The Bryce Harper Compendium (2015)

[UMDNats]

Harper is going to be a free agent at 26. He's a baseball freak, an anomaly.

"Let someone else pay for his declining years after 2018."

Get the freak out of here with that.

[madj55]

Harper is going to be a free agent at 26. He's a baseball freak, an anomaly.

"Let someone else pay for his declining years after 2018."

Get the freak out of here with that.

Seriously, dumbest crap I've ever seen.

[NatsGirl]

Kershaw does pretty well too.

I feel like I've memorized his Subway order at this point since they seem to show that spot at least once per Nats game.  Pretty sure Trout has a Subway commercial like his too, but I have yet to see it during a Nats game. 

Bryce and Strasburg used to always be in those Toyota commercials on MASN. 

[BeltwayBaseball]

I feel like I've memorized his Subway order at this point since they seem to show that spot at least once per Nats game.  Pretty sure Trout has a Subway commercial like his too, but I have yet to see it during a Nats game. 

Bryce and Strasburg used to always be in those Toyota commercials on MASN.

Kershaw's is followed up with a "steady diet of fastballs." Trout's includes jalapenos, "'cause you know, [Mike Trout] can handle the heat."

[whytev]

No it doesn't.  HalfSmokes is dead right.

There is no replacement for Bryce Harper.  The money you save will make you worse.

Yes, true, but once he reaches free agency, the playing field is 99% levelled anyhow.  It doesn't matter if you're the Yankees, the Nationals, the Dodgers, or the fricking Rays.  I'm not talking about saving money by letting him go, as we did with LaRoche and Soriano.  I'm talking about probably being beat by that point.  That's why I am enjoying the ride right now.

[BeltwayBaseball]

Yes, true, but once he reaches free agency, the playing field is 99% levelled anyhow.  It doesn't matter if you're the Yankees, the Nationals, the Dodgers, or the fricking Rays.  I'm not talking about saving money by letting him go, as we did with LaRoche and Soriano.  I'm talking about probably being beat by that point.  That's why I am enjoying the ride right now.

The Lerners and the Steinbrenners can go toe-to-toe. The real draw will be the intangibles, playing with one team vs playing for your childhood team, which team is a better contender, whether or not he's already won a WS in DC, will he get to be a clubhouse leader in NY, and whether or not the Nats have pissed him off/insulted him with lousy offers or bad PR etc in the preceding years. (think arbitration dispute from this winter)

[whytev]

The Lerners and the Steinbrenners can go toe-to-toe. The real draw will be the intangibles, playing with one team vs playing for your childhood team, which team is a better contender, whether or not he's already won a WS in DC, will he get to be a clubhouse leader in NY, and whether or not the Nats have pissed him off/insulted him with lousy offers or bad PR etc in the preceding years. (think arbitration dispute from this winter)

I think that arbitration dispute is water under the bridge.

[BeltwayBaseball]

I think that arbitration dispute is water under the bridge.

I do too, but should any other hiccups like that happen, perhaps bigger ones, or often enough, they could snowball into a feeling that he's "unwanted" or "unappreciated" in Washington. Then all it takes is a few childhood memories to come to mind and the Yankees negotiating department to welcome Bryce as the prodigal son and messiah to the Yankees for him to say "yep, dollar figures being relatively equal, it's time to fulfill that boyhood dream, I was destined for this."

[mmzznnxx]

I do too, but should any other hiccups like that happen, perhaps bigger ones, or often enough, they could snowball into a feeling that he's "unwanted" or "unappreciated" in Washington. Then all it takes is a few childhood memories to come to mind and the Yankees negotiating department to welcome Bryce as the prodigal son and messiah to the Yankees for him to say "yep, dollar figures being relatively equal, it's time to fulfill that boyhood dream, I was destined for this."

Well, dollars being equal, tax in D.C. would probably make the $ less in NYC. So Yankees would have to pay him higher.

But who gives a crap, this is the first year he's ever been above average. He could easily flounder. He's a Yankees fan, he's probably going there arbitration or not, a few million dollars in his early years won't change that. At the least he's going to FA. Just try to actually win some crap now, that might impact his decision, however slightly. But unfortunately, it doesn't look like that's happening soon either.

[Optics]

I'm just going to enjoy Harper. Cross that FA bridge when we get there. Till then hopefully we can win a title or two. If he wins us a title, I'll wish him all the best if he leaves, no hard feelings.

[Slateman]

Bryce is dead

[DPMOmaha]

Bryce is dead

[Slateman]

@DanHellie
confirmed from a member of organization moments ago here at Nats Park. Bryce Harper injury is not serious. He's day to day. #Nationals

[imref]

@DanHellie
confirmed from a member of organization moments ago here at Nats Park. Bryce Harper injury is not serious. He's day to day. #Nationals

Exhale. 

[whytev]

Exhale.

If Williams uses the phrase "barking a bit" I'll lose it.

[mitlen]

If Williams uses the phrase "barking a bit" I'll lose it.

....  or "that's baseball"

[Baseball is Life]

Williams says it's a mild hamstring strain.

[pazzo83]

Williams says it's a mild hamstring strain.

Could be worse.

[Slateman]

Williams says it's a mild hamstring strain.

So basically, he's done for a month

[Matugi]

A strain means partially torn muscle.  If it's grade 1, you sit him out 3-4 days and ease him back in with things like pinch hitting.  If it's grade 2 he's headed to the DL.  A hamstring strain is up there with a lat or trap strain in severity, really really tough to play through.

[aBaltoNat]

Could be worse.

Well he is a liar and an incompetent jerk.

[whytev]

A strain means partially torn muscle.  If it's grade 1, you sit him out 3-4 days and ease him back in with things like pinch hitting.  If it's grade 2 he's headed to the DL.  A hamstring strain is up there with a lat or trap strain in severity, really really tough to play through.

He shouldn't be playing through it.  He should take 15.  The team is playing like garbage and we need him stretch run.

[Matugi]

He shouldn't be playing through it.  He should take 15.  The team is playing like garbage and we need him stretch run.

I mean you can play on a grade 1 strain, at that point it's mostly pain tolerance and handled through anti-inflammatories and icing anyway.  But there's 3 months left in the season, the most important baseball to be played is far ahead of us, and you don't want to aggravate it any further and turn it into a grade 2 or a grade 3.

If it's grade 2, he'll assuredly be put on the 15-day DL, because he'll have to work to add strength back, much like Barrett is currently trying to do.

If it's grade 3, he's probably out for the season, because that's a full tear and that usually requires surgery (probably reattaching the tendon to the bone if it's a tendon issue)

[More of #34]

Bryce Harper has been having a sensational season thus far.  It will be a real shame to lose him for any length of time not to mention the harm it will do to the team which is struggling despite his greatness.

[whytev]

I mean you can play on a grade 1 strain, at that point it's mostly pain tolerance and handled through anti-inflammatories and icing anyway.  But there's 3 months left in the season, the most important baseball to be played is far ahead of us, and you don't want to aggravate it any further and turn it into a grade 2 or a grade 3.

If it's grade 2, he'll assuredly be put on the 15-day DL, because he'll have to work to add strength back, much like Barrett is currently trying to do.

If it's grade 3, he's probably out for the season, because that's a full tear and that usually requires surgery (probably reattaching the tendon to the bone if it's a tendon issue)

I know, I know, but caution is warranted.  The season won't be out of hand without his presence for two weeks.  It won't be pretty, but f'real.  Let's just get him better.