tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9207681.post1766147154107379162..comments2024-03-28T10:50:33.234-07:00Comments on Nationals Baseball: The kingdom of the veteran jerkHarperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07738813756060133236noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9207681.post-20519927037062540762011-05-20T18:35:09.804-07:002011-05-20T18:35:09.804-07:00If he followed that path, he might very well start...If he followed that path, he might very well start off in DC next year*. I am just saying that we shouldn't take Rizzo's word now about Bryce's** future at face value. He has not proven to be incredibly forthright that way, and it seems like he is just trying to take some pressure/spotlight off the kid's progression.<br /><br />* except or that rule where if you delay the call up by a few weeks, you wind up with an extra year of control. I have said it badly, but I would make sure to delay enough for that<br />** notice how I continue to follow your decree to refer to him by his first name only!Wallynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9207681.post-89531004205022172912011-05-20T13:51:40.477-07:002011-05-20T13:51:40.477-07:00I don't think he's being moved overly slow...I don't think he's being moved overly slowly but I get the feeling he could be. If he kills it in Potomac for June and July, and Harrisburg in August and Sept. and looks good in AA (and has gotten over this supposed incredible inability to field and run the bases) Why shouldn't he start next year in the majors? If the Nats can't manage to be good enough in '12-'17 I'm not holding out hope that it call comes together in '18....Harperhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07738813756060133236noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9207681.post-84677790800402329122011-05-20T12:48:16.952-07:002011-05-20T12:48:16.952-07:00Isn't there a little bit of 'feeding the a...Isn't there a little bit of 'feeding the affiliates' involved too? I mean, forget what Rizzo says. We all agree that the kid has more to demonstrate before the majors, and we are really just saying when should he go to Potomac?<br /><br />So I think that it is part giving him a chance to work through a league once or twice, and the other part to give Hagerstown some time to show him off and generate some revenues. If he is at Potomac by June, is it really off anyone's expectation of how quickly he should be advanced?<br /><br />As for beyond Potomac, I am sure if he does as well there, he'll see Harrisburg before the end of the year.Wallynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9207681.post-35368066200799134382011-05-20T11:55:41.667-07:002011-05-20T11:55:41.667-07:00ck - that line bother's me too. If he said he...ck - that line bother's me too. If he said he has stuff to learn - that would be more palatable, though if you just say that you leave it all to how well he's doing. <br /><br />David - I know it's supposed to be smart management but doesn't it feel like the work of a sad team? That the driving force is "Let's get one more cheap year out of him because we don't think we can sign him?" (Yeah - you can say it's more "...because we can use that extra cash to make a push in that extra year" but I'm not sure I buy that and it's basically exchanging 2012 which right now seems like it could be more wide open than people think for 2018? 2019? which who the hell knows what is going to be like?<br /><br />Anon #1 - I'd disagree with 1. rather than "You really think he can excel at major league level." I would say "You really think he can CONTRIBUTE at major league level." which he maybe able to do (or may not, remember I'm not saying BRING HIM UP NOW - let's see him in AA for a month or so first) <br /><br />I get the "kids are stupid" but all the Nats are asking is Bryce to be at a maturity level where he doesn't make everyone mad at him somehow. I'd hope an 18 yr old with a major league support system around him could pull that off...<br /><br />Anon #1/#2 - <br /><br />How long can it take to learn baserunning and fielding to a level that's major league acceptable? We've seen guys with great bats stink out in the field so I'm guessing not long at allHarperhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07738813756060133236noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9207681.post-47311032858288455322011-05-20T10:55:29.528-07:002011-05-20T10:55:29.528-07:00The kid can hit. I don't think there's an...The kid can hit. I don't think there's any disputing that. But from what I've seen, he's not major leauge ready in any other aspect of the game. He's still learning the most basic things about fielding and base running, all of which I'd like him to be comfortable with before he gets to the bigs.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9207681.post-19136104256699148582011-05-20T09:46:42.682-07:002011-05-20T09:46:42.682-07:00I think the one thing that has been overlooked her...I think the one thing that has been overlooked here is the assumption that Harper is ready to jump to the majors right now. I've only seen him in Hagarstown a couple of times, but he made more than one gaffe in both games and where that can fly under the radar in Hagarstown, in DC you your mistakes are written about over and over again (Mr Dukes, your table is ready).<br /><br />I think we have been tricked into thinking from last year that it is easy to fly through the minors and show up in the majors. It not easy and it is much harder for a position player than for a pitcher because there are more skills that have to be mastered. Talent may rule but it still has to be combined with skill and the knowledge how to use it at the professional level.<br /><br />On top of this the guy is 18. Maybe everyone here was as mature the year before your first full time job and the year after, but I know I wasn't--and I didn't have a couple of million burning a hole in my pocket either.<br /><br />The only reason I would bring him up are: 1.You really think he can excel at major league level. 2. You are worried his aggressive style is going to get him hurt and you want to make a couple of bucks before it happens.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9207681.post-75645944026268774302011-05-20T08:11:14.708-07:002011-05-20T08:11:14.708-07:00I think the number one reason why he's in the ...I think the number one reason why he's in the minors is that they don't want to start his free-agency clock too soon. Everything else is just rationalization for the decision they've already made. Bryce will move through the minors to AA this year and start next in AAA and get called up in June.Davidhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03404643632536051660noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9207681.post-57183152499187165452011-05-20T08:02:05.203-07:002011-05-20T08:02:05.203-07:00One of Rizzo's more maddening reasons for keep...One of Rizzo's more maddening reasons for keeping Harper down (put me in the "he should be in the minors for a season" camp though) is that he "needs to prove to the guys up here that he has paid his dues." That's the biggest bunch of horse hooey ever.<br /><br /><br />On the whole, he's in the minors to learn about being a professional athlete, adjust to the demands of a long season (as you wrote), and I bet there is a lot of coaching on how to not act like an idiot; especially with the media always watching. He can hide in Hagerstown and the Sally to an extent.<br /><br /><br />I think we're all intrigued to see when he gets a promotion...testhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06870302406467697102noreply@blogger.com