The Bryce Harper Compendium (2014)

[skippy1999]

After the Boswell column somebody needed to offer a different viewpoint. As much as I disagree with Law, Boswell's column was a cheap shot that wasn't deserved or earned.

Completely agree.

[mitlen]

Are you referring to the "reality check" column, blue?

Can you give a link to the column?

[skippy1999]

Here you go Mitlen, it was way harsh
http://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/nationals/bryce-harper-needed-a-reality-check-and-matt-williams-gave-it-to-him-with-benching/2014/04/20/4d207b18-c8ce-11e3-93eb-6c0037dde2ad_story.html

[blue911]

Are you referring to the "reality check" column, blue?

Yes

[spidernat]

Can you give a link to the column?

reality check

[mitlen]

reality check

Thanks spider and skippy  ...

[mitlen]

K. Law:   "Leaders do not make their points at the expense of their best subordinates  ...  "

They do make points at the expense of their best subordinates but it's usually done in conjunction and with the knowledge of the subordinate.   I've seen it done and it can be effective.    In this case, however, I don't think Harper knew he was going to be used as an example (probably never crossed his mind) and he's not ready (mentally/psychologically) to accept that role.    IMHO, Harper is not a leader of other players on this team.    Williams didn't pick on one of the big boys.    He picked on the weakest/most fragile link.

Williams blew his cool and lashed out.    Hopefully, he'll learn something from this to become a better leader.

[NationalHeat]

Maybe the Ewing theory takes over?

[skippy1999]

Williams blew his cool and lashed out.    Hopefully, he'll learn something from this to become a better leader.

Exactly what I'm hoping for.  I didn't like this move one bit but I'm hoping it was a newbie error and we'll not see him using the press anymore to chastise a player.  Hmmm since I'm feeling all supportive of Williams now I may need to change my avatar lol

[nobleisthyname]

After the Boswell column somebody needed to offer a different viewpoint. As much as I disagree with Law, Boswell's column was a cheap shot that wasn't deserved or earned.

Definitely, and he raised some good points. Like I and many others were saying when it happened, the kind of play Harper was benched for is something almost every player has done before. Sure enough, Werth does it in the very next game and there's no peep from Williams. Same thing with the crap about throwing Harper under the bus but protecting Desmond and the others. On some level at least, he seems to have it out for Harper.

[Jordanz Meatballz]

Did Werth touch first base? If not, Law might have a point. If he did, then he isn't portraying the full picture.

He really seems to be jumping to conclusions without knowing the facts. Apparently he knows that Harper had the flu that day. Harper has the flu everyday; not a valid excuse for not touching first base.

[spidernat]

There's no valid reason for touching first base when you're already out.

[mitlen]

There's no valid reason for touching first base when you're already out.

"Unwritten rule"  ...   

[vicki4471]

It's the way the game is played. I'm going to call Brian McCaan just to clarify.

[mitlen]

I'm going to call Brian McCaan just to clarify.

 

[vicki4471]

Just something I've been wondering since I don't know much about the business end of things. I know these guys make tons of money, but these "on the job injuries" does the team foot the bill for the medical care or do the athletes pay for the surgery, etc themselves. Also are the contracts usually containing some sort of stipulations regarding missed games. Is there some sort of safeguard in place where the team is not forking out millions a year on someone who misses 2/3 of a season on the DL or is it just a gamble they take?

Just curious

[Optics]

Maybe the Ewing theory takes over?

I don't think Ewing Theory works here because Harper has never been our by far best player save for the first month of last year.

For those of you who don't know,  Bill Simmons's Ewing Theory is a theory about how teams play better when their best player leaves/gets hurt. Started with the Knicks when Ewing was out forever but the Knicks didn't miss a beat, ended up winning at a higher % and then lost in the playoffs when Ewing returned.

[GburgNatsFan]

Once the umpire has held up the "out" sign, you're right.

There's no valid reason for touching first base when you're already out.

[spidernat]

Just something I've been wondering since I don't know much about the business end of things. I know these guys make tons of money, but these "on the job injuries" does the team foot the bill for the medical care or do the athletes pay for the surgery, etc themselves. Also are the contracts usually containing some sort of stipulations regarding missed games. Is there some sort of safeguard in place where the team is not forking out millions a year on someone who misses 2/3 of a season on the DL or is it just a gamble they take?

Just curious

Team foots the bill for their players' medical care (including surgeries) which is why the Nats' medical staff stinks. 

When players go on the DL their salary is not affected.

[NationalHeat]

I don't think Ewing Theory works here because Harper has never been our by far best player save for the first month of last year.

For those of you who don't know,  Bill Simmons's Ewing Theory is a theory about how teams play better when their best player leaves/gets hurt. Started with the Knicks when Ewing was out forever but the Knicks didn't miss a beat, ended up winning at a higher % and then lost in the playoffs when Ewing returned.

Definitely...but, maybe the constant Harper hype/distraction/immaturity hanging over the team goes away and they go on a tear?

[imref]

Harper tweets "On the road to recovery..Everything went great and I'll be back soon! Thank you to all the fans for the support!"

[JCA-CrystalCity]

Harper tweets "On the road to recovery..Everything went great and I'll be back soon! Thank you to all the fans for the support!"

obviously he has not been reading this thread.

[madj55]

Sucks he's out so long, his swing was starting to look a little better. I still think we should start Souza in his absence.

[DPMOmaha]

I don't think Ewing Theory works here because Harper has never been our by far best player save for the first month of last year.

For those of you who don't know,  Bill Simmons's Ewing Theory is a theory about how teams play better when their best player leaves/gets hurt. Started with the Knicks when Ewing was out forever but the Knicks didn't miss a beat, ended up winning at a higher % and then lost in the playoffs when Ewing returned.

It's not necessarily "best", the way Simmons defines it, it's "star". It's a minor semantic difference, but with that definition, it *could* fit. Often star and best are one in the same, but not always. We'll see.

[Jordanz Meatballz]

It's not necessarily "best", the way Simmons defines it, it's "star". It's a minor semantic difference, but with that definition, it *could* fit. Often star and best are one in the same, but not always. We'll see.

Well, Nate McLouth at 0.1 does magically have more fWAR than Frandsen (-.2) and Harper (-.2). I think that's horribly unrepresentative of how Harper would have performed going forward, but we will see.

fWAR considers Harper a horrendous outfielder by the way. I hope when he comes back he starts playing well defensively.