Author Topic: Bryce Harper 2018 and beyond (Read 156793 times)

PowerBoater69 · « **Reply #925 on:** June 21, 2018, 08:48:17 am »

Quote from: dcpatti on June 21, 2018, 08:04:19 am

Boswell’s got some theories in his Q&A this week https://live.washingtonpost.com/ask-boswell-20180618.html

Bos’ theory is that the contract situation and the fact that the Nats love Bryce and at the same time appear poised to move on without him are really messing with his head. Like when you’re 18 and moving out of your parents house, you’re totally fine till you find out your mom is turning your bedroom into her pottery studio or something. You just get really really sad. Emotional baggage like that can be really suffocating.

Oh please, he's been swinging for home runs all year, same thing that derailed him in 2016. Without a coaching staff that he respects he's gone right back to bad habits. Emotional baggage isn't making him throw over the cut off or fail to run to first, those are the same old habits that creep back if the manager doesn't stay on his ass.

Ray D · « **Reply #926 on:** June 21, 2018, 09:05:07 am »

Boswell, it seems to me, presents himself as an intellectual; a thinking man. Seems to me he overthinks everything.

MarquisDeSade · « **Reply #927 on:** June 21, 2018, 10:17:52 am »

Boswell lost the script when Stan Kasten left. He’s a bum that should be ignored.

PowerBoater69 · « **Reply #928 on:** June 21, 2018, 11:17:13 am »

Bench Harper, play MAT. The goal is to win, not prop up pending free agents.

From Talk Nats on Twitter:

Greg_SRT · « **Reply #929 on:** June 21, 2018, 11:27:50 am »

They aren’t benching Harper

However if Harper being unsure whether the Nationals want him to stick around is causing focus problems, he has only himself to blame. The Nationals want him to stay. But who can afford to devote 20% of their payroll to one player.

If Harper wanted 25 a year for 5 years, they’d give him that instantly. Hell even 30 a year. Maybe he should be more clear what he wants.

Btw, I don’t think Harper is thinking or worried about that.

MorseTheHorse · « **Reply #930 on:** June 21, 2018, 04:53:31 pm »

Could we deal Harper for some prospects at the deadline?

aspenbubba · « **Reply #931 on:** June 21, 2018, 05:09:47 pm »

Quote from: MorseTheHorse on June 21, 2018, 04:53:31 pm

Could we deal Harper for some prospects at the deadline?

I think I maybe behind the times on this but why trade him and not give him a qualifying offer. Don't we get a high draft choice if he declines?

PowerBoater69 · « **Reply #932 on:** June 21, 2018, 05:19:22 pm »

Quote from: aspenbubba on June 21, 2018, 05:09:47 pm

I think I maybe behind the times on this but why trade him and not give him a qualifying offer. Don't we get a high draft choice if he declines?

The Nats won't trade Harper, but if they did they would want fair value in return for both the 2nd half of this season and the compensation draft pick.

Scary thought, what if he accepted the Nats QO? It would be a Kirk Cousins situation all over again.

imref · « **Reply #933 on:** June 21, 2018, 05:29:43 pm »

We discussed earlier. Iirc, we get something like a fourth round pick if he refused a QO

Greg_SRT · « **Reply #934 on:** June 21, 2018, 05:56:02 pm »

Can't trade Harper. Got to extend Harper.

MorseTheHorse · « **Reply #935 on:** June 21, 2018, 06:04:21 pm »

Maybe his reaction time is slower. I've noticed it takes him a while to start moving on the rare instances when he hits a HR

Greg_SRT · « **Reply #936 on:** June 21, 2018, 06:06:50 pm »

Burn

nfotiu · « **Reply #937 on:** June 21, 2018, 10:53:20 pm »

He looked much better at the plate today and yesterday. I didn't notice any swings and misses at bad pitches. He made hard contact on most of his swings. He definitely looks like a guy who's about to go on a roll and no longer is playing like the 12th hitter on the little league team that everyone wishes had stayed home.

dracnal · « **Reply #938 on:** June 22, 2018, 10:18:08 am »

Quote from: nfotiu on June 21, 2018, 10:53:20 pm

He looked much better at the plate today and yesterday. I didn't notice any swings and misses at bad pitches. He made hard contact on most of his swings. He definitely looks like a guy who's about to go on a roll and no longer is playing like the 12th hitter on the little league team that everyone wishes had stayed home.

He was far more balanced and way less violent with his swing. Those are definitely good signs to back up your thought that he's going to hit a hot streak soon.

NatsAllThe Way · « **Reply #939 on:** June 22, 2018, 10:19:31 am »

If Harper needs to leadoff to hit we have 3 leadoff guys. Where does Turner hit, might as well put him cleanup.

Slateman · « **Reply #940 on:** June 22, 2018, 10:52:11 am »

Quote from: NatsAllThe Way on June 22, 2018, 10:19:31 am

If Harper needs to leadoff to hit we have 3 leadoff guys. Where does Turner hit, might as well put him cleanup.

We could put Turner back in the 6 hole, where he seems to do well.

Turner isn't a leadoff hitter.

bluestreak · « **Reply #941 on:** June 22, 2018, 12:03:03 pm »

If you want to get an idea of what happens when a great player comes out of a slump, look at Paul Goldschmidt.

May slash line: .144/.252/.278 wRC+ 47
Week of June 4-10: .640/.690/1.440 wRC+ 455

I think he’s close...Harper is about to have a breakout few weeks.

Slateman · « **Reply #942 on:** June 22, 2018, 12:16:16 pm »

Quote from: bluestreak on June 22, 2018, 12:03:03 pm

If you want to get an idea of what happens when a great player comes out of a slump, look at Paul Goldschmidt.

May slash line: .144/.252/.278 wRC+ 47
Week of June 4-10: .640/.690/1.440 wRC+ 455

I think he’s close...

So, he's due?

bluestreak · « **Reply #943 on:** June 22, 2018, 12:21:22 pm »

Quote from: Slateman on June 22, 2018, 12:16:16 pm

So, he's due?

Yes. That’s the point I was trying to make in the post. I realize after reading that it may have seemed like I was taking a dig at Harper. I wasn’t.

Slateman · « **Reply #944 on:** June 22, 2018, 09:51:19 pm »

https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/mlb/2018/06/22/bryce-harper-home-run-contest/726725002/

Its gonna freak up his swi- .... oh wait

tomterp · « **Reply #945 on:** June 22, 2018, 09:57:39 pm »

Clearly he's completely altered his approach the last two games. Batting leadoff is part of his therapy - his objective now is to get on base. Walk, bunt, whatever, just get on base. And it's working for him. Re-learn strike-zone discipline, cut down the swing to make solid contact, and the hits (and walks) will come. He's so strong that he'll be hitting them out without even trying soon.

PowerBoater69 · « **Reply #946 on:** June 23, 2018, 05:06:19 am »

Quote from: PowerBoater69 on September 25, 2017, 06:25:24 pm

Now that the batting title is out of reach this thread will be used to track Harper's instances of flu in 2017. With the season almost over it seems unlikely that he will match his 2014 number unless the Nats go deep into October.

July 2012
April 2013
August 2013
March 2014
July 2014
September 2014
March 2015
August 2016
July 2017
September 2017

Hard to believe that Harper was battling for the batting title last September. Add June 2018 to the list of Harper's battles with flu.

LoveAngelos · « **Reply #947 on:** June 23, 2018, 10:16:43 am »

Anyone not think that Royce is not Bryce's own worst enemy.

Ray D · « **Reply #948 on:** June 23, 2018, 12:22:13 pm »

Quote from: tomterp on June 22, 2018, 09:57:39 pm

Clearly he's completely altered his approach the last two games. Batting leadoff is part of his therapy - his objective now is to get on base. Walk, bunt, whatever, just get on base. And it's working for him. Re-learn strike-zone discipline, cut down the swing to make solid contact, and the hits (and walks) will come. He's so strong that he'll be hitting them out without even trying soon.

You're much too difficult to read, Tom. Honestly, I can't tell if you're serious.

RichMinSC · « **Reply #949 on:** June 23, 2018, 11:34:51 pm »

Quote from: MorseTheHorse on June 21, 2018, 04:53:31 pm

Could we deal Harper for some prospects at the deadline?

trade him and Murphy and Madsen at the deadline (to bad
you can't add Kintzler and of course Zimmerman to the list) 2019 new leaf 2020 newer leaf when Zimmerman's contract is opted out of