OT: Harper

[t206blogcom]

Been a Harper fan from day one (Nats fan/season ticket holder) and have been extremely impressed with him this year. Finally he's healthy and I hope he stays that way. Matt Williams has done a lot to help get the media off his back and to keep Bryce focused.

At one time I had the most Harper PSA 10s on their registry but with as many cards that are produced these days, I gave up on collecting all of his cards. I unfortunately sold 2/3 of my PSA 10s to help fund a house purchase. I'm seeing cards that sold for $125/$150 6 months ago going for $350+ now that he's finally running on all cylinders. Had I waited to sell them all now, I'd be much wealthier. Great time to sell his cards if you're not looking to hold long term. Terrible time to buy.

I'm not much into comparing him to former greats or placing such labels as he's the next Mantle or Mays or whomever. I will say that, at least currently, he's playing at a level that's on par if not better than the greats.

Currently he's leading all of baseball in OPS, SLG, OBP, RBI, BB and tied for first in HR and Runs. Babe Ruth's career OPS is 1.164 and Harper's currently is 1.215. Not saying Harper's the next Ruth, just saying his current numbers are amazingly good.

[mattsey9]

Any mention of baseball's young stars has to mention Chicago's young duo of Kris Bryant and Anthony Rizzo.

[btcarfagno]

Harper is having a great season so far, and even as a Pirates fan I am happy to see it. He seems to play the game all out and I very much respect him for that.

I do not, however, expect him to keep up this pace, or even all that close to this pace. We will see how he does after the league makes an adjustment that he has some trouble with. What does he do after his next 2-for-20 stretch. Does he make the adjustments he needs to at that point. I can see him ending with 35 or so homers and an OPS somewhere in the 975 range...which is certainly nothing to sneeze at. Especially in this day and age. I'm just not going to extrapolate what he has done in his first 200 plate appearances of 2015 onto the rest of the year or the career of a 22 year old. I mean...Dee Gordon is hitting .370 something so far this year. I could extrapolate that into 3500 hits and a career batting average that would make Ty Cobb envious.

Tom C

[packs]

It seems like that perception has been a part of Harper's whole career. But this year shows me at least that he is every bit the player he's supposed to be.

[clydepepper]

Don't look now, but Joey Gallo is hitting .315 in Double-A...we may see him by the end of 2016!

AWESOME TRIO!!

'Chicks' aren't the only ones who did the long ball.


Hopefully, all this power is legit and not enhanced.


...and did you see the AB when Bryant hit his most recent homer? Full-Count for the 43rd plate appearance already. (of course, he's only hitting .135 in those ABs, but he is seeing a lot of pitches, walking a lot, scoring a lot, and learning) I just hope he ends up with more homers than errors...think it's 7-up right now.

[Tabe]

Originally Posted by clydepepper

Don't look now, but Joey Gallo is hitting .315 in Double-A...we may see him by the end of 2016!

Joey Gallo in the very upper echelon in terms of power of any guy I've ever seen. We got to see him for a couple weeks here in Spokane a few years ago. He didn't do much (hit .250, 5 HRs, something like that) but...he showed some flashes. Like the night he hit a home run (waaaaaay) over the light pole in right field that probably traveled 500 feet, at a minimum. In a ballpark where the ball doesn't carry. At 18 years old. Good grief.

[Tabe]

Originally Posted by t206blogcom

Babe Ruth's career OPS is 1.164 and Harper's currently is 1.215. Not saying Harper's the next Ruth, just saying his current numbers are amazingly good.

Of course, Ruth achieved his over the course of 2500 games. Harper's put up his over the course of....(less than) 50. Not quite the same thing.

However, Harper's 1.215 would be the highest for a single-season since 1941 excluding Barry Bonds and Mark McGwire.

[birdman42]

Been a huge Harper fan since the early game where Cole Hamels "welcomed" him to the big leagues. First toss, he hits Harper in the back with a purpose pitch. Harp goes to third on a single, then in-your-face steals home on Hamels' pickoff move to first. Way to play the game.

[ValKehl]

I have lived in the DC area all of my 71 years, and I acknowledge that Harper is exceptionally talented - his power for his size is amazing - very likely, an eventual HOFer. This said, the only time I root for Harper to do well is when the Nats need him to produce - otherwise I root for him to strike out. Humble is the last word I would use to describe Harper - arrogant is a more fitting adjective, IMO. Yeah, he has a cannon for an arm, and he absolutely relishes throwing out base runners - but he refuses to hit the cut-off man, which often results in another base runner advancing an extra base on his throw. I guess that I'm just "old school."
Val

[ullmandds]

I love watching harper play...he IS awesome! Humble...uh...no f'ing way...definitely cocky...but that's ok...he is exciting, brash...and doesn't appear to be a dick.

I look forward to watching him for years to come...and maybe...just maybe someday he will be a YANKEE!!!!!

[t206blogcom]

Originally Posted by ullmandds

just maybe someday he will be a YANKEE!!!!!

Bite your tongue!!!

[pbspelly]

I'm a big Nats fan and enjoy watching Harper. He's very exciting, and often plays the game the "right way," so to speak. But he isn't what I would call humble, and stating that the fans don't come out to see the umpire call balls and strikes, while true, is unnecessarily demeaning and in poor taste. Ballplayers should not treat umpires as if they are lower than them, even if that's the way a lot of people see it. I'm pretty sure umpires know that fans don't come to see them call a game and don't need to be told that they're not getting paid millions of dollars a year.

As someone who has watched Harper very closely since he came up, I would also be extremely surprised if he does not take the money and run the first chance he gets to leave the Nats. I like watching him, but I wish I liked him better.

[ullmandds]

oopsie!