Comments on: Bryce Harper emulates Ichiro Suzuki for infield single

By: The Baseball Idiot

The Baseball Idiot — Wed, 07 Mar 2012 08:02:06 +0000

Guys who are supposed to be big hitters that end up bunting do so because they know they aren’t hitting the ball well. Harper knows he’s not swinging the bat well. I know it. I’m willing to bet the team knows it. Keeping him in the major league camp is going to hurt more than help him. It’s only being done as a media stunt, which is what Spring Training is all about now anyhow. Does he, or we for that matter, need to listen to the endless stories about what a bad spring he had?

Andit wasn’t a bunt. He’s not getting around on the ball and threw the bat out there to make contact. He has decent speed, and the element of surprise, so it worked. If that’s going to be his game, he’s a bust already.

By: natstowngreg

natstowngreg — Wed, 07 Mar 2012 00:07:08 +0000

hmmm, Mickey Mantle was known to beat out a bunt every once in a while. Not comparing Harper to The Mick, just sayin’…

By: natstowngreg

natstowngreg — Tue, 06 Mar 2012 23:58:41 +0000

While I agree that Harper needs more experience in the minors, he doesn’t need to be in the minor-league camp yet. Teams have lots of guys in Major League camps who will end up in the minors, but they get experience in exhibitions. Even if he does end up at Harrisburg or Syracuse in April, there’s no rush to send him down.

By: The Baseball Idiot

The Baseball Idiot — Tue, 06 Mar 2012 22:50:20 +0000

If a guy has the talent to play the game, then you put him in the line-up at the highest level he can be competent at.

I know what the ecomonics of the game are. Still doesn’t mean it’s the right thing to do.

By: marshmallowsnake

marshmallowsnake — Tue, 06 Mar 2012 20:03:57 +0000

Bryce Harper, the singles hitter. Has a nice ring to it.

By: icanspeel

icanspeel — Tue, 06 Mar 2012 19:47:14 +0000

It’s hardly a BS timeline.. it’s baseball economics. A team controls a player for only so many years so you don’t want they’re major league time wasted when the player is before their prime

By: The Baseball Idiot

The Baseball Idiot — Tue, 06 Mar 2012 18:50:51 +0000

I think everyone is getting a little over-excited. He’s not driving the ball. He’s either overmatched by Major League pitching, or something is wrong with him.

Teahan had a worse swing than anything Harper did and drove it to the warning track.

Harper isn’t going to see much playing time hitting groundball singles and looking unsteady in right.

I don’t believe in keeping players in the minors because of some bullshit timeline, but Harper needs to be in the minor league camp.

By: cur68

cur68 — Tue, 06 Mar 2012 18:50:50 +0000

That was cool. No ego involved in the “Ichiro”. Just good old Echsteinian scrappy. I give him a 1.8 on the Eckstein Scale O Scrappy for that slap-hit-and-hustle.

By: nategearhart

nategearhart — Tue, 06 Mar 2012 18:39:38 +0000

Agreed…I know it makes good sense to leave him down a while, but I always root for better baseball, and this kid is good.

By: trevorb06

trevorb06 — Tue, 06 Mar 2012 18:30:54 +0000

I’m rooting for him to make the MLB out of the gate this year. I know it won’t happen but if I’m going to dream I’m going to dream big! [especially since hoping my Twins have a good season isn't dreaming big, that's dreaming impossible just like unicorns and flying pigs]

By: dondada10

dondada10 — Tue, 06 Mar 2012 18:22:35 +0000

I watched the Nats/Mets game on SNY last night and Harper looks legit. I wouldn’t at all be surprised if he broke camp.

By: nategearhart

nategearhart — Tue, 06 Mar 2012 18:21:36 +0000

Very nice hit.