The Bryce Harper Compendium (2015)

[skippy1999]

If he had had Ian 7 years ago, he might have.

So he was too far gone by last year?  Maybe.  But do you think our hitters have had good approaches?  Isn't that part of a batting coaches job or am I mistaken?  I'm really not sure what they do honestly. 

[JCA-CrystalCity]

As a friend just said to me, it would be pretty sad if with Harper's protection, MW remains, and continues to mismanage the team so Bryce decides not to stay here when he becomes a free agent.

it is all an evil plot by Boras.

[Truconfidence]

So he was too far gone by last year?  Maybe.  But do you think our hitters have had good approaches?  Isn't that part of a batting coaches job or am I mistaken?  I'm really not sure what they do honestly.

hitting coaches can't make guys make changes. They can suggest. Desmond seems like a stubborn guy who tries to out work everyone and thinks it will all just come together.

[whytev]

So he was too far gone by last year?  Maybe.  But do you think our hitters have had good approaches?  Isn't that part of a batting coaches job or am I mistaken?  I'm really not sure what they do honestly.

Some do. Desmond doesn't.

[zimm_da_kid]

Williams would make a great hitting coach.  Too bad he'd never take a demotion.

[HattoriHanzo]

Williams would make a great hitting coach.  Too bad he'd never take a demotion.

If MW is canned, it could be a long time before anyone gives him another shot at managing in the majors.  If he's fired he probably would end up as hitting coach somewhere else anyway. 

[DCFan]

If MW is canned, it could be a long time before anyone gives him another shot at managing in the majors.

Produce the results or hit the road, it's the way of the world. 

[KnorrForYourMoney]

I don't know how anyone could say that with certainty.  Manny f'n Acta got a managerial position after his debacle.

[PC]

I don't know how anyone could say that with certainty.  Manny f'n Acta got a managerial position after his debacle.

Acta was a better manager than Williams.

[HattoriHanzo]

I don't know how anyone could say that with certainty.  Manny f'n Acta got a managerial position after his debacle.

MW has been getting torn apart much more publicly. On mlb network its not unheard of to have every show talking about the nats failures and if Williams should be fired almost everyday. It's bad when its been the number one topic for the past month.

[welch]

Rizzo and the Lerners don't care about MLB network. Ted Lerner could buy it if we wanted. In 2012, every "expert" on TV howled at Rizzo for shutting down Strasburg. Just now, the Mets have a triple problem: do they pitch Harvey, de Grom, and Syndegaard hard until the end? Boras manages Harvey, and cares about Harvey's full career. Boras says, "no". Syndegaard and de Grom show signs of tiring.

Rizzo made the right decision with Strasburg, with Zimmermann before Stras, and has been cautious with Giolito and Fedde...even though the MLB TV guys haven't yet heard of Little Gio or The Fed, They will, soon enough!

If Williams stays, it will be because Rizzo and the Lerners have decided. Not because of ESPN or MLB TV.

[Lintyfresh85]

welch, Nats haven't won since the shutdown. How does that equate to doing the right thing? It was always to build a dynasty that never came.

[whytev]

welch, Nats haven't won since the shutdown. How does that equate to doing the right thing? It was always to build a dynasty that never came.

Your starter is at 95 pitches, tie game, and it's the top of the 9th. Road game. Two outs. You have a strong guy on the bench with a history of pinch hit doubles and homers. Your leadoff hitter is hot right now. The pitcher's spot comes up. Your bullpen is well rested. Do you pinch hit for him?

[imref]

last NL Triple Crown was in 1937, can Bryce do it at 22?

[mitlen]

last NL Triple Crown was in 1937, can Bryce do it at 22?

I was thinking Hack Wilson though I think I'm wrong.

[welch]

Once a team gets to the three-round playoffs, it's a coin-toss. Syndegaard and de Grom have not pitched well lately. The Mets chose to trade a good prospect to rent Cespedes. It's a gample. Cespedes is slumping: http://m.mets.mlb.com/news/article/150507320/mets-think-yoenis-cespedes-slump-will-end-soon.

There is no guessing the future. The Mets might be over-working Harvey, de Grom, and Syndegaard. No telling. They are juggling their starters to get each guy an extra day's rest -- a six-man rotation etc. If one of the stars snaps an arm, it will be ugly. Did not work out with Medlen and Beachy. (Or Johan Santanna)

And, to conclude, I'd rather have Bryce Harper than Cespedes. Harper is the 2015 NL MVP. Cespedes was Player of the Week.

[Natsinpwc]

Once a team gets to the three-round playoffs, it's a coin-toss. Syndegaard and de Grom have not pitched well lately. The Mets chose to trade a good prospect to rent Cespedes. It's a gample. Cespedes is slumping: http://m.mets.mlb.com/news/article/150507320/mets-think-yoenis-cespedes-slump-will-end-soon.

There is no guessing the future. The Mets might be over-working Harvey, de Grom, and Syndegaard. No telling. They are juggling their starters to get each guy an extra day's rest -- a six-man rotation etc. If one of the stars snaps an arm, it will be ugly. Did not work out with Medlen and Beachy. (Or Johan Santanna)

And, to conclude, I'd rather have Bryce Harper than Cespedes. Harper is the 2015 NL MVP. Cespedes was Player of the Week.

I think Cespedes was more like player of the month and really energized their whole lineup. I think the pitchers are starting to figure him out some. And the pressure will really be on them to sign him in the offseason.
When the young pitchers get shelled in the playoffs infant to hear the talking heads say that is why the Nats shutdown Strasburg on 2012. 

[Baseball is Life]

It was way cool to have the crowd chant M-V-P, M-V-P, M-V-P, after he hit the bomb today. I don't know if it came across on TV but it was for sure loud at the park.

[mitlen]

It was way cool to have the crowd chant M-V-P, M-V-P, M-V-P, after he hit the bomb today. I don't know if it came across on TV but it was for sure loud at the park.

It did.   Bob and FP referenced it as well.

[imref]

I was thinking Hack Wilson though I think I'm wrong.

Joe Medwick, 1937.

There have been quite a few AL players to have done it, most recently was Miggy in 2012.  The others are folks like Yaz, Williams, Frank Robinson, Mantle, and other HOFers.

It will be pretty tough for Harper to make up 17 RBIs to catch Arenado.

[mitlen]

Joe Medwick, 1937.

There have been quite a few AL players to have done it, most recently was Miggy in 2012.  The others are folks like Yaz, Williams, Frank Robinson, Mantle, and other HOFers.

Ducky

[Natsinpwc]

Ducky

Ducky to go along with Dizzy and Daffy. No nicknames like that anymore.

[BeltwayBaseball]

It will be pretty tough for Harper to make up 17 RBIs to catch Arenado.

It's exactly what the Nats will need if they want to go to the playoffs.

MVP chant today was awesome. Glad this town can have a little swagger for once. Fans in LA were chanting for Kershaw last year, and rightly so. Nice to see, at least for this season, this team and this town can go toe-to-toe with the biggest baseball names and cities.

[mitlen]

Joe Medwick, 1937.

There have been quite a few AL players to have done it, most recently was Miggy in 2012.  The others are folks like Yaz, Williams, Frank Robinson, Mantle, and other HOFers.

It will be pretty tough for Harper to make up 17 RBIs to catch Arenado.

I remember (I think Werth's uncle) Ducky Schofield of the Pirates when I was a kid.

[Baseball is Life]

I remember (I think Werth's uncle) Ducky Schofield of the Pirates when I was a kid.

Werth's uncle was Dick Schofield, Ducky's son.