OT: Bryce Harper broken bat HR

[Chris McLaughlin]

https://deadspin.com/bryce-harper-delivers-sweet-sweet-broken-bat-home-run-1825308377/amp

Pretty ridiculous.

I'm sure you hate the guy @Y.A.G Si Ye Nots, but what's your take on it?

 

[Y.A.G Si Ye Nots]

For some reason, numerous reporters are claiming and acting like it is some unbelievable, never-before-seen feat. That's false. I am absolutely positive this happens quite often (I'd even venture once a year). I am positive I have seen this numerous times in the recent past.

Because it is Harper, it is getting a lot more attention, but I can't believe that all of these supposed professionals who write and talk about baseball are acting like this is a never-seen-before accomplishment.

And, yes, I dislike Harper and his on-field personality/off-field religious beliefs as much as I dislike Matt Harvey.

What really irritates me is that the Mets could have had a 7 game lead on the Nats, but instead, they blew a 6-1 lead in the 8th inning and now only have a 5 game lead.

 

[Chris McLaughlin]

For some reason, numerous reporters are claiming and acting like it is some unbelievable, never-before-seen feat. That's false. I am absolutely positive this happens quite often (I'd even venture once a year). I am positive I have seen this numerous times in the recent past.

Yep, you're right: https://www.mlb.com/news/broken-bat-home-runs-baseball-history/c-272487014

Wonder how his 406 foot shot measures up against the others?

I know Harper is big into LDS but I don't follow him on any social media so I don't see too much of it. I know it's there, though.

 

[Y.A.G Si Ye Nots]

And that is what confuses me about all of these announcers and writers saying things like "unbelievable, I have never seen that before!" Do they not watch other games or highlights? I'm guessing it happens about once a year in MLB or at least once a year this decade.

Are you Nats fans regretting letting Dusty go? I read a recent article/interview on him that wasn't too complimentary of the Nats front office. It made it seem like Riz didn't have control of personnel decisions . . . or was dishonest with Baker, neither of which is a good reflection.

I only was around Mike a few times through the obvious mutual "friend" that I know you also have, but he seemed like a good and genuine guy. I wish I had picked his brain and gotten to know him better. Is he getting screwed over in DC? I can't believe they haven't given him an extension after this year yet. When the star players are going to bat for a front office guy, you know he is well-liked. Makes me wonder what is going on. For the record, I also thought Kasten was a good baseball guy and the Lerners didn't seem to want to hold on to him much.

 

[Chris McLaughlin]

Are you Nats fans regretting letting Dusty go? I read a recent article/interview on him that wasn't too complimentary of the Nats front office. It made it seem like Riz didn't have control of personnel decisions . . . or was dishonest with Baker, neither of which is a good reflection.

Dusty is/was a likeable guy and was easy to cheer for but I'm glad he's gone. He simply doesn't have the chops to manage in the postseason against guys like Joe Maddon or Dave Roberts. Over 162 games he's very good, but he doesn't adapt once the calendar flips to October.

Seriously, how many people currently living on earth could have managed the Nats to the NL East title last year? A ton. Not only were the Nats loaded but the east was brutal.

I've read some of Dusty's comments. I think he's just a pissed old man who realizes his last chance to win a WS passed him by. I know Boras and the Lerners meddle from time to time but I fully believe Rizzo wanted Dusty out after the Cubs series debacle.

I only Mike a few times through the obvious mutual "friend" that I know you also have, but he seemed like a good and genuine guy. I wish I had picked his brain and gotten to know him better. Is he getting screwed over in DC? I can't believe they haven't given him an extension after this year yet. When the star players are going to bat for a front office guy, you know he is well-liked. Makes me wonder what is going on. For the record, I also thought Kasten was a good baseball guy and the Lerners didn't seem to want to hold on to him much.

I love Mike. Such a nice guy. He's basically the antithesis of guys like Epstein, Friedman, Lunhow and Chernoff. A baseball lifer who is still rough around the edges and down to earth. Those guys I just mentioned could probably be CEOs for Fortune 500s. Mike would probably struggle to run a Subway - and I mean that as a compliment.

The Lerners just re-upped him through 2020. Well deserved and the Nats would be in trouble without Rizz running things - because like you mentioned - the Lerners meddle and allow Boras to have too much influence on what they're doing.

 

[Y.A.G Si Ye Nots]

The Lerners just re-upped him through 2020. Well deserved and the Nats would be in trouble without Rizz running things - because like you mentioned - the Lerners meddle and allow Boras to have too much influence on what they're doing.

Good to hear. I hadn't heard that and just remember him not having an extension as of a few weeks ago.

I agree about Dusty. His son starts as a second base for Cal and, not coincidentally, was drafted out of high school last year by the Nats. If you get a chance, check out Andrew Vaughn from Cal. He is a sophomore who is mashing. He is second in the country in home runs with 15 and second in the country in on base percentage (.560). He is also top 12 in average (.407).

As a freshman, he had four home runs . . . that's just the opposite field ones. It's rare to see a young hitter have so much power the other way. As a freshman, I believe he had three walkoff home runs. Strangely, he only had one home run his entire high school career, but hit 12 as a college freshman

The kid is only 5'10 and is playing first base, so he may not have a position in the big leagues other than DH, but he can rake.

 

[Marine03]

So who do y’all take if you can only have one of these players? Harper or Trout?

 

[Chris McLaughlin]

So who do y’all take if you can only have one of these players? Harper or Trout?

Probably Trout because he plays a premium defensive position. He’s also much lower key personality wise.

 

[Y.A.G Si Ye Nots]

So who do y’all take if you can only have one of these players? Harper or Trout?

Regardless of defense, I don't think it is even close at this point. Trout's offensive production has been far superior to Bryce's, and I am not saying that just because I don't like Harper. There is a huge difference in production from both of them.

Look at Harper's offensive stats. He had one great year (MVP year of 2015). Before that season, his best year was hitting .270 with 24 HRs 18 SBs. So, before his MVP season, he was average production, at best. What did he do after his MVP season? The following season he hit .243 with 24 HRs, which is below average production for a right fielder. The next year he bounced back and hit .319 with 29 HRs, which is good, but not great, and definitely not superstar status.

Out of his first six years, he has had one superstar season, one good season, and a bunch of average seasons for a starting outfielder. That is far from star production, let alone being considered a top five hitter. This year, his power numbers have started off hot, so he could be bouncing back to another MVP type of season, but that's still another 145 games to go.

Compare that to Trout. Trout has also had six full seasons in the bigs. Out of those six, he has had four seasons with 30 or more home runs (and a fifth with 29). Harper has had one season with at least 30 home runs (and a second with 29). In six seasons, Trout has had four hitting at least .300 (and a fifth hitting .299). Harper has had two seasons hitting at least .300. Trout is a much bigger threat on the basepaths.

I don't think the comparison should be between Trout and Harper. Trout has been far, far better (not to say Harper won't eventually catch up). The better comparison is Harper against Paul Goldschmidt. Just like Trout and Harper, Goldschmidt has had six full seasons in the bigs. Check out his production.

Goldschmidt has had three seasons with 30 or more home runs (Trout-4, Harper-1). Goldschmidt has hit at least .300 three times; in two other seasons, he was two hits away each time from hitting .300 (Trout- 4, Harper-2).

So in terms of average and power, Goldschmidt has been better than Harper (both in per average and breaking down normal thresholds). Doubles? Goldschmidt has had at least 30 in all six of his seasons. Harper has had one season with at least 30 doubles. On base percentage? Advantage Goldschmidt. Slugging percentage? Advantage Goldschmidt.

The most shocking? Check out the stolen bases between Harper and Goldschmidt. Harper has the reputation of being athletic and a runner. Goldschmidt doesn't have that reputation. Harper has had double digit steals in three of his six full seasons with a high of 21 in 2016. Goldschmidt has had double digit steals in five of his six seasons with a high of 32 in 2016.

By all measures, at least offensively, Goldschmidt has been superior to Harper, but you wouldn't know that due to marketing.

 

[Chris McLaughlin]

Regardless of defense, I don't think it is even close at this point. Trout's offensive production has been far superior to Bryce's, and I am not saying that just because I don't like Harper. There is a huge difference in production from both of them.

Look at Harper's offensive stats. He had one great year (MVP year of 2015). Before that season, his best year was hitting .270 with 24 HRs 18 SBs. So, before his MVP season, he was average production, at best. What did he do after his MVP season? The following season he hit .243 with 24 HRs, which is below average production for a right fielder. The next year he bounced back and hit .319 with 29 HRs, which is good, but not great, and definitely not superstar status.

Out of his first six years, he has had one superstar season, one good season, and a bunch of average seasons for a starting outfielder. That is far from star production, let alone being considered a top five hitter. This year, his power numbers have started off hot, so he could be bouncing back to another MVP type of season, but that's still another 145 games to go.

Compare that to Trout. Trout has also had six full seasons in the bigs. Out of those six, he has had four seasons with 30 or more home runs (and a fifth with 29). Harper has had one season with at least 30 home runs (and a second with 29). In six seasons, Trout has had four hitting at least .300 (and a fifth hitting .299). Harper has had two seasons hitting at least .300. Trout is a much bigger threat on the basepaths.

I don't think the comparison should be between Trout and Harper. Trout has been far, far better (not to say Harper won't eventually catch up). The better comparison is Harper against Paul Goldschmidt. Just like Trout and Harper, Goldschmidt has had six full seasons in the bigs. Check out his production.

Goldschmidt has had three seasons with 30 or more home runs (Trout-4, Harper-1). Goldschmidt has hit at least .300 three times; in two other seasons, he was two hits away each time from hitting .300 (Trout- 4, Harper-2).

So in terms of average and power, Goldschmidt has been better than Harper (both in per average and breaking down normal thresholds). Doubles? Goldschmidt has had at least 30 in all six of his seasons. Harper has had one season with at least 30 doubles. On base percentage? Advantage Goldschmidt. Slugging percentage? Advantage Goldschmidt.

The most shocking? Check out the stolen bases between Harper and Goldschmidt. Harper has the reputation of being athletic and a runner. Goldschmidt doesn't have that reputation. Harper has had double digit steals in three of his six full seasons with a high of 21 in 2016. Goldschmidt has had double digit steals in five of his six seasons with a high of 32 in 2016.

By all measures, at least offensively, Goldschmidt has been superior to Harper, but you wouldn't know that due to marketing.

Goldschmidt is criminally underrated. He's so damn good.

The thing about Bryce is that his 2015 was otherworldly. He got on base at a .460 clip. His OPS was above 1.100. So far this year his OBP is .480 and his OPS is 1.230. Those are ridiculous numbers that no one currently in the game can match - even guys like Trout and Goldschmidt.

That said, Harper's 2016 was average. His 2017 was elite but he missed a ton of playing time with a knee injury.

Someone is going to break the bank for Harper (probably LAD) - even with the strange CBA keeping salaries down - because of that 2015 season and because he's 26. I'll miss watching him play in DC but I'd honestly rather the Nats work on extending guys like Rendon and Turner than spending $45 mill/year on Bryce.