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General Category => Sports/Entertainment/MSM/Social Media => Topic started by: DCPatriot on April 01, 2013, 07:54:03 pm

Title: Bryce Harper homers in first two at-bats of 2013 [ NATS 2013]
Post by: DCPatriot on April 01, 2013, 07:54:03 pm
Bryce Harper homers in first two at-bats of 2013

By Cliff Corcoran



(http://simlb.files.wordpress.com/2013/04/bryce-harper-ap2.jpg?w=610&h=407)


Ricky Nolasco might want to avoid throwing breaking balls to Bryce Harper. In the bottom of the first inning of the Nationals’ home owner against the Marlins, Harper hit the second pitch he saw this season, a big looping curveball from Nolasco, out to right centerfield for a solo home run. Two innings later, with the score still 1-0 Nationals, Harper worked a full count from Nolasco, got a slider over the heart of the plate and jerked that one out of the ballpark for another solo shot that doubled the Nats’ lead and gave Harper two home runs in as many at-bats this season.

Expectations are sky-high for the 20-year-old Harper coming into this season, but then they always have been. A Sports Illustrated cover boy at 16, the top pick in the amateur draft at 17 and the top prospect in baseball almost immediately thereafter, Harper made his major league debut last April at age 19 and finished the season as the National League’s Rookie of the Year. That alone would set expectations high for any player, but the confluence of Harper’s season and Mike Trout’s absurd age-20 season set expectations of a Trout-like season for Harper in 2013. Those expectations were compounded by the fact that Harper finished 2012 by hitting .327/.384/.660 with 12 home runs in his final 179 plate appearances, then hit .478/.500/.716 with three home runs this spring. Starting off 1.000/1.000/4.000 with two home runs in his first two at-bats won’t do anything to dampen the hype surrounding him.

Incidentally, Stephen Strasburg, the Nationals starter in this game, has completed five innings on 60 pitches and allowed just one baserunner on a leadoff single by Juan Pierre, retiring 15 in a row since. Yeah, the Nationals might be good this year.


http://mlb.si.com/2013/04/01/bryce-harper-nationals-stephen-strasburg-washington-nationals/?sct=uk_t11_a4 (http://mlb.si.com/2013/04/01/bryce-harper-nationals-stephen-strasburg-washington-nationals/?sct=uk_t11_a4)


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Title: Re: Bryce Harper homers in first two at-bats of 2013
Post by: DCPatriot on April 01, 2013, 07:54:40 pm
We're 'undefeated', Baby!   LOL!
Title: Re: Bryce Harper homers in first two at-bats of 2013
Post by: DCPatriot on April 02, 2013, 12:54:35 am
(http://simlb.files.wordpress.com/2013/04/bryce-harper-ap2.jpg?w=610&h=407)


For anybody that has tried to hit a baseball over the fence.....you know that it's a matter of timing.

To get your arms extended and make contact ......AS THE BALL PASSES OVER THE PLATE.


Look at Bryce Harper's feet.   He has ALL his weight on the front foot while the bat stayed back....because it was a change up and hadn't arrived yet.

His back foot if OFF THE GROUND and yet he STILL managed to hit a 'no doubt about it' shot over the RIGHT FIELD FENCE.  (He's lefthanded)


Last year, his Achilles was the breaking ball.   If he can stay back and wait....he's going to be the next Mickey Mantle.   :beer:
Title: Re: Bryce Harper homers in first two at-bats of 2013
Post by: Cincinnatus on April 02, 2013, 12:56:57 am
If he can stay back and wait....he's going to be the next Mickey Mantle.

He most assuredly has a very bright future.
Title: Re: Bryce Harper homers in first two at-bats of 2013
Post by: Lando Lincoln on April 02, 2013, 01:02:33 am
He is incredible - and he is driven to succeed like few others.  Are you sure that is the stroke that produced a dinger, tho?  It just seems too out of sync.  Here is good image of what you are talking about.  Elegantly exquisite stroke. 


(http://static.foxsports.com/content/fscom/img/2013/04/01/040113-4-MLB-Nationals-Bryce-Harper-OB-PI_20130401155647927_660_320.JPG)
Title: Re: Bryce Harper homers in first two at-bats of 2013
Post by: DCPatriot on April 02, 2013, 01:06:02 am
Quote from: Lando Lincoln on April 02, 2013, 01:02:33 am
He is incredible - and he is driven to succeed like few others.  Are you sure that is the stroke that produced a dinger, tho?  It just seems too out of sync.  Here is good image of what you are talking about.  Elegantly exquisite stroke. 


(http://static.foxsports.com/content/fscom/img/2013/04/01/040113-4-MLB-Nationals-Bryce-Harper-OB-PI_20130401155647927_660_320.JPG)

Yes, Lando!

I waited until they showed the replay of the game and watched the entire at bat.  He led off the 4th inning and it was a full count.

That's what is so incredible.   

He had already transferred his weight and still managed to hit it to right field.   
Title: Re: Bryce Harper homers in first two at-bats of 2013
Post by: Lando Lincoln on April 02, 2013, 01:07:41 am
Wow!  To turn on that ball that is only a few feet in front of the plate... amazing!  The vids can be found here:

http://network.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/bryce_harper_hits_two_home_run_in_first_two_at_bats_of_the_season/13286665 (http://network.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/bryce_harper_hits_two_home_run_in_first_two_at_bats_of_the_season/13286665)
Title: Re: Bryce Harper homers in first two at-bats of 2013
Post by: DCPatriot on April 02, 2013, 01:12:18 am
Quote from: Lando Lincoln on April 02, 2013, 01:07:41 am
Wow!  To turn on that ball that is only a few feet in front of the plate... amazing!  The vids can be found here:

http://network.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/bryce_harper_hits_two_home_run_in_first_two_at_bats_of_the_season/13286665 (http://network.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/bryce_harper_hits_two_home_run_in_first_two_at_bats_of_the_season/13286665)

Hmmmmm.....you're absolutely right.   It didn't look like the same swing.....and yet.....I'm confused!


Oh well....{{{frowning}}}    :beer:
Title: Re: Bryce Harper homers in first two at-bats of 2013
Post by: Lando Lincoln on April 02, 2013, 01:14:33 am
I dunno... that full count stroke looks to me to be all off the front foot!  I think you could be right!
Title: Re: Bryce Harper homers in first two at-bats of 2013
Post by: Lipstick on a Hillary on April 02, 2013, 01:24:17 am
Ahem...

Chase Utley hits 200th career home run for Phillies!! (http://www.nj.com/phillies/index.ssf/2013/04/chase_utley_hits_200th_career.html)
Title: Re: Bryce Harper homers in first two at-bats of 2013
Post by: DCPatriot on April 02, 2013, 01:27:31 am
Quote from: Lipstick on a Hillary on April 02, 2013, 01:24:17 am
Ahem...

Chase Utley hits 200th career home run for Phillies!! (http://www.nj.com/phillies/index.ssf/2013/04/chase_utley_hits_200th_career.html)


LOL!   I saw it.    A laser shot to straight-away center field that kept going and going and going.......   :beer:

Truthfully, the Phillies scare me a lot more than the Atlanta Braves.
Title: Re: Bryce Harper homers in first two at-bats of 2013
Post by: Lando Lincoln on April 02, 2013, 01:28:07 am
Nothing like the game of baseball.  Nothing.
Title: Re: Bryce Harper homers in first two at-bats of 2013
Post by: DCPatriot on April 02, 2013, 01:30:20 am
Quote from: Lando Lincoln on April 02, 2013, 01:28:07 am
Nothing like the game of baseball.  Nothing.

Agreed!   It's a game about life itself!    :beer:
Title: Re: Bryce Harper homers in first two at-bats of 2013
Post by: DCPatriot on April 02, 2013, 03:55:21 am
Quote from: Lando Lincoln on April 02, 2013, 01:14:33 am
I dunno... that full count stroke looks to me to be all off the front foot!  I think you could be right!


Okay....I'm smoking crack.

Just watched the 1st inning of the game and the photo above is on his 1st HR.....an 0-1 count.

They replayed it in slow motion and yes, the front foot is definitely reacting to all the weight on it (100%) as his rear foot was not touching the ground.

That slo-mo camera takes it to a new level, doesn't it?
Title: Re: Bryce Harper homers in first two at-bats of 2013
Post by: Lando Lincoln on April 02, 2013, 11:41:44 am
Slo-mo and freeze-frame might be the only way - they turn on the ball so dang fast!
Title: Re: Bryce Harper homers in first two at-bats of 2013
Post by: DCPatriot on April 02, 2013, 12:33:00 pm
Quote from: Lando Lincoln on April 02, 2013, 11:41:44 am
Slo-mo and freeze-frame might be the only way - they turn on the ball so dang fast!

Yes, but it's still bothering the heck out of me.

As you can see in the photo....the ball isn't even there yet....his weight is on his front foot...and he still manages to turn on the ball instead of hitting it to left or centerfield.

That's 'impossible'....isn't it?   LOL!
Title: Re: Bryce Harper homers in first two at-bats of 2013
Post by: Lipstick on a Hillary on April 02, 2013, 12:44:33 pm
Quote from: DCPatriot on April 02, 2013, 01:30:20 am
Agreed!   It's a game about life itself!    :beer:

Yes, absolutely.  Baseball is not only a sport, but a state of mind.  Also, kind of a symbol for warm weather (if it ever gets here).
Title: Re: Bryce Harper homers in first two at-bats of 2013
Post by: Lando Lincoln on April 02, 2013, 01:42:09 pm
Quote from: DCPatriot on April 02, 2013, 12:33:00 pm
That's 'impossible'....isn't it?   LOL!

Well... maybe not.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IOqntmqTUAQ
Title: Re: Bryce Harper homers in first two at-bats of 2013
Post by: Lando Lincoln on April 02, 2013, 01:46:21 pm
Yep... that picture is the first homer.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xd8PMRewLq0
Title: Re: Bryce Harper homers in first two at-bats of 2013
Post by: DCPatriot on April 02, 2013, 03:17:31 pm
Thanks so much for finding that analysis regarding his timing on the 450 bomb vs. the Blue Jays last year.

They're talking about Davey Johnson yanking Stephen Strassbug after 81 pitches and seven innings all morning long.

....gotta have some controversy I suppose.

But the last two outs he got were loud ones and that double was hit hard....so IMO, you have to let your setup man and closer (who only threw 11 pitches in the 9th inning and struck out two) be part of the equation.

Otherwise, you may have had a tied game yesterday in front of 46K people in the stands...scratching Harper's stunning performance.

I'm torn about his being pulled for Clipper, as this was supposed to be the year Strassburg was unleashed as far as his innings quota and pitch count.

I believe the manager did it so that he could maintain the electricity in the dugout.
Title: Re: Bryce Harper homers in first two at-bats of 2013
Post by: DCPatriot on April 02, 2013, 09:10:00 pm
The legend of Bryce Harper and more Opening Day lessons


(http://i2.cdn.turner.com/si/dam/assets/130402114828-bryce-harper-bruty2-single-image-cut.jpg)

 1. The legend of Bryce Harper grows

Sports Illustrated cover boy at 16. Number one pick at 17. Youngest position player All-Star at 19. And now, at 20, the youngest player to hit two home runs on Opening Day. Has any player been more comfortable in the spotlight?

It was impressive enough that Harper hit third in the Washington batting order on Opening Day at age 20 years and 196 days. Only five players were younger when they hit third on Opening Day: Ed Kranepool (1963 Mets), Mickey Mantle (1951 and 1952 Yankees), Gene Stephens (1953 Red Sox), Al Kaline (1955 Tigers) and the melodious sounding Beauty McGowan (1922 A's).

And yet that's not enough for Harper; he goes out there and hits a home run in the first swing of his first Opening Day (he began last year in the minors) and follows it with a home run in his next at-bat, too.

Harper is fast becoming the most compelling player to watch in baseball. He is so captivating and so good he may change how baseball is played. Follow me here: For the past decade or so the dominant hitting philosophy in the game has been a passive-aggressive approach in which the hitter takes pitches -- even in hitter's counts -- lets the ball get deep and uses a wide, balanced base. Think Joe Mauer, Albert Pujols and Joey Votto as the templates of this let-the-ball-travel, get-deep-into-counts and never-get-out-on-your-front-foot philosophy.

Now you have Harper just attacking pitches so fiercely and with such forward thrust that at contact for both home runs that his back foot was off the ground. He hits the ball out front and rarely lets pass a hittable pitch. It's an old school swing. Think Frank Thomas (only more aggressive), George Brett, Hank Aaron or Stan Musial -- great front-foot hitters. With so many people watching him, Harper has a chance to influence the next generation of hitters.

Let 'er rip.

2. We need more Bryce Harpers

Uh, have I mentioned that we are smack in the early stages of a great era of pitching -- especially young pitching?

Yes, I know it's only one day and it's a day when teams start their best pitcher. But geez, how was that for reminding us all that pitching rules the game? Here's some facts after the dozen games Monday:

• The three youngest of all 30 Opening Day starters -- Chris Sale, 24, Stephen Strasburg, 24, and Clayton Kershaw, 25 -- combined to throw 23 2/3 scoreless innings.

• Ten Opening Day starters have won so far. Here are their ages: 24, 25, 25, 26, 27, 28, 28, 28, 29, 30. Think of it this way: The oldest pitcher to win an Opening Day start this year has been Justin Verlander. He turned 30 in February.

• Kershaw joined Bob Lemon of the 1953 Indians as the only pitchers to throw a shutout and hit a home run on Opening Day. Folks, you only see days like this in Williamsport, not Dodger Stadium.

• The Angels became the first team ever to whiff 17 times on Opening Day and win.

• Nineteen of the 24 teams scored four runs or less. More than half the teams in baseball scored two runs or less, including five that scored nothing.

• The 12 games included an average of only 6.25 runs, as compared to the 2012 season average of 8.64.

• The 12 games included an average of 18.4 strikeouts, as compared to the 2012 season average of 15.0.

3. Stephen Strasburg will still be going strong in December at this rate

Operation Shutdown from 2012 is a thing of the past, especially with the efficiency in which Strasburg threw against Miami.

Until yesterday Strasburg was 0-5 with a 6.65 ERA in the 10 starts in his career in which he did not strike out at least five batters. But Strasburg, with a finely located fastball, found a new way to win. He struck out only three batters -- with no walks -- while throwing only 80 pitches in seven innings. He took care of 10 outs with groundballs.

Get this: Strasburg obtained a career-low two swings and misses and still put up seven scoreless innings. He barely broke a sweat before manager Davey Johnson pulled him. Seeing Strasburg win easily without having to run up a high pitch count or rely on strikeouts was just another positive sign for the best team in baseball.


Read More: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/mlb/news/20130402/opening-day-lessons/ (http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/mlb/news/20130402/opening-day-lessons/)

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Title: Re: Bryce Harper homers in first two at-bats of 2013
Post by: DCPatriot on April 02, 2013, 09:14:19 pm
(http://i2.cdn.turner.com/si/dam/assets/130402123746-bryce-harper-mlb-t1-wide.jpg)

Quote

Harper is fast becoming the most compelling player to watch in baseball. He is so captivating and so good he may change how baseball is played. Follow me here: For the past decade or so the dominant hitting philosophy in the game has been a passive-aggressive approach in which the hitter takes pitches -- even in hitter's counts -- lets the ball get deep and uses a wide, balanced base. Think Joe Mauer, Albert Pujols and Joey Votto as the templates of this let-the-ball-travel, get-deep-into-counts and never-get-out-on-your-front-foot philosophy.


Now you have Harper just attacking pitches so fiercely and with such forward thrust that at contact for both home runs that his back foot was off the ground.

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So....I'm not smoking crack.    He DID have his back foot off the ground. :laugh:
Title: Re: Bryce Harper homers in first two at-bats of 2013 [ NATS 2013]
Post by: DCPatriot on April 10, 2013, 11:03:22 pm


The other night, Gio Gonzalez was pulled after the 5th inning (he threw 32 pitches in the 1st inning), but he was obviously cruising and in command.

The Nationals never relinquished the lead and by pulling him prior to the minimum 5-2/3 innings to qualify for the 'win'.....this ended up a 'no decision'.

I understand he was not at all happy with Davey Johnson's decision....who said later that he's going to need Gio in August and September and with the depth of this bullpen, he's not going to be allowed to throw over 100 pitches in April.  Period.   He's got a World Series to win.


Now Gio Gonzalez was the leader in wins and losses in the entire league last year at 21-5 and he came in 2nd in Cy Young voting.

Wouldn't you think that Johnson would have already had a conversation with his starting rotation telling them that W-L records were going to take a back seat in April?
Title: Re: Bryce Harper homers in first two at-bats of 2013 [ NATS 2013]
Post by: DCPatriot on April 13, 2013, 01:48:10 am
Quote from: Mudboy Slim on April 12, 2013, 07:48:41 pm
I'm no expert on MLB stats, but I seem to recall that it is FIVE (5) innings required to garner a win...last night's announcers mentioned it in relation to Haren getting credit for a start last night...MUD

Perhaps I was confused with what constitutes a 'quality start' by a pitcher.   I believe that's five and two-thirds innings.
Title: Re: Bryce Harper homers in first two at-bats of 2013 [ NATS 2013]
Post by: DCPatriot on April 13, 2013, 02:19:20 pm
GRRRRRR.......................

Ross Detwiler goes SEVEN INNINGS throwing nothing but 97% fastballs and virtually shuts down the Atlanta Braves' lineup.

In comes Tyler Clipper (last year's closer) and then Storen.....and THEY CAN'T EVEN THROW A F**KING STRIKE!   

The NATS lose in extra innings 6-4.


GRRRRRRRRR..................
Title: Re: Bryce Harper homers in first two at-bats of 2013 [ NATS 2013]
Post by: DCPatriot on April 17, 2013, 02:11:35 pm
Quote from: Mudboy Slim on April 17, 2013, 01:30:32 pm
Braves (12-1) are gonna be tough this year...if the Nats ain't careful, we'll be fighting for a one-game playoff as a wildcard...MUD

Too small a sample size.....13 games.

Am concerned with Gio Gonzalez' decrease in speed on the fastball, etc..

Did he win 21 games because of PEDs?

Is Zimmerman's shoulder responsible for the errant throws to 1st base, etc.?

Is Bryce Harper in need of a swift kick in the ass?



Stay tuned.......
Title: Re: Bryce Harper homers in first two at-bats of 2013 [ NATS 2013]
Post by: DCPatriot on April 30, 2013, 10:40:39 pm

(http://dcist.com/attachments/dcist_bfreed/11132012_harper.jpg)


There is an hour documentary on ESPN tonight at 9PM about Bryce Harper.  April 30th.

Watch a Clip of ESPN's Bryce Harper Documentary

http://dcist.com/2013/04/watch_a_clip_of_espns_bryce_harper.php (http://dcist.com/2013/04/watch_a_clip_of_espns_bryce_harper.php)


watch a clip of documentary at link.     :2popcorn:
Title: Re: Bryce Harper homers in first two at-bats of 2013 [ NATS 2013]
Post by: DCPatriot on May 06, 2013, 10:02:57 pm
Bryce Harper and the most egregious player vs. umpire incidents of the season
Cliff Corcoran


(http://simlb.files.wordpress.com/2013/05/bryce-harper-ap2.jpg?w=610&h=423)


Washington’s Bryce Harper was ejected in the top of the first inning of Sunday’s game between the Nationals and the Pirates for arguing a check-swing call on what was ruled a third strike. Though, as we shall see it was hardly the first or even most notable incident of an umpire vs. player run-in this season, it was nonetheless notable for a few reasons.

Perhaps most curious was the fact that there appeared to be two blown calls on the pitch that added up to the correct result. The 2-2 pitch from Pirates starter Wandy Rodriguez — a low, sweeping curveball that looked like it crossed the plate above the knee before diving below the strike zone — seemed to be a strike (and was, per the pitch-track graphic on the Nationals’ TV broadcast), but home plate umpire Bob Davidson ruled it a ball. That led Harper to believe he caught a break only to have Davidson appeal to third base umpire John Hirschbeck, who called Harper out on a swing it didn’t appear he took. Indeed, Harper had taken an almost identical check swing on the previous pitch on which no appeal was made and no swing was called.

So, Harper struck out as he should have but for the wrong reason. Harper then lingered at home plate and stared in disbelief at Hirschbeck. Hirschbeck immediately started screaming and walking toward Harper, but what he was doing was warning Harper that if he didn’t leave the batter’s box he was going to be ejected. Hirschbeck went so far as to send the Nationals’ third base coach, Trent Jewett, to protect his player. However, Harper lingered a little too long for Hirschbeck’s taste, and when Harper finally turned out of the box and flipped his bat away and dropped his helmet, though those actions were not demonstrable, Hirschbeck ejected him.

There have been a number of high-profile player player-umpire run-ins this season, but there have been just 10 incidents leading to player ejections in 918 games thus far. One of those incidents was the Carlos Quentin/Zack Greinke brawl back on April 11, which resulted in four players being kicked out but had nothing to do with the umpires. Sam Holbrook, who was the home plate umpire and crew chief in that game and thus issued those ejections, is the only umpire to toss a player on more than one occasion this season, but, again, the Quentin/Greinke incident had nothing to do with him, which leaves baseball with no serial ejectors thus far in the early going.


more at:  http://mlb.si.com/2013/05/06/bryce-harper-ben-zobrist-david-price-players-vs-umpires/?eref=sihp (http://mlb.si.com/2013/05/06/bryce-harper-ben-zobrist-david-price-players-vs-umpires/?eref=sihp)

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Title: Re: Bryce Harper homers in first two at-bats of 2013 [ NATS 2013]
Post by: DCPatriot on May 11, 2013, 11:41:28 am
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/special/sports/bryce-harper-swing-of-beauty/# (http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/special/sports/bryce-harper-swing-of-beauty/#)

Video breakdown at link.....of Harper's bat swing is EXACTLY like Babe Ruth's.


(http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/special/sports/bryce-harper-swing-of-beauty/images/harper-sequence-3.jpg)



The realization came to Rick Schu this spring as he sat in front of a screen, collecting baseball swings. All winter, Schu, the Washington Nationals’ hitting coordinator, had been watching “Baseball” by Ken Burns, a Christmas gift from his wife. He burned clips from the DVD and compiled classic swings — Jackie Robinson, Ted Williams, Babe Ruth. As he watched Ruth, Schu paused the video and asked himself a question: Didn’t Bryce Harper have a swing just like that?

Schu scanned through video and found film of Harper hitting. He arranged clips of Harper and Ruth side-by-side on the monitor and stopped at the moment each hitter’s bat connected with a pitch. In each still picture, he saw a stiff front leg, an uncoiling torso and a back foot lifting off the ground. “Wow,” he thought. “That’s identical.”

“They’ve got that exact same swing at contact point,” Schu said later.

Harper, at 20 years old, has grasped every skill necessary on a Major League Baseball diamond. He tracked down flyballs in center field as a 19-year-old rookie at an elite rate. His throws from left rocket to the infield as if propelled by jet fuel. He runs the bases with such aggression his helmet routinely flies off. At the center of Harper’s soaring talent, though, is an exquisitely ferocious swing that has made him one of the best hitters in the world before his 21st birthday. He can hit for power and average: Through Thursday his ten homers rank third (tie), and his .302 batting average ranks 35th. He hits all pitch types with proficiency — he performs above the league average against fastballs, cutters, curveballs, sliders, change-ups and splitters. If it can be thrown, his swing can hit it.

“The full thing is God-given,” Harper said. “I don’t know how I got my swing or what I did. I know I worked every single day. I know I did as much as I could with my dad. But I never really looked at anything mechanical. There was nothing really like, ‘Oh, put your hands here.’ It was, ‘Where are you comfortable? You’re comfortable here, hit from there.’ ”

Harper’s swing inspires uncommon praise and comparisons. Schu, a former major leaguer, watched him and saw Ruth. General Manager Mike Rizzo sees an all-time great from a different sport.

“What makes him special is the amount of bat speed he can generate, and the amount of rotation that he has, and still stay completely balanced,” Rizzo said. “For me, that’s what separates him. He can generate that club head speed and stay as balanced as he does. I compare it a lot to Tiger Woods’s swing with a golf club.”


‘Millions’ of swings

The origin story of Harper’s swing starts not in a lab, like some comic book hero’s superpower, but rather in his family’s garage. When his father returned home from his job as an ironworker, Harper begged him to pitch to him or feed him soft toss. Ron Harper erected a net in the garage.

Bryce Harper could not fathom how many soft tosses or batting practice pitches his father threw him. “Millions,” he said. “Absolutely millions.” When he played football in high school, he would sneak into the batting cage between the end of class and practice, taking swings while wearing fully padded football pants.

Ron coached his son with small reminders and large bullet points. He would tell Bryce to focus on hitting the ball to the opposite field or offer advice like, “Hands inside!” But he never bogged down Bryce with detailed instruction.

“I’ve always been a big believer in, there’s times when you got to let people go and let them figure it out themselves,” Ron Harper said.

Bryce recalled a critical moment in the development of his swing that occurred when he was 7 years old. He was playing in a national tournament for players 10 and younger.

“This kid throws me an inside fastball, and I hit it nine miles to right. But foul,” he said. “And they ended up just” — Harper snapped his fingers three times — “everything off-speed, off-speed, off-speed. I never saw that. I was like, ‘Holy crap. This is a new picture.’ The whole tournament, they were just like, ‘Don’t throw that kid a fastball inside, because he’ll hit it a mile.’ That was when I was like, ‘Well, I need to start trying to hit the ball the other way and work on some things.’ ”

With his father, taking batting practice at local fields or in the garage, Harper programmed himself to hit off-speed pitches and pitches on the outer edge to the opposite field. He was only 7 or 8, but the idea stuck in his head. He did not focus on mechanics to achieve his goal; the proper mechanics arose from his mission, like learning a language through immersion.

Harper blazed past his peers, and then past kids a few years older. When the Nationals signed Harper he was, at 17 years old, a fully matured hitter. The first place they sent him was the Florida Instructional League, where Schu oversaw newly professional hitters.

“Working with Bryce,” Schu said, “was making sure he had bats and pine tar.”

But Harper has made modifications. Nationals officials say he actually was swinging harder when they drafted him — so hard, Schu said, his head would move as much as two feet during a swing. The “head travel” prevented Harper from recognizing pitches and led to misses. Schu expressed the need for Harper to stay within himself and keep his head still.

Harper will save his biggest swings for the proper moments, adjusting for the situation. If he is facing a pitcher with high velocity or falls into a two-strike count, Harper removes some of the aggression from his swing.

“He knows how to shorten up and get the barrel to the ball,” Schu said. “And then he’ll pick some counts where he’ll let the big dog eat.”
‘It’s complicated’

Harper starts every swing in the same stance, his feet slightly open and his hands cocked behind his ear. When he was younger, in order to keep his hands back for off-speed pitches, Harper raised his hands literally as high as he could above his head. As he aged, he gradually lowered his hands.

Harper contorts his neck more than most hitters in order to look at the pitcher with both eyes. He discovered he is left-eye dominant, and so he wants his left eye to be in front of his right eye. The extra turn in his head allows him to recognize pitches and see the ball earlier.

As Harper begins his swing, he starts by picking up his front foot and turning his ankle in, loading weight backward and starting to transfer energy from the ground to his hands. The key to his power comes in synchronized movements. As he twists his upper body, Harper separates his pelvis from his hips — if viewed from above, his shoulders and hips would form an ‘X.’

“His torque in his hips, all that stuff, everything is always together,” Nationals hitting coach Rick Eckstein said. “He utilizes his entire body to execute his swing. It’s athleticism, strength, coordination — obviously, years of training.”

As he begins to bring his hands forward, Harper stiffens his right leg to create what Schu called “leverage” — using his front leg as a fulcrum to move force from his lower body to his upper body. All these actions happen simultaneously, calibrated to a split-second.

“It’s complicated because you’ve got different muscle groups that are kicking in at different times,” said University of Illinois physics professor Alan Nathan, an expert in the science of baseball. “You don’t want one muscle group to be fighting against one muscle group, or you lose the energy.”

Most left-handed hitters, Cincinnati Reds first baseman Joey Votto said, swing with a sweeping path that creates hooking, topspin hits. It allows them to clobber pitches thrown on the inside of the plate and low, but leaves them vulnerable to outside pitches. Harper uses a “more of a flat, tomahawk, hammer path,” Votto said, which allows him to hit line drives to every part of the field.

“To me, when I watch him, I don’t see a standard left-handed path,” Votto said. “I just see a beautiful, flat, powerful, quick stroke through the middle of the zone.”

Harper uses the non-traditional swing as a remnant of that foul ball he hit as a 7-year-old. He never stopped wanting to hit opposite-field line drives. He studies the way Philadelphia Phillies second baseman Chase Utley keeps his front shoulder closed. Before one game in early April, a magazine rested inside Harper’s locker, opened to an in-depth article in which Votto explained his approach to hitting.

“The guys who hit .300, .330 really hit the ball to the left side,” Harper said. “I think that was the thing my dad taught me when I was younger. If you hit the ball to the left side, you’re going to go far in the game.”

much more at link....and well worth the read.



Title: Re: Bryce Harper homers in first two at-bats of 2013 [ NATS 2013]
Post by: DCPatriot on May 12, 2013, 09:27:17 pm
Up 1-0 today, Nationals manager Davey Johnson pulled Gio Gonzales, who had been working on a two-hitter...and had thrown 'only' 86 pitches.

The bullpen failed and an errant throw by the NATS catcher, which hit the bat of the hitter standing in the batter's box in his attempt to cut down Cubs' Alfonso Soriano stealing 3rd base.


The run scored and the NATS lose 2-1.  Ouch!
Title: Re: Bryce Harper homers in first two at-bats of 2013 [ NATS 2013]
Post by: DCPatriot on May 12, 2013, 09:29:54 pm
Quote from: Mudboy Slim on May 12, 2013, 06:11:26 pm
Come on, man...don't TheKid got enuff pressure on him without describing his swing as Ruthian?

So, what year do you reckon the Yanks will sign the "next Mickey Mantle"? :pondering:


Quote

Schu scanned through video and found film of Harper hitting. He arranged clips of Harper and Ruth side-by-side on the monitor and stopped at the moment each hitter’s bat connected with a pitch. In each still picture, he saw a stiff front leg, an uncoiling torso and a back foot lifting off the ground. “Wow,” he thought. “That’s identical.”

“They’ve got that exact same swing at contact point,” Schu said later.




(http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/special/sports/bryce-harper-swing-of-beauty/images/harper-sequence-3.jpg)

The writer's opinion....I'm just the messenger.  LOL!
Title: Re: Bryce Harper homers in first two at-bats of 2013 [ NATS 2013]
Post by: DCPatriot on June 02, 2013, 04:42:53 pm
Nationals’ woes worsen with Harper and Strasburg injuries
Bryce Harper, Stephen Strasburg, Washington Nationals

By Cliff Corcoran


(http://simlb.files.wordpress.com/2013/06/bryce-harper.jpg?w=600&h=400)

Friday afternoon, my Strike Zone battery-mate Jay Jaffe lamented the Nationals’ disappointing performance and bleak outlook this season. Within hours, Stephen Strasburg was leaving that night’s game with what proved to be an oblique injury. Less than 24 hours later, Bryce Harper hit the disabled list due to the left knee bursitis, stemming from his May 14 collision with the outfield wall at Dodger Stadium, that had kept him out of action since May 26. If it was true on Friday afternoon that, “the  Nationals have to play much better to avoid ranking among this year’s more crushing disappointments,” that challenge became even greater on Saturday after they lost their two franchise players to injury, then dropped a ten-inning contest to the first-place Braves to fall back to .500, 5 1/2 games out of first place in the National League East and six full games out of the second wild card spot in the NL.

To be fair, Strasburg has not been placed on the disabled list, and the Nationals are still hoping he can make his next start given the extra day of rest provided by Monday’s off-day. However, the Nationals are struggling far more at the plate than on the mound this season, and Harper has been far and away their best hitter, leading the team’s hitters in all three slash stats (batting average, on-base percentage, and slugging percentage) as well as home runs (12), runs scored (29), walks (25), and wins above replacement (1.8), all despite already missing a dozen games this season. Losing Strasburg, who has posted a 2.54 ERA, 1.06 WHIP, and 3.48 strikeout-to-walk ratio, for any length of time would hurt, but given the struggles of the rest of their offense, losing Harper is worse.


more at:  http://mlb.si.com/ (http://mlb.si.com/)

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Title: Re: Bryce Harper homers in first two at-bats of 2013 [ NATS 2013]
Post by: DCPatriot on June 24, 2013, 11:17:54 pm
Bryce Harper, manager Davey Johnson disagree over start to rehab

(http://i2.cdn.turner.com/si/dam/assets/130526191528-bryceharperhurtstory-single-image-cut.jpg)
Despite Bryce Harper saying he's not quite ready to start playing, manager Davey Johnson insists he is.

 WASHINGTON (AP) Nationals outfielder Bryce Harper is not convinced he can begin a rehab assignment as quickly as his manager believes.

Davey Johnson had said Friday that he expects Harper to start a rehab stint Tuesday at Class A Potomac. Harper, who has been sidelined since May 26 with left knee bursitis, said he thought he needed an extra day or two.

"It just depends how I feel today and tomorrow," Harper said before Saturday's game against the Colorado Rockies. "Monday is an off day, which is good. Tuesday, that's kind of early. I'm thinking Wednesday or Thursday, maybe."

Reporters later informed Johnson of Harper's comments during the manager's pregame media session.

"I'll have a conversation with him about that," Johnson said. "When a player starts playing, it's really up to me, what I think they need. Not up to the player. I'm always trying to do what's best for the player. But at the same time, it's my job to know when they're ready and when they're not."

Entering Saturday, Harper has missed 29 of the Nationals' 73 games. The NL Rookie of the Year ran in the outfield and took swings in the indoor batting cage the previous two days.

"Running after a ball and running on the bases and hitting, I'm full speed, every single day," Harper said. "It's going to be hard playing at 70 percent if they want me to play at 70 percent. I'm not going to do that. I want to come back 100 percent and get back as quick as I can."

Johnson: "The most I'm concerned about is is (Harper) going to be able to bounce back after playing a nine-inning game? He's probably worried about timing and everything being letter-perfect. All that changes from if you're in Potomac. You may never get your timing there because it's a whole new ballgame there, guys don't have command as well as they do up here, and there's a big variation in how they pitch to guys.

"So I'm more concerned about just how they recover from when they come off the DL than I am about what they hit. Since he's never really been on the DL or done rehab, I think his concept might be different from mine."




Read More: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/mlb/news/20130622/bryce-harper-rehab-concern-davey-johnson-nationals.ap/ (http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/mlb/news/20130622/bryce-harper-rehab-concern-davey-johnson-nationals.ap/)

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Title: Re: Bryce Harper homers in first two at-bats of 2013 [ NATS 2013]
Post by: DCPatriot on June 25, 2013, 12:29:44 am
Quote from: Mudboy Slim on June 25, 2013, 12:21:35 am
Take yer time, Bryce, take yer time...DaveyJ ain't the kinda manager who's gonna rush Harper back before he's ready...
That's why the Nats bought all this depth in the offseason...take yer time, Bryce, plenty of time to fix what's wrong this season...MUD :patriot:

MUD...have to admit, I'm starting to get real worried with what I'm seeing with regard to this NATS team.

Haren's problem is that in his windup....he holds (displays) the ball in the air like the Statue of Liberty just before throwing it.

It's okay for the 'old' Haren perhaps....but not for this one.  He's DONE...stick a fork in him.

Tyler Clipper?  I can't watch him.   My blood pressure can't take it.  WTF??   Can he EVER get through a freaking hitter in less than 6 pitches?

And truth is....the team just can't hit.  And the dugout isn't the same without Michael Morse.

This is Davey's last year.....I just hope he doesn't alienate our stars to the point that they sign elsewhere.
Title: Re: Bryce Harper homers in first two at-bats of 2013 [ NATS 2013]
Post by: DCPatriot on June 25, 2013, 12:52:02 am


...but there should be evidence in the numbers....and they don't hold up.

They can't score.   Up and down the lineup...they suck.


I'm switching to a REAL baseball team.....the ORIOLES!   LOL!  just kidding....
Title: Re: Bryce Harper homers in first two at-bats of 2013 [ NATS 2013]
Post by: DCPatriot on July 07, 2013, 09:37:04 pm
Bryce Harper unhappy with benching plans, jokingly tells manager Davey Johnson: ‘Play me or trade me’

By John Otano



(http://sitracking.files.wordpress.com/2013/07/bryce-harper-forces-way-into-lineup.jpg?w=893&h=563)
Bryce Harper forced his way into the Nationals’ lineup this weekend. (Toni L. Sandys/The Washington Post)

Washington Nationals manager Davey Johnson had planned on resting outfielder Bryce Harper this weekend. According to Nationals’ beat reporter Mark Zuckerman, Harper wasn’t too keen on the idea of riding the bench this weekend.

Harper jokingly told Johnson “play me or trade me” in a text message in an attempt to dissuade Johnson from benching the 20-year-old. Harper had missed over a month with knee bursitis before returning to the lineup on Monday.

“Since trading him is out of the question, I guess I’m going to play him,” Johnson said in response to Harper’s demand.

Harper is just 1-for-19 since returning on Monday with the one hit being a home run on the second pitch he saw since his return from the disabled list. Despite struggling mightily at the plate, Harper is indeed in the lineup this weekend against the Padres.

http://tracking.si.com/2013/07/06/bryce-harper-nationals-forces-way-into-lineup/?sct=uk_t2_a12 (http://tracking.si.com/2013/07/06/bryce-harper-nationals-forces-way-into-lineup/?sct=uk_t2_a12)

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Title: Re: Bryce Harper homers in first two at-bats of 2013 [ NATS 2013]
Post by: DCPatriot on July 16, 2013, 03:13:41 am
Harper....the bridesmaid tonight in the HR Derby, losing to the A's Cespedes in the finals, 9-8.


PS:  Will somebody please tell them to get rid of Berman?   "back-back-back-back-back...."   Geez Louise. :chairbang:
Title: Re: Bryce Harper homers in first two at-bats of 2013 [ NATS 2013]
Post by: DCPatriot on July 20, 2013, 06:31:41 pm
Okay.....so this year the 2nd 'half' finds not 81 games remaining.

The NATS have 'only' 67 games left to play before the POSTSEASON playoffs....and once again last night, the closer Soriano, gave up a go-ahead bases empty HR in the top of the ninth.

To be fair...Ethier went down and golfed a 1-2 pitch that the NATS' catcher was preparing to field off a plate bounce. 

But....as they say...a Texas League blooper that falls for a single looks the same as a liner through the middle...in the scorebook.   ^-^

They lost the game 3-2 and are now at .500 with a 48-48 record.

This team cannot hit.  They just can't hit.  It's time for them to forget the 3 run HR and adopt a "little ball" approach.  Play one base at a time and move the runner(s) over.   Bunt, steal, hit and run, sacrifice.....whatever it takes to get RISP with less than 2 outs.

Can they put on a run?  Of course.

Will they?   No way.

Davey Johnson is a lame duck manager that lives by the Earl Weaver creed.  Hit HRs with guys on base.

The problem IMHO...is that they're getting tremendous production out of Strasburg and Gonzalez...and Zimmerman, their #3 who is actually their #1.   BUT THEY CAN'T SCORE RUNS to support them.

When the NATS score 4 runs in a game, their record is something like 36-4.    36-4! :thud:

As it is....Strasburg reminds me of Mike Mussina, the O's strikeout Ace that would consistently lose 2-1 or 1-0 even though his individual stats and ERA were HOF material.  Eventually he left the Orioles and went to the Yankees....where he won a WS ring.

With Davey leaving and the big letdown and refusal of the manager to shake the lineup up....or the clubhouse up...this team is going to be a huge disappointment this season.
Title: Re: Bryce Harper homers in first two at-bats of 2013 [ NATS 2013]
Post by: DCPatriot on September 01, 2013, 05:19:25 pm
Nationals bench coach Randy Knorr calls out Bryce Harper for lack of hustle

(http://sitracking.files.wordpress.com/2013/08/bryce-harper.jpg?w=893&h=563)
Bryce Harper failed to run out a groundout in the eighth inning of the Nationals’ 3-2 loss on Friday. (Rob Carr/Getty Images)


Bryce Harper’s jog to first base on a crucial play in the eighth inning of the Nationals’ 3-2 loss on Friday did not sit well with bench coach Randy Knorr.

Knorr, who filled in for Davey Johnson after Washington’s manager left with an illness mid-game, told reporters afterward that the team needs to “fix” Harper’s lack of hustle or else “take him out of the game,” according to CSN Washington’s Mark Zuckerman.

With two on and two outs, Harper grounded a ball to second base on a 3-1 pitch and was thrown out by the Mets’ Daniel Murphy, who bobbled the ball after Harper had stopped running.

Quote
  from CSNWashington.com

    “The thing about Bryce right now that’s tough: He gets frustrated,” said bench coach Randy Knorr, who had to take over for an ill Davey Johnson mid-game. “I don’t think he does it intentionally, but he’s gonna have to start picking it up a little bit, because we’ve got everybody else doing it. He gets frustrated at times and it just comes out of him. It’s something we’ve got to fix.”

    …

    Though Harper won over the entire baseball world as a rookie with his nonstop energy and “run-until-they-tag-you” mantra, this wasn’t the first time this season others noted less hustle than they’ve become accustomed to from him. And it may be getting to the point where something has to be done.

    “It’s hard for me to say,” Knorr said. “I’m not 20 years old in the big leagues and all this stuff going on around me. Something that we’ve got to get to the bottom of and keep talking to him, because eventually we’re just going to have to take him out of the game.”

    Harper downplayed the incident, saying: “I guess I’ll learn from it.”


http://tracking.si.com/2013/08/31/nationals-randy-knorr-bryce-harper-hustle/?sct=mlb_t2_a14 (http://tracking.si.com/2013/08/31/nationals-randy-knorr-bryce-harper-hustle/?sct=mlb_t2_a14)
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Title: Re: Bryce Harper homers in first two at-bats of 2013 [ NATS 2013]
Post by: DCPatriot on May 10, 2015, 02:07:43 pm
(http://cdn-jpg.si.com/sites/default/files/styles/si_article_main/public/2015/05/09/bryce-harper-walk-off-home-run-nationals-braves.jpg)

Nationals' Bryce Harper hits walk-off HR vs. Braves

http://www.si.com/mlb/2015/05/09/bryce-harper-walkoff-video-nationals-braves (http://www.si.com/mlb/2015/05/09/bryce-harper-walkoff-video-nationals-braves)

Bryce Harper came into this game hitting FIVE HRs in the previous two games.  Youngest player at 22, to do this.

6 HRs in 3 Games!!!
Title: Re: Bryce Harper homers in first two at-bats of 2013 [ NATS 2013]
Post by: DCPatriot on June 14, 2015, 03:45:26 am
(http://a.espncdn.com/combiner/i?img=/i/headshots/mlb/players/full/30951.png&w=350&h=254)


Bryce Harper....on base percentage is an astronomical .469!   His Slugging percentage is .721.  His OPS (the total of the two) is an unbelievable 1.190!

He leads the majors in HRs with 22.   His age, btw.

And he's hitting .343!  with 51 RBIs.


....and they said he's the most overrated player in the majors.     :whistle: