The Bryce Harper Watch

[imref]

Wow, didn't take him long to adjust to AA did it?  It will be interesting to watch if he puts up an .800+ OPS over the next few weeks at Harrisburg.  Does he get up to Syracuse this year?  Could he get up here in September?

So far the kid has excelled at every level they've put him at - AFL, spring training, A, and potentially now AA (and we all saw what he did at JuCo).  It seems that the only thing holding him back is his age/maturity.  I know it's only 3 games, but he's freaking batting .500 so far.

[Lintyfresh85]

I think Rizzo said no matter what, he ends the year in Harrisburg.

[Tokeydog]

The sac bunt was nice too since it moved runners to second and third.  The next guy doubled in those runs.

[mimontero88]

I think Rizzo said no matter what, he ends the year in Harrisburg.

Yeah but he's also made clear that they won't hold him back.  The fact is that if Harper completely tears up AA over the next couple months it will become basically impossible to justify not calling him up in September if for no other reason than to give him a taste of the bigs.

[imref]

I think Rizzo said no matter what, he ends the year in Harrisburg.

we'll see.....

[Nathan]

i have no problem with what he said.  i take it not as a knock on the city of hagerstown or anything, but the fact his mindset was that he wanted to move up from A ball.  he admitted he shouldn't have been distracted. 

that's honest and again i don't think he was insulting one of our clubs.

It may have been.  Being so close, I can tell you that Hagerstown [MDS]sucks anii[/MDS]

[Tyler Durden]

I want him in AA for the rest of the year unless he's mashing over 1.000 OPS and playing pefect defense.

It looks like he's on pace for a May/June 2012 arrival in the bigs.

[Terpfan76]

It may have been.  Being so close, I can tell you that Hagerstown [MDS]sucks anii[/MDS]

Authorized Nuclear Inservice Inspector?

[NFA Brian]

for those in the Richmond area, you have just Friday to go and see him. He leaves for the Futures Game after Friday

[Lintyfresh85]

But if you can't make it... He'll be back for a series starting July 21.

[MarquisDeSade]

But if you can't make it... He'll be back for a series starting July 21.

We should have a meetup that weekend. 

[mitlen]

But if you can't make it... He'll be back for a series starting July 21.

We should have a meetup that weekend. 

I am seriously considering heading down that Saturday.   I'm checking with my neighbor (on vacation) to see if he wants to ride down.

[MarquisDeSade]

I am seriously considering heading down that Saturday.   I'm checking with my neighbor (on vacation) to see if he wants to ride down.

I'm definitely down, let me see if Mrs. de Sade wants to go.  If she doesn't mind if I ride down with you?  We can exchange war stories. 

[mitlen]

I'm definitely down, let me see if Mrs. de Sade wants to go.  If she doesn't mind if I ride down with you?  We can exchange war stories.  

If my neighbor goes, I may spend the night at my son's apartment ... school's out (VCU).      Probably go down mid day Saturday and leave my crap at the apartment.    After the game, maybe go to Penny Lane and drink a few bitters while looking at the memorabilia/decorations (old style pub owned by a Liverpudlian).    My neighbor's in Nantucket or some such place.   Waiting to hear from him.

Plan B would be a ride down/back sameday thing.

[nfotiu]

for those in the Richmond area, you have just Friday to go and see him. He leaves for the Futures Game after Friday

Won't play Friday either.

http://www2.timesdispatch.com/sports/2011/jul/07/harper-will-not-play-diamond-friday-ar-1158152/?sc_cid=RTD-NEWS-12pmDlyNews

[Baseball is Life]

He went 0-4 last night with a K, a TV report said.

[mitlen]

Looks like the 23rd in Richmond will be a day/night DH.

[GMUTrkstar]

Good article on Harper and the media at Sickels site:

I had the opportunity to see Bryce Harper several times in Lakewood during his stay in the Sally League this season, and I recently sit down with the Hagerstown Suns public relations director Bryan Holland for a feature story about Harper's relationship with the media and the Nationals public relations strategy. Hope you enjoy.

 

Sitting across from the Hagerstown Suns highly touted right-hander A.J. Cole at his locker in the corner of the visitors clubhouse in Lakewood, N.J., I asked the 19 year-old what in particular he felt he needed to improve upon to progress to the next level.
 
Before Cole had the chance answer, however, Bryce Harper, having overheard our conversation, came around the corner, Doritos in hand.
 
"You don't need to work on anything A.J," he exclaimed defiantly, slapping Cole on the back. Your the f-----g best."
 
Cynics regard this sort of encounter as a desperate, futile attempt by Harper to create the impression that he's just one of those guys, a modern day Wally Cleaver, full of good-natured ribbing and late night Taco Bell runs, and not the egotistical villain that many media members portray the 18 year-old prodigy as.
 

Read the rest here: http://www.minorleagueball.com/2011/7/8/2265456/the-media-spectacle-of-bryce-harper

[Lintyfresh85]

What I gathered from that article is that the Nats hate Potomac and as soon as possible they'll end their deal and find a new affiliate.

[hammondsnats]

What I gathered from that article is that the Nats hate Potomac and as soon as possible they'll end their deal and find a new affiliate.

it could be a florida team if they get a new spring training stadium.  they would play in the florida league. 

or move a team here to bethesda

get out of potomac if they don't build a new park.

[Kevrock]

What I gathered from that article is that the Nats hate Potomac and as soon as possible they'll end their deal and find a new affiliate.

I heard a while back that the owners of the Nats and P-Nats hated each other. This was from someone who worked at Potomac. TIFWIW.

[mitlen]

For the brethren in the eastern 'burbs.   A guy on the Wood show said Harrisburg will be in Bowie in late July (25, 26 & 27).

[GMUTrkstar]

What I gathered from that article is that the Nats hate Potomac and as soon as possible they'll end their deal and find a new affiliate.

I think they just extended the deal with Potomac a year or so ago. While Nationals may not be happy with ownership in the end it makes the most sense to hope things get better over there because that is the closest affiliate and gives Northern VA Nats fans a local place to watch prospects. Here's an article about Potomac's plan to improve their stadium: http://www.baseballamerica.com/today/minors/business-beat/2011/2612047.html and Rizzo has hinted at fixing some of the issues this offseason.

[JMUalumni]

I think they just extended the deal with Potomac a year or so ago. While Nationals may not be happy with ownership in the end it makes the most sense to hope things get better over there because that is the closest affiliate and gives Northern VA Nats fans a local place to watch prospects. Here's an article about Potomac's plan to improve their stadium: http://www.baseballamerica.com/today/minors/business-beat/2011/2612047.html and Rizzo has hinted at fixing some of the issues this offseason.

Hopefully Potomac really builds the new stadium this time.  Washington renewed their contract with Potomac for four more years at the end of last season, so they will not be changing affiliations until after the 2014 season at the earliest.

[Nathan]

"You don't need to work on anything A.J," he exclaimed defiantly, slapping Cole on the back. Your the f-----g best."

Bryce needs to work on his grammar before he gets called up.  He said "your" instead of "you're."