tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5647291021082797487.post2079491174177332357..comments2023-06-25T06:58:15.188-04:00Comments on Capitol Baseball: Bryce Harper to Make the Majors in 2011?Joe Druganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01445225986824666955noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5647291021082797487.post-42067692980389946722011-01-04T09:24:31.980-05:002011-01-04T09:24:31.980-05:00I agree with bdrube, I think the organization will...I agree with bdrube, I think the organization will want to see how he handles himself in the minors when pitchers start adjusting to him. <br /><br />Even minor leaguers look at video. Hundreds of eyes will be breaking down his swing, looking for holes, seeing which pitches he likes, noticing which pitches he chases and on which counts, seeing what he can do against professional-caliber curveballs and sliders.<br /><br />How he re-adjusts to pitchers' inevitable adjustment to him will tell us what kind of hitter he is. At age 18, it's better that he figures this out against AA pitchers to start off, rather than Roy Halladay and Cliff Lee.Nicknoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5647291021082797487.post-41571340791481499292011-01-03T13:14:17.523-05:002011-01-03T13:14:17.523-05:00I personally think he needs a good year of riding ...I personally think he needs a good year of riding the bus so that his head stays on straight - maybe even more important than honing his baseball skills. He comes from a good family but has been pretty sheltered by them.macmomnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5647291021082797487.post-88142041490770349622011-01-03T13:05:10.076-05:002011-01-03T13:05:10.076-05:00Al Kaline did all of his learning in the majors on...Al Kaline did all of his learning in the majors on that Tiger's team. Rizzo prefers to use the minors for instruction and the pro's for performance. If he proves his performance warrants it there is no reason to keep Harper off of the major league roster other than the ticking clock toward free agency. Which wasn't a problem in Al Kaline's time.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5647291021082797487.post-46656899088650891962011-01-03T12:09:12.586-05:002011-01-03T12:09:12.586-05:00Maybe Ladson should read this article from Novembe...Maybe Ladson should read this article from November:<br /><br />http://voices.washingtonpost.com/nationalsjournal/2010/11/bryce_harper_likely_to_start_2.html<br /><br />"I would assume [Harper] starts in Hagerstown," Rizzo said. "That could change. If the minor league season opened today, it would be Hagerstown. I think he needs to start in a comfortable position for him and succeed and move on."Steve M.noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5647291021082797487.post-75825804524123741742011-01-03T11:57:09.536-05:002011-01-03T11:57:09.536-05:00Steve M. et al, I embarrased for NatsTown that La...Steve M. et al, I embarrased for NatsTown that Ladson's story was posted to that site so others can think we are ALL idiots here. It is down right sad that Ladson would contradict Rizzo clearly stating already that Bryce Harper was to start in "A" ball.<br /><br />Steve M. and Anon gave all the reasonable scenarios for seeing Bryce Harper playing in the Majors.<br /><br />How embarassing!Mark'dnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5647291021082797487.post-13483683006834571522011-01-03T11:29:25.512-05:002011-01-03T11:29:25.512-05:00@Anon - "How can a responsible Nationals jour...@Anon - "How can a responsible Nationals journalist wrtie that?" <br /><br />It is NOT a responsible journalist. It's Ladson. To call the man a hack is to give a bad name to hacks everywhere. Does he REALLY not realize that the economics of baseball have dramatically changed since Al Kaline's time? Actually, I wouldn't bet on it.<br /><br />Absolute best case for Harper is he has a sizzling spring, lights it up at Potomac in April, does the same at Harrisburg in May and gets called up in June like Strasburg did. But even that is unlikely. The team will certinly want to see how he handles it when he has his first slump as a professional before having him face major league pitching.<br /><br />I would bet on September, but ONLY if he has an outstanding year in the minors. If he struggles at all, don't bet on seeing him until next year at the earliest, and then likely after Opening Day to set his free agency clock back yet one additional year.bdrubenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5647291021082797487.post-89695023856308621632011-01-03T10:55:06.876-05:002011-01-03T10:55:06.876-05:00Joe - Your link of the SI.com Network Site FanNat...Joe - Your link of the SI.com Network Site FanNation.com story is a partial excerpt credited back to none other than Bill Ladson. Bryce Harper has as much chance of being on the 2011 Opening Day roster in Washington as Eury Perez!<br /><br />How can a responsible Nationals journalist wrtie that? Steve M. above hit all the scenarios and it still is based on Bryce Harper performing at levels that would warrant the promotions!<br /><br />http://washington.nationals.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20101224&content_id=16367546&vkey=news_was&c_id=was<br /><br /><i>3. When will Bryce Harper make his big league debut?<br />Harper is projected to be in the Majors by 2013, but, thus far, the 18-year old has proven he could play with professionals. He wasn't over matched in the instructional league or the Arizona Fall League. He will be in Major League Spring Training and will face big league pitching for the first time. <br /><br />It wouldn't come as a surprise if Harper played well and made the team out of Spring Training. It can be done. Remember Al Kaline? He made his Major League debut at the age of 18 and went on to have a Hall of Fame career. </i>Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5647291021082797487.post-35890653915561844232011-01-03T10:44:43.690-05:002011-01-03T10:44:43.690-05:00I think that the only way he breaks camp with the ...I think that the only way he breaks camp with the team is if the team is so dreadfully terrible during the grapefruit league, that no one will want to buy tickets to see the Nats during the season. In this way, he would sell lots of tickets.Machttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02170441309745095641noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5647291021082797487.post-35408677925706548062011-01-03T10:36:53.174-05:002011-01-03T10:36:53.174-05:00Sorry, I saw Ladson write something similar and it...Sorry, I saw Ladson write something similar and it just won't happen out of Spring Training just like Stephen Strasburg last year.<br /><br />Maybe as a June call-up like Strasburg which is still unlikely, but if he does real well in the Minors in 2011 the first time we see him will be as a September callup when rosters are expanded. <br /><br />The Minor League development for Bryce Harper will be important for his defense in the outfield as much as anything as well as his development in the system.<br /><br />Harper turns 19 years old during the Post Season 2011. The big question will be if he starts off in Washington on Opening Day 2012 like Jason Heyward did or is a June callup like Mike Stanton. To me, that may be the topic we will debate most at this time next year!Steve M.noreply@blogger.com