Harper update

Edit:
The first time I clicked this link my virus warnings went crazy.

I tried it later after ken's note below and nothing happened. crazy. Maybe it was a bad external ad that they fixed. Or maybe I was hallucinating.

Must be a problem with your software, I tried it from 3 different computers and it worked fine. The site is a Gannett newspaper.

He's now up to these numbers:

.395 BA
8 HRs
30 RBI
1.175 OPS

In 32 games. Only questionable stat is 27 K's in 114 ABs, which is pretty high.

quote:

JH posted....He's now up to these numbers:

.395 BA
8 HRs
30 RBI
1.175 OPS

A good friend of mine has a "man-crush" on Bryce Harper. I can (now) see why. With the exception of the K's per game, that is pretty stout for an 18 year old. He is going to put many butts in many seats in Nat-Land.

http://web.minorleaguebaseball...?content_id=14730285

PR machine is turned on. WSJ today also.

http://online.wsj.com/article/...s_RightTopCarousel_1

I am not a big fan of hype, but Bryce Harper is exceeding expectations - if that is even possible for all the attention he has gotten. The LeBron James comparisons may actually be credible in this case.

I thought it would be tough for anyone to outdo what I saw Mike Trout do last year but this kid may be doing it.

MLB continues to rate Mike above Bryce, in part, I believe, because of his consistency over time and discipline on and off the field.

I became a Trout fan after seeing him as both a fan and a fill in last year. He is for real and his stint in double A should be short.

quote:

Originally posted by Jimmy03:
MLB continues to rate Mike above Bryce, in part, I believe, because of his consistency over time and discipline on and off the field.

I became a Trout fan after seeing him as both a fan and a fill in last year. He is for real and his stint in double A should be short.

Nice insight Jimmy.

Question for you and others....

If you were a GM and starting your franchise tomorrow, who do you pick - Harper or Trout?

If I were a GM , Harper. Because he will put more fans in the stands.

If I were the Skipper , Trout. Because I believe he will be a more productive player for a longer period of time.

quote:

Originally posted by Coach_May:
If I were a GM , Harper. Because he will put more fans in the stands.

If I were the Skipper , Trout. Because I believe he will be a more productive player for a longer period of time.

Absolutely loved that answer but you are fired

LOL!!!

I agree you put the one in who will bring more fans.

Since the day the Marlins put in young Stanton, their attendance has improved. I suspect once the Heat are done (whichever way it falls), the attendance will be better.

Of course that all changes once football begins.

Not sure if anyone has seen Stanton but he is going to be a SUPER, SUPER STAR!

Interesting question. I'd go with Harper. Nothing against Trout because he's an outstanding talent (used to play against him in summer ball in high school), but when projecting players I think Harper is just scary. He's supposed to be a senior in high school and he's putting up these kinds of numbers in the Sally League, after making a mockery out of college pitching. Not many players have had the impact he's supposed to have at his age (Yount, Griffey, A-Rod all come to mind for me). Trout will be a perennial All-Star and one of the best players in the game for a long time, but if Harper stays healthy and keeps his head on relatively straight...it could be unbelievable.

To put things in a statistical perspective, Trout was born in 1991 and drafted after his senior year of high school. In his professional career, he has played a total of 86 games at the A level (end of 2009 and most of 2010). His numbers there were outstanding:

.358 BA
6 HR
39 RBI
77 R
.966 OPS
45 SB

Conversely, Harper was born in 1993 (Edit: 1992, thanks bsbl247) and drafted in 2010 after skipping two years of high school and playing junior college ball. Going into today's game, his numbers are as follows:

.390 BA
8 HR
30 RBI
23 R
1.153 OPS
6 SB

Factor in the fact that Harper has played 33 A-ball games vs. Trout's 86. If he were to complete 86 games, his numbers would project to:

.390 BA
20.8 HR
78.18 RBI
59.94 R
1.153 OPS
15.64 SB


In a 162 game season, like the MLB season, here's what each player would project out to in their respective A-ball careers thus far:

Trout-
.358 BA
11.3 HR
73.47 RBI
145.05 R
.966 OPS
84.77 SB

Harper-
.390 BA
39.27 HR
147.27 RBI
112.91 R
1.153 OPS
29.45 SB


Are Trout's numbers incredible? Absolutely. But Harper's are even better. And he's two full years younger. Would I love having a .358 hitter that steals 85 bases and scores 145 runs? You bet. But I'd prefer .390, 39 HR, 147 RBI.


Note: I am aware that these numbers aren't a particularly accurate indication of pure projection into the future, but right now from a statistical standpoint, they are the only basis for comparison between the two players at this time.

quote:

Originally posted by Coach_May:
If I were the Skipper , Trout.

Ahem. Coach May, take it from an old Northwest guy, skippers catch salmon not trout.

Josh - your analysis is excellent. One thing to keep in mind is adjustments. Bryce is hot right now no doubt - Mickey Mantle hot. Matt Weiters put up unbelievable numbers in the minors and now he is adjusting. Gordon Beckham put up huge numbers at first and now he is adjusting. We'll see who makes the adjustment but I like your analysis.

Bum - I have been salmon fishing out there in the Pacific Ocean. We went at Rockport which is about 3 hours south of Seattle. Nothing on this planet tastes better than fresh salmon.

JH,
FWIW, Harper was born in 1992 (he's 2 months older than my kid). He's still a stud, and would be my choice as well. However, I can't wait for the Angels to bring Trout up, he's an incredible talent and will be fun to watch.

I had a Samin patty one time. Is that the same thing?

quote:

Originally posted by Coach_May:
I had a Samin patty one time. Is that the same thing?

No. With all due respect, salmon patties are horrible tasting imho

You never know which way Trout will go



/Apologies to gotwood

bsbl- You are right, thanks. I overlooked that, kind of assumed the year of birth based on graduation year, forgetting that a lot of kids with late birthdays do what he did academically (I was born in April of 1990 and graduated from high school in '08. But there were several classmates of mine born in late '89).

CD- Beckham is a great example of adjustments, as is Wieters. I think most great players have to go through adjustments. It will certainly be interesting to see how each of these players will respond when they face adversity. Their baseball careers have been so successful up to this point that it'll be something they've never experienced. All reports I've read about Trout tell me his makeup is off the charts so he will be fine. Harper has of course had mixed reviews.

quote:

However, I can't wait for the Angels to bring Trout up, he's an incredible talent and will be fun to watch

Trout will be an MLB star. He's a terrific ballplayer. Another player from NJ who should make it in the near future is Ryan Kalish. He already got a taste of the bigs and has had some success in that time.

zombywoof,

You got that right. Ryan Kalish is a very good player right now, and will get even better with more experience in the Bigs. I'm a huge Kalish fan.

If I'm reading the tea leaves correctly, the Sox will are holding him to be their future right fielder when they decline to re-sign JD Drew to an overpriced extension. JD Drew is a good player, but the Sox overpaid big time for his services. Kalish will give them talent, value and youth. Kalish is cut from the same cloth as Pedroia and Youkilis...they bring a grinder or you will never out hustle me mentality. JMO.

I would take Harper any and every day of the week. Trout is good, but any player who came up as a catcher is a guy who I would want on my team. He is known for playing the game hard and is somebody who atleast sounds like he wants to be the best ever.

I've marked my calendar to remind me to revisit this topic in 2016.

In my opinion Trout has an excellent chance to be a ML star--a guy who makes multiple AllStar teams. Harper has a chance--a chance, mind you--to become one of the great HR hitters of all time. Harper, has other tools too, such as the ability to hit for high average along with his 80 power so I would take him if I had to make a choice. But you can't go wrong with either guy. I can hardly wait for these two to make the Show.

I listened to the radio interview and it was clear; there are no plans to bring him up this year.


http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=6564120

Looks like Bryce is in a bit of a funk hitting .128 in his last 10 games.

quote:

Originally posted by Strike 3:
Looks like Bryce is in a bit of a funk hitting .128 in his last 10 games.

I wonder if he is still swinging like this. Someone had him working on a different swing path over the off-season.

That is one nice stroke!

If I were a betting man, I'd say that these teams are getting the word out to throw him more offspeed. Meaning of course that he's not seeing that backspin that makes his eyes light up!

quote:

Originally posted by floridafan:
That is one nice stroke!

It IS a beautiful power stroke; his weight and hands are moving towards this BP pitch before his front foot plants. IMO opinion, a great maximum power producer when you know whats coming and when it will arrive.

If he has this much movement with MLB pitchers, I believe he will tone down this approach or they will eat his lunch.

It's worth noting though, that I have been wrong on more than one other occasion.

Yea, there's no way that anyone with a lot of movement in their stride could be successful.



If you look closely at his bottom half, Harper doesn't really have a lot of movement. He merely keeps his front knee behind his hip as long as possible. (Someone knew this secret)

quote:

Originally posted by SultanofSwat:
Yea, there's no way that anyone with a lot of movement in their stride could be successful.



If you look closely at his bottom half, Harper doesn't really have a lot of movement. He merely keeps his front knee behind his hip as long as possible. (Someone knew this secret)

I get what you are saying Sultan and don't disagree. My point with Harper was, unlike your illustration of the Babe, his front foot is moving with his swing, it seems. Rather, than however much movement one has, the front foot, IMO, needs to be down to post against before the swing starts.

It seemed to me in the clip that he has timed this repetitive BP delivery and is moving forward and swinging somewhat simultaneously, maximizing rhythm and power. All very nice and doable when you know whats coming. I.E. he has committed his weight transfer too early.

That swing will produce a lot of K's, fewer as he adjusts to the pitching. But, it will also produce a bunch of HR's and no one will remember the K's.

Well Mike Trout was called up today for the Angels. It didn't take him long did it?

quote:

Originally posted by Coach_May:
Well Mike Trout was called up today for the Angels. It didn't take him long did it?

Sure didn't. I figured him coming up as a September callup or getting a shot next spring.

19 years old and starting in CF in the show. Wow. He is going to be a star for years to come.

Local papers report he was called up due to an injury and, in part to see how he handled CF in ML game. He's unlikely to stay the season, but wowed the locals with his ability to cover CF and make plays.

Tremendous speed and natural instincts. He is really put together for a 19 year old. Already has a ml body. On the sac bunt he got his first ml hit on he was on top of the bag by the time the throw got there. He has game changing speed. He is going to be a star for a long time to come. He is a very exciting player to watch play the game.