Bryce Harper 2018 and beyond

[HalfSmokes]

Really brings up the big issue with Harper and $40m.

He doesn't seem to be a leader. He seems to just be another player on the roster in terms of leadership.

If I were to give someone $40m a year or more, They need to have the 2015 year every year. And be a leader of the team. The leader.

Perhaps he needs to be a bigger presence in the clubhouse.

I think he needs to develop more grit

[GburgNatsFan]

Not grit so much as gumption.

I think he needs to develop more grit

[varoadking]

Not grit so much as gumption.

...and a dash of guile...

[Baseball is Life]

Really brings up the big issue with Harper and $40m.

He doesn't seem to be a leader. He seems to just be another player on the roster in terms of leadership.

If I were to give someone $40m a year or more, They need to have the 2015 year every year. And be a leader of the team. The leader.

Perhaps he needs to be a bigger presence in the clubhouse.

I think he would step up as a leader with maturity and a big contract. Just my opinion. And, no, I don't think he's worth anywhere near $40M.

[UMDNats]

bryce harper's jerseys aren't dirty enough

[Vega]

Fans pontificating on clubhouse leadershipping is silly.

[GburgNatsFan]

More spleen too. And other old-timey weird terms.

...and a dash of guile...

[Baseball is Life]

Fans pontificating on clubhouse leadershipping is silly.

More like speculating, which is probably just as silly. But, hey, that's what we fans do.

[Ray D]

...and a dash of guile...

If we're having grits I'll have shrimp with that and a dash of hot sauce.

[bluestreak]

Good Article about how the luster has come off almost the entire 2018 free agent class. Everybody’s stock is down, including Harper.

https://www.theringer.com/mlb/2018/6/29/17517624/mlb-2018-free-agent-class-bryce-harper-clayton-kershaw-manny-machado

Harper, approaching his 26th birthday, has sandwiched two useful but far-from-spectacular seasons (2016 and 2018) around a productive but injury-curtailed 2017, and 2015 remains the sole season in which he reached five FanGraphs WAR. Subsequent analysis attached a caveat to that campaign too, revealing that Harper’s results had far exceeded the stats that his batted balls seemed to dictate. For years, fans and media members speculated that Harper would be bound for the Bronx, but midway through his walk year, the Yankees have four outfielders with higher WAR than his.

[NatsAllThe Way]

Good Article about how the luster has come off almost the entire 2018 free agent class. Everybody’s stock is down, including Harper.

https://www.theringer.com/mlb/2018/6/29/17517624/mlb-2018-free-agent-class-bryce-harper-clayton-kershaw-manny-machado

No wonder they're doing so well, they play 4 outfielders across.  How has no one noticed that?  IMO this really takes away from the success they are having this year.

[Optics]

Forget $400 Million, he may not even get $200 Million at this rate.

[LoveAngelos]

Forget $400 Million, he may not even get $200 Million at this rate.

How will he live???????????????

[spidernat]

It's already been established that you can't be expected to feed your kids on a meager $14 million a year and that was almost 15 years ago.

[PowerBoater69]

Boras wants to ban the shift because it is unfair to lefties.

Boras said. “It’s a major adjustment. ... There’s a psychological component to this. A lot of this has to do with psychology. When a hitter comes up to the plate and sees four guys on the right side of the infield, I think it’s a bit intimidating.”

https://fancredsports.com/articles/jon-heyman-scott-boras-says-the-severe-shift-is

[spidernat]

Maybe he should demand teams only play 2 outfielders when his players come to bat.

[sph274]

yea that is really dumb. Have bryce practice bunting and take the single every now and then. With Soto's emergence I dont think we even try to re-sign him

[tomterp]

What's a "big tit"?   Never heard that expression.

The Grand Tetons?

[tomterp]

Boras wants to ban the shift because it is unfair to lefties.

https://fancredsports.com/articles/jon-heyman-scott-boras-says-the-severe-shift-is

By all means let's coddle the snowflakes.  Or teach them to hit the other way.  You decide which is more productive.

[bluestreak]

I don’t think they should do something about the shift because it’s “unfair” to lefties, but there is some thought that  efforts to hit over shifts is the cause of the rise in strikeouts. And I don’t know about you, but I don’t like watching a bunch of guys just strike out. I do not find it compelling baseball. I don’t know if banning the shift is the answer or backing up the mound, or lowering the mound. But I don’t think it can continue on the trajectory it’s headed on.

[LoveAngelos]

It's already been established that you can't be expected to feed your kids on a meager $14 million a year and that was almost 15 years ago.

I don't  know if you were around during the Jimmy Carter years but in those days you had to really stretch a 9 million dollar a year salary to get by.

[Slateman]

Simple solution: Learn how go bunt. Once you get it past the pitcher, you have a double

[Air Desmond]

There’s a part of me that wants to keep Bryce. Just to see an outfield of Soto, Robles, Harper. The potential is unlimited between those 3.

[Scraps]

I don't  know if you were around during the Jimmy Carter years but in those days you had to really stretch a 9 million dollar a year salary to get by.

And if we don’t start scoring 7 or more runs more often my family is gonna starve. I have no rooting interest other then scoring 7 runs to get 50% off my next meal.

“SEND ‘EM HENLEY! SEND ‘EM HENLEY!!!!!  🍕 🍕 🍕 🍕

[Scraps]

I don’t think they should do something about the shift because it’s “unfair” to lefties, but there is some thought that  efforts to hit over shifts is the cause of the rise in strikeouts. And I don’t know about you, but I don’t like watching a bunch of guys just strike out. I do not find it compelling baseball. I don’t know if banning the shift is the answer or backing up the mound, or lowering the mound. But I don’t think it can continue on the trajectory it’s headed on.

Agree. I’m thinking they’re gonna have to implement a rule keeping the 4 infielders on the dirt - two to the left and two to the right side of second base. Not easy hitting for average when the pitcher is throwing inside and there are 6 defenders on that same side of the field.
I’m all about traditions but the strikeouts are turning the game into a big bore especially  for the younger crowd that wants more action/excitement by watching the batters run the bases.
It’s not easy these days getting young people enthused about going to the ballpark to watch 3 1/2 hours of strikeouts and replay reviews.