Bryce Harper 2018 and beyond

[MarquisDeSade]

This guy is a broken down bum.

[spidernat]

It's not that I laugh at BABIP.    I just wonder about its purpose.

I actually laugh at that crap.

[MarquisDeSade]

I actually laugh at that crap.

Baseball in general has went to crap thanks to this fooking nonsense. Throw all of that sheeeit in the trash and make it fun again.

[Slateman]

It's not that I laugh at BABIP.    I just wonder about its purpose.

Batting Average on Balls In Play is a measure how many of a batter's balls go for a hit (or how many balls in play go against a pitcher). BABIP excludes home runs.

The idea behind BABIP is to determine when a player is having a "flukey" season.

[PowerBoater69]

Is Martinez allowed to move Harper down in the order or would batting 8th hurt his feelings?

[spidernat]

Is Martinez allowed to move Harper down in the order or would batting 8th hurt his feelings?

You know the answer to this so stop trolling.

[Slateman]

Is Martinez allowed to move Harper down in the order or would batting 8th hurt his feelings?

Probably hurt his feeling.

Here's my problem with batting him so high: It's clearly affecting others in the order.

last year, Trea turner got on base 151 times in 447 plate appearances. He stole 46 bases, which is about a stolen base ever 3 times he reached base.
This year, so far, Turner has reached base 105 times in 344 plate appearances, and stolen 20 bases. This work sout to a little over one stolen base for every 5 times he has reached base.

Turner's getting on base at the same rate. He's actually getting to first base more (71% of his hits have gone for singles this season, vs 65% last year; Also, he's walking a lot more). Second base is easier to steal than third, so he really should have more stolen bases this season. The Nationals are first in stolen bases, so it's not like the manager has a problem with steals. So why is Turner stealing bases at a lesser rate, particularly given this team's offensive woes?

The only conclusion I can come to is that he doesn't want to "run into an out" with Harper at the plate. The problem is that Harper is hitting himself into unproductive outs.

I want to move Turner down in the order, and hit Eaton second, just to give Turner more chances to run.

[Smithian]

The "Harper doesn't care about winning" nonsense is as stupid as the "Ovechkin doesn't care about winning" nonsense.

Agreed.

Harper is having a rough stretch but let's not pretend he doesn't care. Rightly or wrong, he knows getting to the playoffs and especially performing there will raise his price tag.

[JCA-CrystalCity]

Probably hurt his feeling.

Here's my problem with batting him so high: It's clearly affecting others in the order.

last year, Trea turner got on base 151 times in 447 plate appearances. He stole 46 bases, which is about a stolen base ever 3 times he reached base.
This year, so far, Turner has reached base 105 times in 344 plate appearances, and stolen 20 bases. This work sout to a little over one stolen base for every 5 times he has reached base.

Turner's getting on base at the same rate. He's actually getting to first base more (71% of his hits have gone for singles this season, vs 65% last year; Also, he's walking a lot more). Second base is easier to steal than third, so he really should have more stolen bases this season. The Nationals are first in stolen bases, so it's not like the manager has a problem with steals. So why is Turner stealing bases at a lesser rate, particularly given this team's offensive woes?

The only conclusion I can come to is that he doesn't want to "run into an out" with Harper at the plate. The problem is that Harper is hitting himself into unproductive outs.

I want to move Turner down in the order, and hit Eaton second, just to give Turner more chances to run.

Recall at the start of the year, either in the spring or in the first week or so before Eaton got hurt, Davey put Turner in the 6th slot so he would run more and get some RBI opportunities too.  Taylor now is essentially a low in the order base stealer, doing what Davey thought Turner would do out of that slot, while Turner is running less, more like what we thought eaton would do in front of Bryce.

[Slateman]

Recall at the start of the year, either in the spring or in the first week or so before Eaton got hurt, Davey put Turner in the 6th slot so he would run more and get some RBI opportunities too.  Taylor now is essentially a low in the order base stealer, doing what Davey thought Turner would do out of that slot, while Turner is running less, more like what we thought eaton would do in front of Bryce.

Small sample size, but before being moved up, he was stealing a base one in every 3.25 times he reached base.

[JCA-CrystalCity]

Small sample size, but before being moved up, he was stealing a base one in every 3.25 times he reached base.

I can buy that lower in the order actually is a better base stealing spot that top of the order the way the game is currently.

[Slateman]

I can buy that lower in the order actually is a better base stealing spot that top of the order the way the game is currently.

Except that Turner spent the vast majority of last season hitting 1st, with Harper hitting 3rd.

Not saying it proves it, but it does lend some credence to the argument that Turner is unwilling (or not allowed) to run as often with Harper behind him.

[LoveAngelos]

Let’s see someone dangle generational money in front of you and see if the pressure gets to you. The guy wants to win. He also wants to make money. I’m not sure why they are mutually exclusive and why one is wrong. And no, I don’t think that if he “focused on winning” that the pressure would be any less. In fact if he performed better, the team would do better and he would get paid.

He is already making generational money. What the Nats would offer him to sign an extension  right now, today, would be generational money. This year alone and in his time in MLB he has made what? Close to 100 mil. He is not worrying about the 26th Bryce of Harper having enough money to gas up his weekend only use Rolys Royce but winnng the salary game; becoming numero uno; getting highest salary in MLB bragging rights. That is his focus. Swing for the fences. Never mind just a base hit might get your team 2 runs.

[JCA-CrystalCity]

Except that Turner spent the vast majority of last season hitting 1st, with Harper hitting 3rd.

Not saying it proves it, but it does lend some credence to the argument that Turner is unwilling (or not allowed) to run as often with Harper behind him.

I'm trying to remember the order last year.  Was it Turner - Taylor until we got Kendrick?

[Slateman]

I'm trying to remember the order last year.  Was it Turner - Taylor until we got Kendrick?

I just based it on BR's splits by batting order.

[spidernat]

I'm trying to remember the order last year.  Was it Turner - Taylor until we got Kendrick?

I had already forgotten about Kendrick. That was a blow to our lineup.

[hotshot]

As for "caring," I think right now Bryce "cares" more than anyone in the lineup. Wouldn't you?

[imref]

Janes reports that Davey wants Harper to take fewer swings before games.  He thinks Harper is overworking himself as he tries to escape from his slump.

[MorseTheHorse]

Is Bryce a starter anymore?  Seems like Soto-Taylor-Eaton is better lineup most days

[PowerBoater69]

Janes reports that Davey wants Harper to take fewer swings before games.  He thinks Harper is overworking himself as he tries to escape from his slump.

Harper doesn't give AF what Martinez thinks.

[hotshot]

Janes reports that Davey wants Harper to take fewer swings before games.  He thinks Harper is overworking himself as he tries to escape from his slump.

Davey's career average is 60 points higher than where BH is now so ... guess he needs to listen up!

[3bside]

I guess if we offer Harper for Realmuto, the Marlins say no.

[miller10]

This has got to be killing Harper and not just related to his potential value.  I couldn't imagine being historically that good (his entire life) but having a really bad season. 

[DCFan]

This has got to be killing Harper and not just related to his potential value.  I couldn't imagine being historically that good (his entire life) but having a really bad season. 

Especially the way the owners clamped down on spending on big money free agents last year.

[hotshot]

"Historically that good?" He's hit over .300 twice in 6, going on 7, years. Hit over 30 HRs exactly once.