Harp-er On? 2012

[Old Sweater]

Waiting for Bryce Harper to come to Washington

http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/news?slu..._harper_020112

So here’s what has to go right:

• Center field. Who plays there might depend on whether Bryce Harper, at 19, is ready for the big leagues after 387 minor league at-bats. Davey Johnson believes Harper is ready. Rizzo says that if Harper shows him something in spring training, he won’t be afraid to start the arbitration clock. If Harper makes it to opening day, he’ll be the right fielder, Mike Morse the left fielder and Werth the center fielder. If Harper starts the year in Triple-A, Werth probably moves back to right and Roger Bernadina or Cameron – at a spry 39 – could play center.

Savior

There is only one, and that is Bryce Harper.

Great stroke, great arm, great speed and great head for the game.

And, yet, only one year of junior college ball and one year in the minors, including all of 37 games above A-ball.

The Nationals can take their shot with him in April, hope he figures it out, hope he can live with the occasional failures, when he’s perhaps overmatched for the first time in his life.

Maybe it’s worth the risk.

Because there’s another part of his game that’s equally great: his unshakeable certainty.

http://www.baseball-reference.com/mi...d=harper002bry

Hagerstown A-ball-.318/.423/.554/.977
Harrisburg AA-ball.256/.329/.395/.724
Combined A&AA-ball.297/.392/.501/.894

One can't think the Nationals would be that afraid of arbitration pay if the 19 year old Bryce Harper is ready for MLB. Then one could think not many 19 year olds would be called up with the cup of coffee numbers he put up with the AA Harrisburg club, not named Bryce Harper.

Myself, I think a half season or so at AAA would help season him. He is a marketing mint, I just hope the Nats owner can keep the $$$$$ out of his eyes until baseball people think he is really ready.

[CoreyR]

Good input. I agree with that too. I personally believe they should keep him down in the minors for one more season no matter how great his numbers are or how "ready" he is. Let the guy gain some experience in the professional baseball business before you throw him in with the big dogs. He's only 19 years old!