The Bryce Harper Compendium (2014)

[Slateman]

Harper's said repeatedly in interviews that his knee injury changed his swing last year because he had to "cheat" to catch up to pitches

So I'm assuming he's back to his old swing because he's not injured anymore

It's not. This is new. And he can't hit his weight.

[Mr Clean]

It's not. This is new. And he can't hit his weight.

So that's your prediction for the year?  Harper will bat around .215 or so?

[Ray D]

if he isn't going to hit his weight, then he'd better bulk up some more. About 75 more pounds.

[wpa2629]

Declarative absolutes based on pure conjecture - AKA Mindfact

My favorite

[nobleisthyname]

So that's your prediction for the year?  Harper will bat around .215 or so?

I am interested in this. Slateman seems pretty rational most of the time yet sometimes he comes off as much of a panic monkey as PC and SF.

Do you really believe Harper's going to be a replacement level hitter this season because of his ST performance?

[GburgNatsFan]

More troll than panic monkey. And that's not a criticism. He just likes to instigate conversation.

I am interested in this. Slateman seems pretty rational most of the time yet sometimes he comes off as much of a panic monkey as PC and SF.

Do you really believe Harper's going to be a replacement level hitter this season because of his ST performance?

[nobleisthyname]

More troll than panic monkey. And that's not a criticism. He just likes to instigate conversation.

I've gotten that impression as well but I'm not always the best at determining when someone is serious or not. 

[skippy1999]

I've gotten that impression as well but I'm not always the best at determining when someone is serious or not. 

Join the club 

[Mattionals]

Join the club 

Internet ambiguity.  It sucks.

[Slateman]

So that's your prediction for the year?  Harper will bat around .215 or so?

.260, at best. With some power, obviously. But his swing is all jackedup.

[sportsfan882]

Angels just extended Trout on a great bargain deal. What are the Nats doing

[HalfSmokes]

Angels just extended Trout on a great bargain deal. What are the Nats doing

Waiting for him to prove himself followed by lowballing seems to be the pattern lately

[Hondo]

I'm not saying he's not worth it, but 6/144 is never a "great bargain deal".  It's the largest pre-arbitration contract EVER.

Angels just extended Trout on a great bargain deal. What are the Nats doing

[sph274]

I'm not saying he's not worth it, but 6/144 is never a "great bargain deal".  It's the largest pre-arbitration contract EVER.

yea, it gives them 3 years of FA at like 30 mil per. all it really ensures is that they wont be the team giving him a massive 10 year deal deep into his 30's. trout to the yankees for his 30's, wonder how that will work out...

[3bside]

Angels just extended Trout on a great bargain deal. What are the Nats doing

Waiting to see if he's really that good or just hype.  Boras is looking for a record-breaking contract.  Right now, Harper's two-year average line is .270/20/60, so there's now way they should make any kind of big number offer.  This is his 3rd year, so he now needs to put up.  For comparison, Fielder had 50 homers and 119 RBI is his third year.

[stiffler]

seems to me its to late.  He's getting paid now.

[tomterp]

For comparison, Fielder had 50 homers and 119 RBI is his third year.

Harper racked up a 5.2 WARP in 2012, in his rookie year, at the age of 19.  Fielder hadn't even made the majors at that age.  Yes, fielder had a really nice 3rd year, at age 23, with a WARP of 4.0.   

http://www.baseballprospectus.com/card/card.php?id=66018
http://www.baseballprospectus.com/card/card.php?id=31366

[3bside]

Harper racked up a 5.2 WARP in 2012, in his rookie year, at the age of 19.  Fielder hadn't even made the majors at that age.  Yes, fielder had a really nice 3rd year, at age 23, with a WARP of 4.0.   

http://www.baseballprospectus.com/card/card.php?id=66018
http://www.baseballprospectus.com/card/card.php?id=31366

So based on WAR or WARP, Harper's .270/22/59 line in 2012 is better than Fielder's .288/50/119 line in 2007.  Just goes to show how useless a stat WAR or WARP is.

[blue911]

So based on WAR or WARP, Harper's .270/22/59 line in 2012 is better than Fielder's .288/50/119 line in 2007.  Just goes to show how useless a stat WAR or WARP is.

So you're saying that those three statistical categories define the totality of a players contribution to his team's success?

[Lintyfresh85]

That would seem to be an affirmative.

[Jordanz Meatballz]

I would just like to remind everyone that the last two "months" that Bryce Harper was healthy (Sept/Oct of 2012 and Mar/April of 2013) he hit .330 with 7 home runs and .344 with 9 home runs respectively.

Hang onto your butts.

[3bside]

So you're saying that those three statistical categories define the totality of a players contribution to his team's success?

All I'm saying is that, before anybody starts talking about a huge extension for Harper, he has to put up the numbers to justify it.  I hope he does.  Even if you look at WAR -- a stat that I hate -- Trout's WAR over the last two years is more than double Harper's.

[Copecwby20]

But he's so dreamy....

[nobleisthyname]

So based on WAR or WARP, Harper's .270/22/59 line in 2012 is better than Fielder's .288/50/119 line in 2007.  Just goes to show how useless a stat WAR or WARP is.

Yup. All the value of a baseball player can be entirely surmised from those three stats. Batting average, home runs, and RBIs.

[blue911]

But he's so dreamy....