The Bryce Harper Compendium (2014)

[houston-nat]

If it was a foot off, then my second point holds: stand there, wait for the call (which would have been a ball) then go to first. 

Unless you're David Ortiz, I guess.

[mdnatsfan]

From where I was sitting, it was close enough to swing with two strikes.  (If you were watching on tv you may have had a better view.)   

What I really hate (and it isn't just Harper - Werth is notorious, and Zimmerman and Desmond do it too) with a 3-2 count and a close pitch that could go either way, the batter immediately tosses the bat and heads for first, in effect saying, I am reserving the right to be pissed off if you dare call that a strike.  And more often than not, the umpire calls a strike, with the batter a third of the way to first, when about half of those times it might have been called a ball if the batter had waited for the call.   And of course, Harper got angry, and pouted all the way to the dugout.

I was at home. Obvious ball live. Blatant ball in slow-mo and on pitch track. When I say "not even close" I mean he couldn't have even fouled it. That ball was outside outside.

[JCA-CrystalCity]

Unless you're David Ortiz, I guess.

Aww, Papi was playing a mind game.  He did that just to dare somebody to think they can sneak a strike in when they are pitching around him.  He'll be ready for the first time someone tries.

[madj55]

If it was a foot off, then my second point holds: stand there, wait for the call (which would have been a ball) then go to first. 

Why would you wait there on 3-2? You're either going back to the bench or to first base. I don't think them walking out of the box before the call really influences the umpire that much.

[PC]

[varoadking]

Juuuuust a little bit outside....

[welch]

Sitting at an airport yesterday, I picked up USA Today. Full page article -- long for that paper -- on Harper's comments. Argh!! Solution? Trade Harper to Houston for Altuve.

(No...I'm joking, but I wish Harper would stop talking and start playing like a phenom. Cheers to Matt Williams for handling it well.)

[Slateman]

Sitting at an airport yesterday, I picked up USA Today. Full page article -- long for that paper -- on Harper's comments. Argh!! Solution? Trade Harper to Houston for Altuve.

(No...I'm joking, but I wish Harper would stop talking and start playing like a phenom. Cheers to Matt Williams for handling it well.)

Think the Cards would give us Tavares and Wong for Harper?

[welch]

Think the Cards would give us Tavares and Wong for Harper?

Altuve. I remember when Houston brought him up. They were playing the Nats and MLB TV carried the Houston broadcast. I couldn't understand why the announcers were so thrilled about a guy as short as Albie Pearson. Thought it was some sort of Bill-Veeck-style stunt (like Eddie Gaedel). Altuve is one of those ballplayers I like. Brett Gardner is another (and strange to think that "young Gardner" is 30).

Not sure about the Cardinals, but maybe the Nats can work a three-way deal with Houston and Arizona, maybe the team could pick up Bronson Aroyo just to own a pitcher they can't beat.

[Jordanz Meatballz]

Where's the power, Bryce!?

/Slateman

[Dave301]

I listened to the interview.     In context, it was nothing.    Not saying he won't lead off but Matt Williams was replying to a comment by one of the junkies about Harper playing 3rd and leading off.

Here's the audio from this morning.
http://washington.cbslocal.com/audio/the-sports-junkies/

[Slateman]

Where's the power, Bryce!?

/Slateman

Too busy injecting himself

[houston-nat]

Altuve. I remember when Houston brought him up. They were playing the Nats and MLB TV carried the Houston broadcast. I couldn't understand why the announcers were so thrilled about a guy as short as Albie Pearson. Thought it was some sort of Bill-Veeck-style stunt (like Eddie Gaedel). Altuve is one of those ballplayers I like. Brett Gardner is another (and strange to think that "young Gardner" is 30).

Not sure about the Cardinals, but maybe the Nats can work a three-way deal with Houston and Arizona, maybe the team could pick up Bronson Aroyo just to own a pitcher they can't beat.

Altuve is an official Texas cult hero now, and he's playing so well that it lives up to his fame. If Houston keeps him, which they seem to plan to, he will be the face of the franchise, as much or even more than Ryan Zimmerman. It's uncommon for someone as good as he is to be so easy to love off the field too, even for a casual fan.

[imref]

anyone hear if Harper complained about MLB scheduling an off-day today?

[spidernat]

He asked if it was possible to decline off days.

[Slateman]

anyone hear if Harper complained about MLB scheduling an off-day today?

I'm sure that's his excuse for today. Not the fact that he likes swinging at curve balls in the dirt.

[WashingtonWizards23]

He talks like hes a 4 time mvp of this league. What a clown. Shut your mouth you scrub. 

[Slateman]

He talks like hes a 4 time mvp of this league. What a clown. Shut your mouth you scrub. 

Basically. He's a pretty good LFer right now. Nothing special.

[Optics]

I too wish Harper would just shut his mouth and play. He appears to be cut from the same cloth as RG3.

I still love Harps. Just imagine how good this team would be if he actually lived up to his hype. Meanwhile Mike Trout keeps killing it for the Angels...

[BH34Natural]

I too wish Harper would just shut his mouth and play. He appears to be cut from the same cloth as RG3.

I still love Harps. Just imagine how good this team would be if he actually lived up to his hype. Meanwhile Mike Trout keeps killing it for the Angels...

Yeah, I watch Harper day in and day out.... he just doesn't look as good as I thought he would be. He looks like a decent player, not a star, not really even an all star. Yes he's still young. I don't know. I'm not impressed by any means.

[Slateman]

His walk today is probably the best at bat he's seen all season. Patient at the plate and spit on breaking balls. Less talk, more grind.  That's the Bryce Harper we need to see more of.

[Optics]

Yeah, I watch Harper day in and day out.... he just doesn't look as good as I thought he would be. He looks like a decent player, not a star, not really even an all star. Yes he's still young. I don't know. I'm not impressed by any means.

I remember the Harper that ended 2012 and began 2013. THAT was a star. But ever since running into the wall, he hasn't been the same.

With that said, I have faith in him. Just gotta give him time. It just sucks watching a guy like Trout just dominate right away. Harper was supposed to be that. I just feel a little robbed. And if Harper was that good, we would easily be the best team in MLB and it wouldn't even be remotely close.

[imref]

He's 21.

[BH34Natural]

I remember the Harper that ended 2012 and began 2013. THAT was a star. But ever since running into the wall, he hasn't been the same.

With that said, I have faith in him. Just gotta give him time. It just sucks watching a guy like Trout just dominate right away. Harper was supposed to be that. I just feel a little robbed. And if Harper was that good, we would easily be the best team in MLB and it wouldn't even be remotely close.

Yes, you are right. 2012 and April 2013 had a completely different feel to it. He was dominating, night over night. Looked like a .900 OPS bat. Then he ran into the wall. Hasn't been the same player since. I would love to see his slash line and stats from 2012 and 2013 before he ran into the wall and his complete stats after. I bet it's night and day.

[Canada]

He's 21.

So what. He sucks. Trade him after we trade Strasburg.

#idiotsonthissite