Author Topic: The Bryce Harper Watch (Read 216884 times)

imref · « **Reply #1425 on:** May 22, 2011, 09:16:15 pm »

0-4 today, down to .349

natstime · « **Reply #1426 on:** May 22, 2011, 09:24:18 pm »

Probably the adrenaline of being a first time pro is wearing off, so his numbers will come down to "modest" totals. I'm sure if they bump him up a level to patomac he will start going nuts again.

d_mc_nabb · « **Reply #1427 on:** May 22, 2011, 09:35:21 pm »

Quote from: natstime on May 22, 2011, 09:24:18 pm

Probably the adrenaline of being a first time pro is wearing off, so his numbers will come down to "modest" totals. I'm sure if they bump him up a level to patomac he will start going nuts again.

Or, maybe, he's struggling. GASP! NO! HE CAN'T! PROMOTE HIM ANYWAY!

This is why you don't promote on an impulse. Everybody slumps.

natstime · « **Reply #1428 on:** May 22, 2011, 09:42:42 pm »

Quote from: d_mc_nabb on May 22, 2011, 09:35:21 pm

Or, maybe, he's struggling. GASP! NO! HE CAN'T! PROMOTE HIM ANYWAY!

This is why you don't promote on an impulse. Everybody slumps.

well i wouldnt say he's struggling, he is 3 for 13 with a hr and 2b in the past 4 games. It is impossible to keep up the numbers he is putting up because eventually balls start gettting hit right at people. I'm not saying its a firable offence for Rizzo to not promote him immediatly im just saying that its due in a week or two. I dont think too many people on this message board would argue with me.

d_mc_nabb · « **Reply #1429 on:** May 22, 2011, 09:54:49 pm »

Quote from: natstime on May 22, 2011, 09:42:42 pm

well i wouldnt say he's struggling, he is 3 for 13 with a hr and 2b in the past 4 games. It is impossible to keep up the numbers he is putting up because eventually balls start gettting hit right at people. I'm not saying its a firable offence for Rizzo to not promote him immediatly im just saying that its due in a week or two. I dont think too many people on this message board would argue with me.

Right- it feels like worse, cuz he's had at least three 0-fers recently in my memory.

natstime · « **Reply #1430 on:** May 22, 2011, 09:57:13 pm »

Quote from: d_mc_nabb on May 22, 2011, 09:54:49 pm

Right- it feels like worse, cuz he's had at least three 0-fers recently in my memory.

correct, he just he snuck a 3/4 with a hr in there

imref · « **Reply #1431 on:** May 22, 2011, 10:41:33 pm »

Quote from: d_mc_nabb on May 22, 2011, 09:54:49 pm

Right- it feels like worse, cuz he's had at least three 0-fers recently in my memory.

it's hard to reach a judgement without seeing the games, it's entirely possible that he's getting pitched around more now.

d_mc_nabb · « **Reply #1432 on:** May 22, 2011, 11:19:12 pm »

Quote from: imref on May 22, 2011, 10:41:33 pm

it's hard to reach a judgement without seeing the games, it's entirely possible that he's getting pitched around more now.

Still getting 4 official at bats...

Coladar · « **Reply #1433 on:** May 23, 2011, 01:11:10 am »

Or maybe what I posted weeks ago is coming true... He doesn't feel challenged, did insanely well, far better than anyone could expect... And still sat in low A. Realizing no matter what he did he doesn't get promoted, that theres nothing he can do, that Rizzo has his own time table, he stops taking it as hard as he can, or is just bored by not being challenged, or pissed he's still in low A, and while still performing well, he isn't performing as incredibly as he was. Bottom line, when someone doesn't feel challenged, they aren't going to work as hard or else just fall into a rut.

houston-nat · « **Reply #1434 on:** May 23, 2011, 04:35:48 am »

Sorry, Coladar, but if Bryce Harper is slacking off and not hitting because he "doesn't feel challenged," that doesn't mean he deserves a promotion. If anything the opposite. It's a bad mentality and this imaginary grumpy Harper would have to learn to play every single game and mean it. You don't want him ending up like Greinke, demanding to be traded off bad teams. You don't want him going 0/5 with 3 Ks "just" because he's facing the Pirates.

I don't think what you're suggesting is at all true, but if it is, promoting him would be like giving a kid throwing a tantrum a new toy.

Glockypoo · « **Reply #1435 on:** May 23, 2011, 08:22:47 am »

Quote from: Coladar on May 23, 2011, 01:11:10 am

Or maybe what I posted weeks ago is coming true... He doesn't feel challenged, did insanely well, far better than anyone could expect... And still sat in low A. Realizing no matter what he did he doesn't get promoted, that theres nothing he can do, that Rizzo has his own time table, he stops taking it as hard as he can, or is just bored by not being challenged, or pissed he's still in low A, and while still performing well, he isn't performing as incredibly as he was. Bottom line, when someone doesn't feel challenged, they aren't going to work as hard or else just fall into a rut.

Or maybe it's just that hitting a baseball is really hard.

Kevrock · « **Reply #1436 on:** May 23, 2011, 08:27:28 am »

That's quite an assumption, Coladar.

Even the best hitters in MLB get cold after hot streaks.

Terpfan76 · « **Reply #1437 on:** May 23, 2011, 08:55:50 am »

Quote from: Kevrock on May 23, 2011, 08:27:28 am

That's quite an assumption, Coladar.

Even the best hitters in MLB get cold after hot streaks.

Yeah, I think that's a total load of crap as well. Seems like Harper is way too competitive to worry about such things. He comes off as the type of guy that wants to win the triple crown regardless of what league it is. He's eager to play baseball and it just so happens that he's had a couple less than stellar games. Pitchers are making adjustments, lets see if he does.

PANatsFan · « **Reply #1438 on:** May 23, 2011, 09:23:03 am »

Quote from: Glockypoo on May 23, 2011, 08:22:47 am

Or maybe it's just that hitting a baseball is really hard.

win

sportsfan882 · « **Reply #1439 on:** May 23, 2011, 11:55:00 am »

Harper 1/2 with a single and a run scored so far today.

He led off the inning with single, tagged up to second on a fly ball to CF and then scored on a single to RF by Brett Newsome.

Quote

Hagerstown Top of the 3rd

Bryce Harper singles on a line drive to center fielder Isaac Galloway.
Kevin Keyes flies out to center fielder Isaac Galloway.
Jason Martinson flies out to center fielder Isaac Galloway. Bryce Harper to 2nd.
Brett Newsome singles on a fly ball to right fielder Marcell Ozuna. Bryce Harper scores. Brett Newsome to 2nd on the throw.
Michael Taylor grounds out, shortstop Pedro Mendoza to first baseman Brian McConkey.

Kevrock · « **Reply #1440 on:** May 23, 2011, 12:11:15 pm »

Quote from: Terpfan76 on May 23, 2011, 08:55:50 am

Yeah, I think that's a total load of crap as well. Seems like Harper is way too competitive to worry about such things. He comes off as the type of guy that wants to win the triple crown regardless of what league it is. He's eager to play baseball and it just so happens that he's had a couple less than stellar games. Pitchers are making adjustments, lets see if he does.

Yeah, he sure didn't get bored in JuCo when he was setting all kinds of records.

kirubel94 · « **Reply #1441 on:** May 25, 2011, 08:23:48 pm »

its hard to say hes slumping hitting .342, but he is ...so far hes 0-2 and a BB tonight.

hammondsnats · « **Reply #1442 on:** May 26, 2011, 01:08:27 am »

please bump him up

Terpfan76 · « **Reply #1443 on:** May 26, 2011, 10:20:23 am »

Quote from: kirubel94 on May 25, 2011, 08:23:48 pm

its hard to say hes slumping hitting .342, but he is ...so far hes 0-2 and a BB tonight.

0-3 1BB 1K.

Section214 · « **Reply #1444 on:** May 26, 2011, 06:13:27 pm »

Interview with him on ESPN... http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/columns/story?columnist=crasnick_jerry&page=nextedit3

Brownie30 · « **Reply #1445 on:** May 26, 2011, 07:55:59 pm »

For those of you with access, here's a great meat-and-potatoes breakdown of Harper that's more substance than fluff (which is unfortunately what most of the peices I've read about him amount to).

http://www.baseballprospectus.com/article.php?articleid=14040

For those without access, here's the breakdown of what scouts project him to be on the 20-80 scale in the five cats:

Hitting: 50-65 "He's not going to win batting titles, but he's certainly not going to be a low-average, one-dimensional slugger either"
Power : 80 Goldstein mentioned that it was a universal grade from all the scouts he talked to - 'He's basically Superman' and 'It's freakish' were two quotes from scouts.
Glove: 50-60 "...scouts believe he'll end up a good right fielder"
Arm: 70-80
Speed: 30-50 Scouts voiced concern that at 18 and already 6'3", 225 he could outgrow what is currently an athletic frame into more of a power-hitting 1B type.

sportsfan882 · « **Reply #1446 on:** May 26, 2011, 07:56:59 pm »

Selling him short on hitting and speed tools

Brownie30 · « **Reply #1447 on:** May 26, 2011, 08:04:33 pm »

Quote from: sportsfan882 on May 26, 2011, 07:56:59 pm

Selling him short on hitting and speed tools

Hitting - you might be right, but the concern is that he has a pretty aggressive, violent swing (even after adjustments made following JuCo). I'm not sure he has the uncanny hand-eye that a guy like Pedroia has which allows him to take massive cuts while making consistent, solid contact, but time will tell. I think if he quiets the swing down a bit this score could come up, but it might come at the expense of what is unprecedented power.
Speed - His present speed is fine, the scouts are remarking on what kind of speed he might have in his mid- to late-20's and beyond. There's not much precedent for guys 6'5" / 250 being burners on the basepaths, and that could ultimately be where he finishes up. This is, after all, just scouts' best guesses as to what kind of ballplayer Harper projects to down the road.

hammondsnats · « **Reply #1448 on:** May 26, 2011, 08:14:44 pm »

in a good line-up he's going to get walked a lot and it's going to help him take pitches and swing at the good ones, like he has been doing. i think his hitting grade should be a bit higher.

strasmasndzimmermas10 · « **Reply #1449 on:** May 26, 2011, 10:24:49 pm »

0-3 1k so far tonight..... struggling badly right now.