Bryce Harper 2018 and beyond

[sixthree175]

...I get that some of you have given up on him after a bad few months but I have not.

Harper's best year was 2015, but the last 1 1/2 months of that season he didn't perform well.  That's when this team needed him the most.  His volatility index is very high.  Consistency (e.g. Anthony Rendon) is a valued commodity.  Volatility is not.
 
Harper is a good fielder (not great).  He's a good base runner (not great).

Note:  He would NOT accept a Qualifying Offer.  But if Rizzo can get decent prospect(s) for him now, I hope he goes for it.   

[imref]

https://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/the-thoroughly-average-exploits-of-bryce-harper/

There’s no team with a more interesting upcoming week than the Washington Nationals. The team has seven more games until the trade deadline. Let’s say they go 2-5 or something going into next Monday’s day off before the July 31st deadline. How does a 51-55 team not seriously consider spending Monday and Tuesday exploring their options for trading Bryce Harper?

[Slateman]

Cleveland wants an outfielder who can play LF and CF. Let's send em Bryce

[UMDNats]

https://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/the-thoroughly-average-exploits-of-bryce-harper/

We won't sell because this team chooses the most annoying path 100% of the time. It's obvious this team is cooked and treading water for the next 2 months is a terrible waste of an opportunity.

We also won't sell because the Lerners are wayyyyy too proud to admit this team sucks ass.

[CoryTheFormerExposFan]

Uh, there's a few major differences between Machado and Harper

1. Machado didn't get hurt last year.
2. Machado has been remarkably consistent at the plate since his rookie year. Harper hasn't.
3. Machado plays elite defense at a position. Harper doesn't.

No one knows what Harper brings to the table because he's never consistently brought it to the table.

Harper's deal will be structured much like Heywards, with plenty of player options and a lot of money on the back end.

A deal like Heywards?  LOL.

[Slateman]

A deal like Heywards?  LOL.

I said structured. It's an important distinction.

[PowerBoater69]

Reports of Harper being sick (usually "flu")

July 2012
April 2013
August 2013
March 2014
July 2014
September 2014
March 2015
August 2016
July 2017
September 2017
June 2018
July 2018

[Slateman]

Is that what he has?

[Greg_SRT]

Is that what he has?

The hot poops. Also called tummy butt or green apple splatter.

Speculation of course IDK.

[bluestreak]

Reports of Harper being sick (usually "flu")

July 2012
April 2013
August 2013
March 2014
July 2014
September 2014
March 2015
August 2016
July 2017
September 2017
June 2018
July 2018

And?

[HalfSmokes]

And?

He occasionally gets sick; shocking especially for someone whose job requires extensive travel

[hotshot]

A timely hit with the game on the line would be ok.

Or is that too much to ask for from the phenom?

Feel the same way. Without looking at any stats, I just know I felt a lot better having Dunn, LaRoche and Morse at the plate when we needed offensive damage done back in their day here in DC than I do with Bryce up there. Anyone else find it odd that Bryce has NEVER (even in his great season) driven in 100 runs? That's hard to believe!

[tomterp]

Reports of Harper being sick (usually "flu")

July 2012
April 2013
August 2013
March 2014
July 2014
September 2014
March 2015
August 2016
July 2017
September 2017
June 2018
July 2018

 

I'm about to turn 60 and I've missed exactly 2 days of work due to being sick in that period. 

[tomterp]

The hot poops. Also called tummy butt or green apple splatter.

Speculation of course IDK.

That's why we have Immodium.  Stops it all within about 2 doses max, usually 1.

[Slateman]

He occasionally gets sick; shocking especially for someone whose job requires extensive travel

That doesnt seem occasional

[HalfSmokes]

That doesnt seem occasional

12 times over 6 years seems occasional

[Slateman]

12 times over 6 years seems occasional

12 times over the six parts of seasons we see him.

Hes gotten sick in at least 12 months of the 36 we've seen him play. Sorry. That's not normal, nor occassional. Particularly for someone who is in the prime of their health.

[bluestreak]

I get sick twice a year. My job isn’t nearly as physically demanding. People just love to nitpick.

[Expos]

https://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/the-thoroughly-average-exploits-of-bryce-harper/

Our biggest mistake was not trading him in the offseason.

We could have contended without him.

[varoadking]

I get sick twice a year. My job isn’t nearly as physically demanding. People just love to nitpick.

You aren't a world class athlete either...and you spend your time around sick people...

[Slateman]

You aren't a world class athlete either...and you spend your time around sick people...

This. Healthy,  superior conditioned athletes with nutritionists should not be getting the flu there times in a six month period.

[tomterp]

This. Healthy,  superior conditioned athletes with nutritionists should not be getting the flu there times in a six month period.

Conditioning has nothing to do with getting the flu.  It may affect severity, or may not.  The 1918 pandemic caused excessive autoimmune response so people in the prime of life and most fit were hit the hardest, while many older people were spared. 

[varoadking]

The 1918 pandemic caused excessive autoimmune response so people in the prime of life and most fit were hit the hardest, while many older people were spared.

You have no idea how this bit of minutia cracked me up... 

[tomterp]

You have no idea how this bit of minutia cracked me up... 

 

I'm in the middle of a book on the topic so thought I'd throw out some fresh knowledge.   

[bluestreak]

Yeah, I’m not sure why athletic conditioning would prevent you from getting an infectious disease. Plus, it’s unlikely he actually had the flu all of those times (or any of them actually).