Is it possible to hustle too much?

I feel you can never hustle too much. A high level of play, as how Harper plays, is what all players should aspire to do...

I understand what you're saying and I don't think I would describe it as hustling too much.  You should always hustle and use those who do hustle as examples for younger players but you need to play smart.  Up 6 - 0 and flying into a wall is not hustling - it's not playing smart.  Two bases aren't going to kill you in the team effort (yes I realize there is the whole argument about starting a rally) but if you get hurt and come out then the guy replacing you probably isn't as good.  Now you being out of the lineup is hurting the team.

There's a difference between hustling and doing things which are not smart in the long run.

From the mouth of a 15YO outfielder ball player, "He looked really bad on that one. He lost all sense of where he was ... in spite of the warning track."

I agree. It was a mental error more than an over-hustling error -- which is rarely possible, I think.

I think jp hit it right on.  After watching the replay numerous time, it is easy to see that he was not going all out for the ball, he just lost track of where he was at, plain and simple.  Goes to show he is still learning the OF position.

I hope he never lets up on his intensity

I love Harpers hustle and intensity.  However, intelligence & judgement are also key baseball attributes that should be used along with hustle and intensity.

I'm not so sure that Bryce Harper would be where he is at if he played differently.  This is part of his make up.  I don't believe this is something you turn on and off.  Everyone wants the guy who will run through the wall.  

I do agree that this was poor technique on that play.  The technique will improve, the decision making will improve, but I doubt he is ever going to lack effort. Someone else can have the safe, calculating, guys that think about a long career.  I'll take the guys that play for keeps on every play. 

That said, I hate fake hustle. That is the guy that sprints everywhere like a madman, but will not run through the wall or break up a double play.

We always hear people say this... Play every game as if it's your last game! It's not bad advice IMO!

I have no clue who Bryce Harper is, it doesn't matter.  The question is "Is it possible to hustle too much?".  The answer is NO.  100% every play, practice, game, or offseason training: no more, no less.  Play all out or quit and watch in the stands.

I have no clue who Bryce Harper is

That's a clown comment bro

Clown comment? Really? so he's some guy on the Nationals - a team I don't follow in the National League which I don't have a lot of interest in. Stuff it up the backside granbyfan !

sowilson, let me Google that for you.

I think there have been players that run everything out every single time. I don't remember seeing Pete Rose take it easy.  One player that I always admired even though he would make mistakes was Shawon Dunston.  He easily could have been one of those prima donna types being the first pick of the draft and having some of the best "tools" ever. But not once did I ever see Dunston dog it or take it easy.  That is what I will always remember him for.

We selected Dunston's son (same name) for the All American game a couple years ago.  I had a chance to talk to his dad and told him the same thing I wrote above.  His reply was "You don't know how much that means to me".  I think it would be great if it meant that much to every player. 

Papi ... The person who didn't hustle all the time was Alex Johnson. When he stopped hitting .300 he non hustled his way out of baseball. Johnson once sat out the last two games of the season to win a batting title.

Shane Victorino has won three Gold Gloves. He tweeted Harper to hustle but be smart and have a long career. 

Agreed +1

You can nver hustle too much. For the millions these players make, they should be running thru brick walls. Just watch Robnsion Cano run  out balls out of the box. La-z-boy Cano always lollygagging and never hustles on the basepaths. You will never hear about Cano legging out a tough grounder because most of the time, he's rarely in the picture when the ball is coming to first. One can only imagine what a great player he could be if he ever hustled. While Harper may have come off as cocky at times early on, the one thing nobody can say is Harper dogs it. He plays hard and he hustles.

I don't think you can hustle "too much" but I do think there is a thing called "show hustle" - which is an unnecessary fake hustle in a situation where it won't matter at all to the outcome of a play. 

For instance - a shortstop diving for a ball that is well out of reach. Is that hustle? Or is he just trying to impress the coach? 

I would not put running out ground balls in that category. Even at the majors, once in a blue moon there will be a bad throw or catch, and the difference between running to first and dogging it could be the difference in getting there safely.

Kremer is dead on about show hustle. Unfortunately, it is hard to tell the difference sometimes. Here's my example of a kid I witnessed on Friday night. I was traveling out of state and went to watch a local game. I didn't know anything about the teams I was watching.

Saw the kid in warm-ups. Athletic build, cocky walk, first one to sprint to position, you've seen him before. Comes up as the leadoff batter. Stretching his neck, shaking out his legs, then jumps up in the air while pulling his kness up. It was obvious in my mind that he wanted all eyes on him.

To his credit, he played well, got hits to get on base. Diving around, getting dirty, etc.... Struck out looking and looked at the ump with a you've got to be kidding expression, but turned his head toward the crowd a little so that all could see his disbelief in the call.

I later saw him on deck encouraging the 9th batter to get a hit.Real vocal and would always look to the crowd to make sure that the fans saw him being a good teammate.

The kid did hustle, but I believe it was more about show than anything else. Good player though.

On the other hand, I hadn't really noticed the big first baseman. Until he cranked a 2 run shot over the wall, had an oppo RBI double, and capped it off with a Sac fly.  Kid just sort of blended in, but his play stood out.

By all means play hard. But play smart. I'm thinking Junior wishes he had run into fewer outfield fences/walls at the Kingdome.