Comments on: A look back at the Nationals’ promotion of Bryce Harper http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2012/12/30/a-look-back-at-the-nationals-promotion-of-bryce-harper/ Baseball. Baseball. And then a bit more baseball. Thu, 23 May 2013 04:51:37 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.com/ By: fanofevilempire http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2012/12/30/a-look-back-at-the-nationals-promotion-of-bryce-harper/comment-page-1/#comment-420081 Tue, 01 Jan 2013 16:04:34 +0000 http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/?p=281836#comment-420081 and this is how the legend of the next Babe Ruth was born………………

]]> By: sfm073 http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2012/12/30/a-look-back-at-the-nationals-promotion-of-bryce-harper/comment-page-1/#comment-419446 Mon, 31 Dec 2012 06:47:05 +0000 http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/?p=281836#comment-419446 The problem paperlions is how many of those guys were called up at 19 and how many of them were elite talents at the age of 12? I don’t see him slumping but I could easily see him putting up similar numbers for another year or two and then really breaking out at 22.

]]> By: timb12 http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2012/12/30/a-look-back-at-the-nationals-promotion-of-bryce-harper/comment-page-1/#comment-419436 Mon, 31 Dec 2012 05:38:50 +0000 http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/?p=281836#comment-419436 Did Rizzo tell him “that’s a clown question bro” ?

]]> By: dcfan4life http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2012/12/30/a-look-back-at-the-nationals-promotion-of-bryce-harper/comment-page-1/#comment-419421 Mon, 31 Dec 2012 04:54:53 +0000 http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/?p=281836#comment-419421 You know, many solid rookies have softmore slumps, this is true. But look at the ROY classes recently.

http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/awards/mlb_awards_content.jsp?content=roy_history

It is so hard to become ROY that only really good players have been able to do so and most stay not only good, but MVP quality. A high number of MVPs were ROY the last 10 years. Not saying Harper will be an MVP even though he could, but i dont predict a massive dropoff unless its injury related. I see improvement, especially since he is on a good team with strong bats to protect him.

]]> By: cadillacjosh http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2012/12/30/a-look-back-at-the-nationals-promotion-of-bryce-harper/comment-page-1/#comment-419359 Mon, 31 Dec 2012 02:06:01 +0000 http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/?p=281836#comment-419359 Paperlions-

Braun had a “slump” for his second year. it was still awesome, but his rookie campaign was so good, we thought he’d hit 40 hr’s and a .340 BA

]]> By: jwbiii http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2012/12/30/a-look-back-at-the-nationals-promotion-of-bryce-harper/comment-page-1/#comment-419344 Mon, 31 Dec 2012 01:40:54 +0000 http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/?p=281836#comment-419344 chris728, A list of MLB players whose careers peaked at age 19 and a discussion of why he is similar to them would add weight to your argument.

]]> By: paperlions http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2012/12/30/a-look-back-at-the-nationals-promotion-of-bryce-harper/comment-page-1/#comment-419342 Mon, 31 Dec 2012 01:36:11 +0000 http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/?p=281836#comment-419342 How common are “sophomore slumps”? How often do truly good players have good rookie years and then a sophomore slump, only to recover and be good or better? Because if a guy only has a good rookie season and then is never good again, it wasn’t a slump, but the league adjusting to his limited skill set.

Out of curiosity, I looked for sophomore slumps among players with at least 3000 PAs (so that players pretty much had to be good enough to be a regular for 5 seasons). Of the top 25 players (according to fWAR), only Beltran had a noticeable sophomore slump. Of the 25 players with the lowest WAR, only Jorge Cantu, Neifi Perez, Carl Everett, and Jonny Gomes had a noticeable sophomore slump. Nearly all of the top players had a huge jump in performance…and nearly all of the worst players had similar years the next year.

The Sophomore slump appears to be another basless post hoc narrative, in which those that “slump” really just had a a rookie season that didn’t represent their true talent.

]]> By: albertmn http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2012/12/30/a-look-back-at-the-nationals-promotion-of-bryce-harper/comment-page-1/#comment-419278 Mon, 31 Dec 2012 00:09:33 +0000 http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/?p=281836#comment-419278 Really? You pull out 130 RBI as what he needs to hit to be a success? There have only been four total guys to have that many RBI in the NL in the last five seasons, and none in the last three. Why didn’t you pick 45 HR as your HR threshold while you are at it? He can be a very good player, even an All-Star or future HOF player, without ever knocking in 130 runs.

]]> By: Kevin Gillman http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2012/12/30/a-look-back-at-the-nationals-promotion-of-bryce-harper/comment-page-1/#comment-419274 Mon, 31 Dec 2012 00:05:57 +0000 http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/?p=281836#comment-419274 Jackson, you might be right, because 9 times out of 10, Sophmore Slumps happen. But to say he won’t be much of a better hitter than what he showed this season is pushing it a bit. Regardless, Bryce has showed his maturity, and respect of the game just by his play, in really what was a tough situation for him to be in, namely the Number one pick in all of MLB two years ago, and has found a way to be productive at the age of 19 is remarkable. So, let’s wait and see what he does first from here on out. He is very good for the game though.

]]> By: Jackson http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2012/12/30/a-look-back-at-the-nationals-promotion-of-bryce-harper/comment-page-1/#comment-419265 Sun, 30 Dec 2012 23:58:08 +0000 http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/?p=281836#comment-419265 Not to be a pessimist but I can see a big sophomore slump in his near future and a lot of Nationals fans claiming he was brought up too fast.

]]> By: Kevin Gillman http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2012/12/30/a-look-back-at-the-nationals-promotion-of-bryce-harper/comment-page-1/#comment-419248 Sun, 30 Dec 2012 23:39:13 +0000 http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/?p=281836#comment-419248 Why do you think that? Let me ask you this question, how many 19-20 year olds can even make the adjustments needed, like he did this season? No reason to NOT think he can’t put up better numbers all the way around, and I am not a Nats fan, but coming from an outside perspective on this.

]]> By: chris728 http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2012/12/30/a-look-back-at-the-nationals-promotion-of-bryce-harper/comment-page-1/#comment-419223 Sun, 30 Dec 2012 23:22:42 +0000 http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/?p=281836#comment-419223 This will be his best year ever. He may have years that are slightly better in one category or another. If you believe Bryce to be a 30 hr/130 rbi/.300 ave/ less than 100 strikeout guy…you should loo elsewhere. Overall, marginal improvement will be seen from this point forward.

]]> By: dondada10 http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2012/12/30/a-look-back-at-the-nationals-promotion-of-bryce-harper/comment-page-1/#comment-419179 Sun, 30 Dec 2012 22:04:00 +0000 http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/?p=281836#comment-419179 Damn I miss baseball.

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