The Bryce Harper Compendium (2014)

[spidernat]

It does however make you either horribly premature or omniscient or have expectations set way too high for a 21 year old ball player.

Maybe if you say he will never live up to the hype. But it's indisputable that to this point he has not lived up to it.

[Terpfan76]

Maybe if you say he will never live up to the hype. But it's indisputable that to this point he has not lived up to it.

Well, i agree to a certain extent. He's had a pretty amazing start to his career all things considered.

I think the hype became ridiculous when it seems expectations for him are 1927 Babe Ruth numbers. Will he live up to those hopes? Who knows but its clear it hasnt happened as of yet. Im not ready to trade him away like so,e clowns.

[spidernat]

Im not ready to trade him away like so,e clowns.

Don't be such a Terpfan dude. Most people who say that are freaking joking. Those who aren't joking don't count.

Besides, don't sell the hype short. 1927 Babe Ruth numbers are not what was expected. Ruth had better numbers in 1920 and 1921 and Harper was supposed to dwarf those numbers. 

[Terpfan76]

Don't be such a Terpfan dude. Most people who say that are freaking joking. Those who aren't joking don't count.

Emoticons help...

[spidernat]

Emoticons help...

That takes away some of the fun. 

[Slateman]

It does however make you either horribly premature or omniscient or have expectations set way too high for a 21 year old ball player.

The expectations have always been there and should be there. This was his third season. A big jump should be expected.

[nobleisthyname]

Maybe if you say he will never live up to the hype. But it's indisputable that to this point he has not lived up to it.

I think a lot of that has been how he's performed in this first month of this season though. I didn't really hear anyone calling him a disappointment given how he'd performed his first two seasons. And the ones that did were the one's who you say don't count  .

[BH34Natural]

Well, i agree to a certain extent. He's had a pretty amazing start to his career all things considered.

I think the hype became ridiculous when it seems expectations for him are 1927 Babe Ruth numbers. Will he live up to those hopes? Who knows but its clear it hasnt happened as of yet. Im not ready to trade him away like so,e clowns.

I dont need Ruth numbers to meet expectations I just need a guy who isn't dinged every 10 or so days. For the last 2 years that's how it's been with him.

[Slateman]

Well, i agree to a certain extent. He's had a pretty amazing start to his career all things considered.

I think the hype became ridiculous when it seems expectations for him are 1927 Babe Ruth numbers. Will he live up to those hopes? Who knows but its clear it hasnt happened as of yet. Im not ready to trade him away like so,e clowns.

The expectations were Griffey or ARod. In other words, they were superstar expectations for a guy who had historically amazing seasons at 19 and 20, along with a crap ton of hype, including the cover of SI. They build a lineup on that premise.

So far, all we've gotten is flashes of greatness, injuries, and drama. At this point, trade him. He's worth more to us in prospects, as it's obvious he simply can't reach his potential in this town. Maybe it's the fans, maybe it's the coaches, but more than likely it's Bryce Harper and his 10 cent head.

We should have taken Mike Trout and Matt Harvey instead of Strasburg and Harper.

[sportsfan882]

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2043409-bryce-harper-thumb-injury-could-be-serious-nationals-wait-on-specialist

If surgery is necessary to re-attach the ligament, Harper will miss eight to 10 weeks, plus time to get his swing back with a minor league rehab assignment. Less than that will grade downward, down to a simple 15 days as the swelling clears up and Harper re-tests the thumb for function. Players tend to come back from this well, and in the case of Pedroia last season, he was able to play through a damaged ligament.

The biggest effect on a baseball player is alterations to grip strength. A player like Harper with big bat speed is going to require a lot of grip strength to hold the bat and especially on check swings. Also, the grip and wrists are used to make fine alterations to the swing plane as they track the ball.

If Harper doesn't have his normal strength or feel, he'll have more swing-and-misses. Pedroia was able to make adjustments but gave up power to maintain contact. Harper may have to do the same thing, but it will be tougher for him as he's a big source of power for the Nats offense.

[Slateman]

Just sit him until he's 100%. No reason to risk injury/change to swing like we did last year.

[BH34Natural]

I think he's honestly done for the year. I can't believe this is real life. We are done

[vicki4471]

Now that it was revealed that this is a re-injury of a previous injury I am not as optimistic. My gut tells me surgery is on the horizon. Its very unfortunate

[Slateman]

Now that it was revealed that this is a re-injury of a previous injury I am not as optimistic. My gut tells me surgery is on the horizon. Its very unfortunate

Where was this revealed?

[Optics]

Whatever. Just bench him till he's 100% physically and mentally. I'm tired of the "is Bryce Harper hurt" story every three days. I won't go as far as to trade him, but I would sit him.

[HalfSmokes]

Well, i agree to a certain extent. He's had a pretty amazing start to his career all things considered.

I think the hype became ridiculous when it seems expectations for him are 1927 Babe Ruth numbers. Will he live up to those hopes? Who knows but its clear it hasnt happened as of yet. Im not ready to trade him away like so,e clowns.

Can we wait until he lead his draft class in war (sale is doubling him now in BR, 50% more in fangraphs) before calling him amazing?

[BH34Natural]

Now that it was revealed that this is a re-injury of a previous injury I am not as optimistic. My gut tells me surgery is on the horizon. Its very unfortunate

I'm not seeing this anywhere.

[varoadking]

I'm not seeing this anywhere.

I think Carp mentioned it on the broadcast...dates back to high school...

[blue911]

I think Carp mentioned it on the broadcast...dates back to high school...

So he has an injury history not a reinjury.

[varoadking]

So he has an injury history not a reinjury.

Good distinction...

It may actually have been Williams that brought it up in the pre-game presser...

[ZIM4MVP]

So if he has surgery and misses 8-10 weeks do the Nats
A. Stick with current team
B. Bring up a minor leaguer (who)
C. Acquire via FA (who)
D. Acquire via trade (who)

[blue911]

Good distinction...

It may actually have been Williams that brought it up in the pre-game presser...

Pete Kerzel dicked it up. Kerzel writes that Harper had previously injured his thumb, while Williams stated that there was a history. MASN blows so hard

[Vega]

B. Bring up a minor leaguer (who)

Eury Perez and Brian Goodwin are the AAA options.

[ZIM4MVP]

C. Acquire via FA (who)

Per MLB Trade rumors (Manny is missing from the list)
Left Fielders

Laynce Nix (33)
Juan Pierre (36)
Derrick Robinson (26)

Center Fielders

Rick Ankiel (34)
Andres Torres (36)
Dewayne Wise (36)

Right Fielders

Vernon Wells (35)

[Slateman]

We ready brought up someone. Souza. And we have McLouth, Moore, and Fradsen. So LF is good.