Let's not forget that Harper was the same guy who blew a kiss to a pitcher after taking him deep in the minor leagues...

 

We need more of that. Word.

How can anyone 'slow down' any 19 year old let alone the one being called the Lebron of baseball. Kid is living off of adrenaline right now.

 

Baseball needs Hamels beaning Harper and Harper blowing kisses to pitchers. Bring it on!!!!! Make the game interesting again. It's boring as crap right now.

Who cares? He's a kid, with a ton of talent. Anyone who was even the star of just their high school team is cocky. Now being a kid who's arguably one of the most talented players at his age of all time. He's got every right to be cocky/confident. He'll grow out of it his brashness as he gets older. He's 19, so I got no beef with him. I love the way he plays!

I have no issues with cockiness (if backed up) and as much as I can like a player for a division rival, I do like Harper. But it seemed a relevant point to bring up in this thread.

Pretty sure that was in response to taunting by the pitcher.

I didn't remember that part in the account I read.

Let's not forget that Harper was the same guy who blew a kiss to a pitcher after taking him deep in the minor leagues...

 

That was the first thing I thought about when I saw this story about him and Hamels.

 

He might be a little arrogant, but I want to see him do well!

This style of play is how Freel earned a living and stuck on a ML roster...he wasn't the most talented or fastest player but he made his self appear to be both of these by going all out...I loved Freel...Harper on the other hand will slow down in time he will not always play like Charlie Hustle right now he is just making a splash...He has one of the sweetest swings and strongest arms in the last 20 years and does not have to kill himself to earn a check ala Freel...

 

So at what point does Harper decide slow down? After a collision lands him in the hospital and on the disabled list for 5 weeks? Or when checking yourself to turn back to first while trying to stretch an obvious blooper single into a double strains your hamstring? ...or pick any other random instance that Freel had happen during his career for the Reds. Freel actually missed 58 days in his first season with the Reds. I understand playing hard, but that doesn't necessarily mean playing completely all-out like he is while he's making his splash - because injuries certainly don't discern between less talented players and those who are trying to make their name in the big leagues. When will Harper be finished making a splash so he can play smart intead? Playing smart will keep him off the DL.

I didn't remember that part in the account I read.

 

After hearing Dan Patrick talk about it earlier, I found this article.

 

Bryce Harper will change Washington Nationals and maybe the game - Tom Verducci - SI.com

 

 

"Harper? We made up our minds about him before he played a day in the big leagues: an arrogant jerk "who hasn't done anything yet." The mistakes of a teenager went viral. The minor league kiss was viewed online nearly three million times. Nevermind that his own team had tired of the trash talking from the opposing pitcher that night and delighted in Harper's token payback. The kiss was quick and subtle, but the camera was trained on a teenager playing Class A ball in the wilds of Maryland. He is the first star of the first generation produced under this Big Brother society."

 

 

Dan also made it sound like more than just trash talk. Well, he said the pitcher kept doing silly little things to taunt the other team.

So at what point does Harper decide slow down? After a collision lands him in the hospital and on the disabled list for 5 weeks? Or when checking yourself to turn back to first while trying to stretch an obvious blooper single into a double strains your hamstring? ...or pick any other random instance that Freel had happen during his career for the Reds. Freel actually missed 58 days in his first season with the Reds. I understand playing hard, but that doesn't necessarily mean playing completely all-out like he is while he's making his splash - because injuries certainly don't discern between less talented players and those who are trying to make their name in the big leagues. When will Harper be finished making a splash so he can play smart intead? Playing smart will keep him off the DL.

 

Maybe this is how he has played his whole life idk? As far as I know he has never had any serious injuries and he is young and in great shape which helps fight off the injuries...Baseball is a sports where it's athletes can allow them selves to get a bit out of shape and still be successful...Most of the hammy and groin injuries come from players that allow themselves to get out of shape and don't work out or stretch like they should...I was just talking to my dad yesterday how it's funny that these professional athletes in baseball have beer guts, but if you look in the NBA the athletes have very little body fat...Once Bryce gets a year in he will probably start to let himself go like others and that will slow him down, but if he don't then I give him props because he is playing the way I would play my childhood dream game if I made it to the show...How many injuries did Pete Rose have in his career? I don't know the answer but if I had to say not many because he had over 4000 hits...Cal Ripken Jr and his consecutive games streak, Ripken played the game the right way as well...It is possible to play all out but be smart about it and stay healthy...What has Bryce done that isn't smart? Stealing Home that was smart, Turning a single into a double due to hustling out of the box and being aware that Pierre and his gumby arm is in LF that is smart as well...

Maybe this is how he has played his whole life idk? As far as I know he has never had any serious injuries and he is young and in great shape which helps fight off the injuries...Baseball is a sports where it's athletes can allow them selves to get a bit out of shape and still be successful...Most of the hammy and groin injuries come from players that allow themselves to get out of shape and don't work out or stretch like they should...I was just talking to my dad yesterday how it's funny that these professional athletes in baseball have beer guts, but if you look in the NBA the athletes have very little body fat...Once Bryce gets a year in he will probably start to let himself go like others and that will slow him down, but if he don't then I give him props because he is playing the way I would play my childhood dream game if I made it to the show...How many injuries did Pete Rose have in his career? I don't know the answer but if I had to say not many because he had over 4000 hits...Cal Ripken Jr and his consecutive games streak, Ripken played the game the right way as well...It is possible to play all out but be smart about it and stay healthy...What has Bryce done that isn't smart? Stealing Home that was smart, Turning a single into a double due to hustling out of the box and being aware that Pierre and his gumby arm is in LF that is smart as well...

 

I'm not completely nay saying you...I just think I'd rather have a guy who eased off the gas pedal sometimes and as a result played a full season of solid games every year over a guy who spent his career as a beloved "scrappy" kind of player who spent most of his time signing autographs while leaning on his crutches.

Am I the only one hoping he fails?

Am I the only one hoping he fails?

 

 

Not surprising to hear you say that. Why so much hate?

Not surprising to hear you say that. Why so much hate?

 

Hate? Who said anything about hate?

 

He's a 19 year old kid that acts like he's God's gift to the sport. Sorry if I don't root for that kind of guy to succeed.

Am I the only one hoping he fails?

As long as he stays a National it wouldn't hurt my feelings.

Hate? Who said anything about hate?

 

He's a 19 year old kid that acts like he's God's gift to the sport. Sorry if I don't root for that kind of guy to succeed.

 

You're hoping a 19 year old kid fails. I don't know what else you would call it. How has the kid acted like he's God's gift to the sport. I'll admit I've only seen him a couple of times, but I haven't seen it. Remind me again, are you a Kobe fan?

Hate? Who said anything about hate?

 

He's a 19 year old kid that acts like he's God's gift to the sport. Sorry if I don't root for that kind of guy to succeed.

 

I don't see why you should wish to see him "fail" though. Maybe he could use a solid knock to his ego, but I don't know why I should want him to "fail". Mickey Mantle played his first game as a widely touted 19 year old...and then he drank his way into death-by-liver-failure by age 63. I'm not sure what his ego was like, but still, he apparently didn't deal well with his good fortune. I surely don't feel like I would have rather seen him "fail" though. Would I have rather he didn't live his life out of a bottle? Sure. But fail? No.