 2012, 12:14:15 PM »

I trust in Davey to make whatever changes are necessary for Harper. From today's Post, Davey is going to "rest" Harper more. He said he doesn't want to have Bernadina and Moore disappear from the outfield rotation. Certainly makes sense while Harper is struggling.

JCA-CrystalCity · « **Reply #18:** August 11, 2012, 01:12:34 PM »

Quote from: blue911 on August 11, 2012, 10:21:42 AM

Harper is games started by a lefty .255/.344/.464
Harper in games started by a righty .248/.322/..384

It doesn't appear as if he has troubles with left handed starters, just the LOOGY types. Probably a good stat for LaRoche use to get a contract extension.

Blue - is that stat against only the starter or against all pitchers who pitch in that game? You wonder if the reason those stats start to look like each other is because lefties are more likely to get replaced by a righty (at least in a mid inning switch) while righties may be more frequently replaced by LOOGYs specifically fro the Harper match up.

mitlen · « **Reply #19:** August 11, 2012, 01:14:07 PM »

Yes. That is all.

Thank you,
Davey

Mitlen thinks this may be the best course of action at this time. I'll go with DJ on this. However, we all know he won't be platooned once he gets it together. I think "Hawpa" is having head issues. He's young. It'll pass.

JCA-CrystalCity · « **Reply #20:** August 11, 2012, 01:15:01 PM »

The cringe-worthy thing about platooning in Moore is that leaves Morse in right as well as Moore in left (and Werth in CF). Not something you'd want to see if you are a fly ball pitcher. Maybe if you are Detwiler or Lannan that would be fine.

Mr Clean · « **Reply #21:** August 11, 2012, 01:26:36 PM »

Has Eckstein gotten to him? He had a nice approach when he first came up, serving balls to left field regularly. Now he wants to pull everything.

Ali the Baseball Cat · « **Reply #22:** August 11, 2012, 01:36:41 PM »

Eckstein is like Typhoid Mary

Quote from: Mr Clean on August 11, 2012, 01:26:36 PM

Has Eckstein gotten to him? He had a nice approach when he first came up, serving balls to left field regularly. Now he wants to pull everything.

Lintyfresh85 · « **Reply #23:** August 11, 2012, 02:00:19 PM »

I don't think it has anything to do with Eck. What we're seeing is a 19 year old finally hitting as a 19 year old should in the majors.

MorseTheHorse · « **Reply #24:** August 11, 2012, 02:12:05 PM »

If the playoffs were to start tomorrow we might be better off with Harper starting the game on the bench since Moore and Bernadina are far outproducing him at the plate. Harper has value on the bench that Moore does not, in that we can use his speed pinch-running for Morse or LaRoche late in a close game (and then take the appropriate spot in the field the next inning).