The Bryce Harper Compendium (2014)

[madj55]

Werth may have stated he prefered to bat second but he never blatantly named who should be taken out of the lineup to make that happen.

Harper didn't name anyone either. He was implying.

[sportsfan882]

See now Matt is in a tough place. If he does what's right for the team and benches Span even for a game or two it will make people think that Harper is the one making the decisions. So you know what Matt will do, he will play the exact same lineup again tonight.

I knew it.

Adam Kilgore ‏@AdamKilgoreWP  4m 
Same as yesterday: Span CF, Rendon 2B, Werth RF, LaRoche 1B, Zimmerman 3B, Harper LF, Desmond SS, Ramos C, Strasburg P

[houston-nat]

I knew it.

You were right about the lineup, but wrong about benching Span being a good idea.

[Slateman]

I knew it.

I'm sure it has nothing to do with scoring 7 runs last night.

[Ray D]

wrong about benching Span being a good idea.

Why not let Espinosa get playing time against lefties.  Espinosa is a better right handed batter than Span is from either side.

[WhiteWhale]

Harper didn't name anyone either. He was implying.

So was Span going to play shortstop, rf, or 1B?
get real. he named him.

[skippy1999]

I'm sure it has nothing to do with scoring 7 runs last night.

right?  I'll take that production every game lol

[blue911]

Never had any problems with Harper before he got engaged 

[Slateman]

Why not let Espinosa get playing time against lefties.  Espinosa is a better right handed batter than Span is from either side.

Because HArper opened his fat mouth.

[ChiliPalmer14]

Why not let Espinosa get playing time against lefties.  Espinosa is a better right handed batter than Span is from either side.

Yeah, that comment from Harper might have forced Williams to do the opposite.  Espi's numbers right handed are good, but the sample size isn't huge, 74 PA.  And his numbers combined for the last month are VERY pitcher-like.  I can't complain about him being out of the line-up. 

[Ray D]

Espi's numbers right handed are good, but the sample size isn't huge, 74 PA. 

I was looking at the three-year total, 2011-13.

[imref]

for comparison, Zuck writes:

The manner in which Zimmerman has dealt with this entire situation hasn’t been lost on teammates.

“He says it all the time: The window for opportunity here to win the World Series is not going to be open forever,” Desmond said. “And his willingness, and everybody else’s willingness, to move throughout the lineup and to play different positions, that’s the kind of selflessness we need to get to the next level.”

Desmond was asked if he believes others in the Nationals’ clubhouse will be as willing as Zimmerman to shed their egos for the greater good.

His reponse: “Well, when the cornerstone of your organization accepts it and does it, it makes it hard for anybody else not to.”

[madj55]

So was Span going to play shortstop, rf, or 1B?
get real. he named him.

If he named him he would've said Span. It's pretty simple. There's a difference between implying and naming someone.

[PC]

Does anyone here think that Span has never played with someone who wanted his position or that Span has never played with someone whose position HE wanted?

[mitlen]

Does anyone here think that Span has never played with someone who wanted his position or that Span has never played with someone whose position HE wanted?

Probably by someone who has earned the right to take his place.    Span has contributed more to  this team over the last season and a half than Harper by a wide margin.

[PC]

Probably by someone who has earned the right to take his place.    Span has contributed more to  this team over the last season and a half than Harper by a wide margin.

Really?

[mitlen]

Really?

Can't contribute much on the DL.

[vicki4471]

I think Harper has probably harbored resentment towards Span for a while. It was the Span trade that took Harper out of center to begin with. So in essence Harper may feel that Span took his spot. Whatever the reason for the ill feelings between the two they have to coexist for the good of the team. If anyone has a reason to have an ego or be prideful its Ryan Zimmerman but he has never been anything but classy. paying your dues, doing your time on the crappy teams is what earns you the right to have an ego. Bryce Harper got thrown right onto a playoff team, I do not feel like he has paid his dues .His remarks are just making him look like the pissy, ego fueled, douche the media has portrayed him to be. I was so looking forward to his return but it was nice not having these media "scandals" while he was gone. The guys have more important things to be focused on right now. Waves in the clubhouse are not what this team needs.

[varoadking]

Werth may have stated he prefered to bat second but he never blatantly named who should be taken out of the lineup to make that happen.

Werth doesn't want to bat second...

[skippy1999]

Werth doesn't want to bat second...

lol man we are going round and round so much in this thread we can't remember who wants to play where lol

[HalfSmokes]

Probably by someone who has earned the right to take his place.    Span has contributed more to  this team over the last season and a half than Harper by a wide margin.

isn't that always the case when a young guy takes a veteran's job?

[mitlen]

isn't that always the case when a young guy takes a veteran's job?

Of course, but this isn't a rookie.   This is a guy who's been in the majors for approximately 2 and 1/2 years and who, in essence, hasn't done crap except ride the gurney.    Believe me, I'm a Hawpah fan but put up or shut up.

[vicki4471]

just tell them all to STFU and play where they are told to play. GEEZE if I made the kind of money they make it would not matter to me where I played or hell if we are truthful about it, even if I played. Just write me one of their paychecks and I will gladly sit on a bench for 3 hours a night then go to the bank and deposit it.... Please do not get my rant about overpaid professional athletes started. One of the things that drew me to the Nats team was how down to earth and likeable all of the guys seemed.Harper is ruining that image for me.

[Jordanz Meatballz]

The most pissed off person should be Espinosa about this. This will affect his career in mysterious ways

[madj55]

Probably by someone who has earned the right to take his place.    Span has contributed more to  this team over the last season and a half than Harper by a wide margin.

Curious, what has Span done to rationalize saying he's contributed more than Harper by a wide margin? All I've seen from Span is a glove first CF with a weak throwing arm who might also be the worst leadoff hitter in all of baseball.