The Bryce Harper Compendium (2014)

[mach1ne]

Agreed. However, like I've said, HE MUST HIT. If we want to go deep in to the playoffs, Zim has to be the guy to bring us there. It's no coincidence that as soon as he started hitting, everything else clicked in to place.

Don't forget AL has home field advantage for the world series and if need be, 4 of those games would have a DH.

[Baseball is Life]

Agreed. However, like I've said, HE MUST HIT. If we want to go deep in to the playoffs, Zim has to be the guy to bring us there. It's no coincidence that as soon as he started hitting, everything else clicked in to place.

Agree with this completely. The postseason is about your star players carrying the load and he's the most proven clutch hitter the Nats have.

[Slateman]

Don't forget AL has home field advantage for the world series and if need be, 4 of those games would have a DH.

I wasn't. That's why I emphasize it.

Honestly, there is one other team in the NL that can put together a lineup like a healthy Nationals team can right now. The Dodgers. They have outfielders coming out of their eyes. And even then, our line up, when healthy, is better. When this line up is healthy, there isn't a single lineup spot that can't OPS over .725 (Ian Desmond), and only two who  aren't hitting over .750 (Ramos and Desmond). We quickly become an AL team with Zimmerman up to speed.

WE MUST HAVE HIM TO WIN A WORLD SERIES. There is no other way  around it. We have to be able to win games in AL parks with a DH.

[tomterp]

Home field is critically important to those of us fans  in a ticket group that rations playoff tickets.  It could potentially  mean seven home game vs. a max of five.  Those extra two game could mean that I get to go to a playoff game.

Ray, won't you also purchase individual game tickets when made available?  I think in 2012 I was able to buy an additional 4 for each game, if I recall correctly.  Point is you shouldn't have to just rely upon your season ticket plan to meet demand.

[Slateman]

http://natsinsider.com/2014/09/04/more-thoughts-on-wednesdays-wild-win/

— Bryce Harper is on a tear at the plate, and he’s not about to slow down. LaRoche got all the attention postgame, but much of what he did wouldn’t have been possible without the guy hitting directly in front of him in the lineup. Harper had a big day at the plate, going 3-for-6 with a walk and setting the stage for LaRoche. He opened the top of the ninth with a single off Jansen. He singled with two men on in the top of the 12th, putting LaRoche in position to deliver another of his big hits. And he showed patience to draw a walk in the 14th that advanced Desmond to second (putting him in position to take third on a pitch in the dirt and ultimately score on LaRoche’s grounder). How good has Harper been lately? Over his last 22 games, he is now hitting .329 with a .371 on-base percentage, seven homers and .968 OPS. More than that, he is playing with supreme confidence, the kind of stuff we haven’t seen from him since April 2013. And there’s no reason to believe he won’t keep this up the rest of the way (provided, of course, he stays healthy).

So . . . he's teariish

[Ray D]

Ray, won't you also purchase individual game tickets when made available?  I think in 2012 I was able to buy an additional 4 for each game, if I recall correctly.  Point is you shouldn't have to just rely upon your season ticket plan to meet demand.

Well, thing is, our seats are row L section 115 aisle seats, closest to home.  I won't be able to purchase anything close to that.

[Baseball is Life]

Well, thing is, our seats are row L section 115 aisle seats, closest to home.  I won't be able to purchase anything close to that.

I'm in the same boat. I had a chance to buy two extra strips and the seats were not comparable to my 113 seats or my 213 seats. All they had was 137 or 136 way in the back. I decided to take my chances with the presale but I'm not expecting any great finds.

[UMDNats]

Up to a 113 OPS+, .776 OPS on the season, .846 OPS since Aug 1

That'll do, Bryce.

[Jordanz Meatballz]

1.000 OPS or bust

[tomterp]

Well, thing is, our seats are row L section 115 aisle seats, closest to home.  I won't be able to purchase anything close to that.

 Well, it's hardly worth going then, is it.   

 

[varoadking]

Well, it's hardly worth going then, is it.   

 

 

[whytev]

LaRoche is the only one in the lineup who has struggled against lefties. Harper and Span are both hitting decently against them.

I didn't say Span hit them badly.  However, Hairston had had a better career against Kershaw.  That was only an example of the sort of matchup capabilities he has, especially once he gets that added depth.

[whytev]

Not only that, but you can't really treat September as a rehab period, these games are important until we lock up best NL record.  I don't see much point in him returning at all.

Hogwash.  LaRoche and Werth can't keep grinding out every single game.  We need them to still be alive come October.  Give them some rest, reduce their injury risk, get Zimmerman some at bats.  It's not like we're clamouring to get Espinosa or McClouth back in the lineup.  It's Zimmerman.  You don't want him sitting home in the World Series.

[whytev]

These games are important until we lock up the division. I'd rather have Zimmerman with some at bats in september than home field (which is relatively meaningless)

Given how much better the team performs at home, I'm not sure I agree that it isn't important.

I don't agree that Zimmerman is going to be a liability though, so yeah let him bat.

[whytev]

Don't forget AL has home field advantage for the world series and if need be, 4 of those games would have a DH.

Correct me if I'm wrong but a 7 game series goes 2 - 3 - 2 now, right?

[varoadking]

Correct me if I'm wrong but a 7 game series goes 2 - 3 - 2 now, right?

Correct...has been that way as long as I can remember...

[whytev]

Correct...has been that way as long as I can remember...

Thought so.  So in a five game series you technically can have home advantage...but that's okay because it means either the series isn't on the line yet, or someone is already running away with it.

Based on this last game, if it goes NLCS vs. L.A. and the middle 3 games are in L.A., I'm driving to L.A.

[Optics]

I think we gotta move him up to 5th in the order. Desi is a natural 6 hole hitter.

[JCA-CrystalCity]

The order works well with Harper batting 6th.  4 lefties are reasonably spread (1 - 4 - 6 -8).  If you were to bat ALR (or Harper) 3d and Werth 4th, then Harper (or ALR) could slide to 5th and Desi 6th to maintain the balance. 

Fundamental problem here is that the order is very deep, and someone of quality is going to be batting 6th and 7th (Ramos).  1st world problem.

[Slateman]

The order works well with Harper batting 6th.  4 lefties are reasonably spread (1 - 4 - 6 -8).  If you were to bat ALR (or Harper) 3d and Werth 4th, then Harper (or ALR) could slide to 5th and Desi 6th to maintain the balance. 

Fundamental problem here is that the order is very deep, and someone of quality is going to be batting 6th and 7th (Ramos).  1st world problem.

I have no problem with LaRoche hitting 6th or even 7th. Puts two guys who hit lefties well in between the two left handed hitters. Opposing teams can't bring in a LHP to face Harper without and leave him in to pitch to LaRoche without going through Desmond and Ramos. When Zim gets back, he hits 5th and Ramos can hit 8th again.

[Ray D]

Harper is a clown,  Bro.

[Burgess]

tonight's types of games is what is wrong with Harper not when he is kinda struggling which isn't lately. I didnt like his misjudgmeent on that ball and his swing at first pitch in late innings.

[whytev]

tonight's types of games is what is wrong with Harper not when he is kinda struggling which isn't lately. I didnt like his misjudgmeent on that ball and his swing at first pitch in late innings.

Or his bunt.

[stealyerbase]

I like Bryce and think he'll have a fine career. That collision with Span was certainly growing pains. Let's hope he learns the fundamental; CF gets everything he can get to.

[welch]

I like Bryce and think he'll have a fine career. That collision with Span was certainly growing pains. Let's hope he learns the fundamental; CF gets everything he can get to.

+1.

Harper is improving. I watched Strawberry for his entire career with the Mets. Never improved. Every year: "Strawberry is young. Just wait". Then he was about 30 and still the same 10-tools guy who could not play baseball.