The Bryce Harper Compendium (2014)

[PC]

Uh, what? The entire incident was created by the media? Did the media force Harper to say that he wants to replace one of his teammates and send him to the bench?

Moving beyond the fact that Harper isn't the brightest bulb in the box, they're asking him a question that he has to know not to answer BEFORE the question was even asked. You're expecting him to do multiple levels of thinking, right there on the spot.  That's not fair, by any standard.

[Natsinpwc]

You have to be really dumb to say what he said or just not care cause you think you are special.  Or maybe some combination of the two.  The lineup and where Zimm would play has been on everyone's discussion list for weeks.

[skippy1999]

Moving beyond the fact that Harper isn't the brightest bulb in the box, they're asking him a question that he has to know not to answer BEFORE the question was even asked. You're expecting him to do multiple levels of thinking, right there on the spot.  That's not fair, by any standard.

  omgosh not fair to expect him to be able to think, lololololololol

[Natsinpwc]

  omgosh not fair to expect him to be able to think, lololololololol

Maybe he is the new Yogi Berra?

[skippy1999]

Maybe he is the new Yogi Berra?

I don't recall any Yogi-ism's that included throwing a teammate under a bus.

[houston-nat]

Moving beyond the fact that Harper isn't the brightest bulb in the box, they're asking him a question that he has to know not to answer BEFORE the question was even asked. You're expecting him to do multiple levels of thinking, right there on the spot.  That's not fair, by any standard.

What? Seriously? Do you think Harper has an IQ of 12?

Reporter: What do you think of today's lineup?
Harper: I'm happy to finally be in it.

This isn't rocket surgery. The best evidence that Harper is stupid is that he didn't answer that way.

Plus, nobody asked him, "Do you support benching a teammate?" He came up with that by himself.

[Natsinpwc]

I don't recall any Yogi-ism's that included throwing a teammate under a bus.

THey didn't have Twitter back then.  Maybe we only got the good ones!

[PC]

You have to be really dumb to say what he said or just not care cause you think you are special.  Or maybe some combination of the two.  The lineup and where Zimm would play has been on everyone's discussion list for weeks.

And maybe he didn't read the "lists".  I'm guessing he's not much of a reader.  Or because it was on "everyone's discussion list" perhaps he thought that him adding another opinion wouldn't be that big of a deal.  He's not smart and a little naive.

Another thing, those people complaining about his plan would have benched Span, Williams' plan benched Espinosa (and rightly so but still) Someone had to be benched.  If the people asking him the question wanted an answer, SOMEBODY was gong to have to be benched.

[PC]

Plus, nobody asked him, "Do you support benching a teammate?" He came up with that by himself.

Read my previous post.  SOMEBODY WAS GOING TO HAVE TO BE BENCHED.  There's no escaping it.

[houston-nat]

Another thing, those people complaining about his plan would have benched Span, Williams' plan benched Espinosa (and rightly so but still) Someone had to be benched.  If the people asking him the question wanted an answer, SOMEBODY was gong to have to be benched.

I work in marketing. The first rule of media training is, if they're gonna use an answer against you, don't give a goddamn answer. Anyone who spends 20 seconds in media training will learn this.

[Natsinpwc]

I really think guys on the team must have been talking about it also but we will see how it goes from here.  Up to the team how they deal with it.  If they can play well I will be happy enough.

[PC]

I work in marketing. The first rule of media training is, if they're gonna use an answer against you, don't give a goddamn answer. Anyone who spends 20 seconds in media training will learn this.

And you expect his to know this, just as a matter of course? A somewhat sheltered 21 year old?

[houston-nat]

And you expect his to know this, just as a matter of course? A somewhat sheltered 21 year old?

Yes, I do expect him to know this, as a major celebrity worth millions of dollars who talks to media every day as part of his job.

[skippy1999]

Yes, I do expect him to know this, as a major celebrity worth millions of dollars who talks to media every day as part of his job.

and who's been groomed for this for what seems like his entire flippin' life!

[DPMOmaha]

And you expect his to know this, just as a matter of course? A somewhat sheltered 21 year old?

If he doesn't know it, then the Nats have failed him. Or maybe baseball has.  Or he failed himself and didn't pay attention to it when they did offer the advice. Sports teams and leagues all over the world go over this stuff with their players. Yes, he should have known better.

[houston-nat]

If he doesn't know it, then the Nats have failed him. Or maybe baseball has.  Or he failed himself and didn't pay attention to it when they did offer the advice. Sports teams and leagues all over the world go over this stuff with their players. Yes, he should have known better.

Yup. Pretty sure media training is part of the spring camp.

[PC]

...or he could have not been asked the question.   How about asking Zimmerman the question or Werth or LaRoche?

[DPMOmaha]

...or he could have not been asked the question.   How about asking Zimmerman the question or Werth or LaRoche?

Who says they didn't? I'll bet Zim got it.

[Mattionals]

Maybe he meant Werth?

Seriously though, regardless of his comments, I still think that the team needs to find a lead off hitting second baseman and can move on from Denard.  I really like Denard, but I don't disagree with what Harper said.  Zim is much less of a liability defensively in LF than at 3B.  Rendon's value is maximized at 3B over 2B as he is better defensively at 3B (bat plays regardless).  Zim's bat looks better in LF than it does at 1B.  LaRoche shouldn't be benched as he is still hitting really well.  Span is a better hitter than Espinosa, and maybe you keep working in ways to rest one of LaRoche or Werth until the trade deadline, but Rizzo really should be looking at a replacement at 2B, even if it is a rental like Zobrist.

I would say that the best option is Mookie Betts at 2B, but the Sox will play Betts in the OF since no one in that lineup is actually hitting and they would want something good in return, most likely good pitching. 

[madj55]

I work in marketing. The first rule of media training is, if they're gonna use an answer against you, don't give a goddamn answer. Anyone who spends 20 seconds in media training will learn this.

Good for Harper not following that bullcrap. Speak your mind, cause the media will spin anything he says anyways. Also, why the freak are we worried about Span's feelings? He's a man, and if he gets hurt by Harper's comments he can go home and cry about it later as long as he performs on the field.

[PC]

Who says they didn't? I'll bet Zim got it.

And I'll bet the 8 year vet, the 10 year vet and the other 10 year vet didn't answer the question.  Funny.

[houston-nat]

...or he could have not been asked the question.

Okay, I really do not understand why you are blaming a reporter for asking a question. That's his job. He's supposed to ask questions. Should they just bow down in worship instead?

And I agree with DPM, Zim probably got the question and gave an answer like "I'll do whatever helps us win."

[PC]

I'll bet Mike Trout has never been asked this question....and Trout is a dimmer bulb than Harper.

[DPMOmaha]

And I'll bet the 8 year vet, the 10 year vet and the other 10 year vet didn't answer the question.  Funny.

Zim answered it. He's been asked that question a bunch of times this year. If Harper doesn't know, it's either because the Nats (or MLB) didn't put him through PR 101, like every sport does for their players or he doesn't care. I'm willing to believe either are true. This isn't an experience thing. He's had cameras and microphones shoved in his face his whole life. You really believe he didn't know what he was doing?

[skippy1999]

Speak your mind, cause the media will spin anything he says anyways. Also, why the freak are we worried about Span's feelings? He's a man, and if he gets hurt by Harper's comments he can go home and cry about it later as long as he performs on the field.

You can't blame the media for this you just can't, Harper poured fuel all over the situation with his comments and then lit a match to it, that's not the flippin' media's fault.  And a player basically calling out his manager and dissing a teammate is really not an optimal formula for winning