Around Baseball 2015 Edition

[thewupk]

Heyward grounds into a DP to end the game off Kimbrel.

Am i allowed to say a bad thing about him or is that banned around these parts?

It didn't stop you and others from telling us how bad he was when he started the season slow.

[thewupk]

So are we still not ready to admit that Harper is the best hitter in baseball?

If he can do this for 2+ years? Sure. That's how baseball works.

[striker42]

Harper just has unbelievable bat control. Giants shifted him and just served a grounder to left field for his third hit of the day. Scary to think how good he can be in Yankee stadium.

Harper will hit until he collapses under the weight of his own ego.

[thethe]

If he can do this for 2+ years? Sure. That's how baseball works.

And when he does that he would still have been the best hitter in baseball the whole time.

[thewupk]

And when he does that he would still have been the best hitter in baseball the whole time.

Sure. But what if he doesn't? Then was he the best hitter in baseball or just had an awesome season?

[thethe]

Sure. But what if he doesn't? Then was he the best hitter in baseball or just had an awesome season?

This is a guy who was been hyped for almost a decade in the same way that Lebron was. Let's not act surprised he is dominating. Only thing that has slowed him down were injuries and youth.

[thewupk]

This is a guy who was been hyped for almost a decade in the same way that Lebron was. Let's not act surprised he is dominating. Only thing that has slowed him down were injuries and youth.

Hype is generally just that. And yes I will be surprised if he turns out to be a WRC+ 200 hitter on the reg since I can count the hitters that have done that on one hand. There is a huge difference between expecting him to continue to do that he's doing now and just being at an MVP level.

[thethe]

Hype is generally just that. And yes I will be surprised if he turns out to be a WRC+ 200 hitter on the reg since I can count the hitters that have done that on one hand. There is a huge difference between expecting him to continue to do that he's doing now and just being at an MVP level.

I think Harper is that rare generational talent that doesn't come around all that often. I can see him being considered one of the greatest of all time when it's all said and done. His bat to ball skills are incredible. Guy hits everything hard.

[thewupk]

I think Harper is that rare generational talent that doesn't come around all that often. I can see him being considered one of the greatest of all time when it's all said and done. His bat to ball skills are incredible. Guy hits everything hard.

We'll see. He's doing this this year that he's never done before. I'm not sold that it will continue yet.

[chop2chip]

Goldschmidt and Trout deserve consideration as well, but Harper is certainly establishing himself. It's not a crazy statement.

Harper might break $400 in his next contract. He seems destined to go to the Yankees when it's all said and done. They are going to have a lot of money coming off the books he year he becomes a FA.

[Julio3000]

Doesn't matter. The point is baseball is a business. Heyward could have played himself into the core group that includes Freeman, Julio, and Simmons he did not. Offensively the guy has been a dud compared to the expectations of 2010, not unlike Frenchy before him.

Yeah, just like Frenchy, other then the fact that Heyward has consistently been an above average offense of player, whereas Frenchy was below average.

[thethe]

Goldschmidt and Trout deserve consideration as well, but Harper is certainly establishing himself. It's not a crazy statement.

Harper might break $400 in his next contract. He seems destined to go to the Yankees when it's all said and done. They are going to have a lot of money coming off the books he year he becomes a FA.

Goldy is amazing. No discernable home/road splits. Seems to get better every year. I think they are both a level above Trout but Trout makes it up by being a great baserunner an ok fielder.

We haven't seen what Harper is doing though since Bonds.

[chop2chip]

Goldy is amazing. No discernable home/road splits. Seems to get better every year. I think they are both a level above Trout but Trout makes it up by being a great baserunner an ok fielder.

We haven't seen what Harper is doing though since Bonds.

Since Miguel* you mean.

[Carp]

This is a guy who was been hyped for almost a decade in the same way that Lebron was. Let's not act surprised he is dominating. Only thing that has slowed him down were injuries and youth.

Hyped mostly for his raw power he possessed at such a young age. He was never really projected to hit for a high average. Not coincidental, this is the first time he's hit for a high average at the major league level.

[Carp]

Goldy is amazing. No discernable home/road splits. Seems to get better every year. I think they are both a level above Trout but Trout makes it up by being a great baserunner an ok fielder.

We haven't seen what Harper is doing though since Bonds.

Miggy has had similar years. In fact Miggy's current production isn't far off from Harpers, aside from homers. Even still, they have been worth similar value offensively.

[thethe]

Miggy has had similar years. In fact Miggy's current production isn't far off from Harpers, aside from homers. Even still, they have been worth similar value offensively.

At the pace that Harper is going at now Cabrera has never done that for a season.

Sure, Harper needs to do it but the whole point of this discussion is that I think Harper is that special of a hitter.

[gilesfan]

We'll see. He's doing this this year that he's never done before. I'm not sold that it will continue yet.

Isnt he 21 or 22? Of course hes doing something hes never done before, what would you expect?

[gilesfan]

Hyped mostly for his raw power he possessed at such a young age. He was never really projected to hit for a high average. Not coincidental, this is the first time he's hit for a high average at the major league level.

First time......at age 22.

[gilesfan]

Miggy has had similar years. In fact Miggy's current production isn't far off from Harpers, aside from homers. Even still, they have been worth similar value offensively.

They arent even in the same ballpark at this point this year.

[thethe]

I get that we Braves fans can't stand Harper but we really need to acknowledge what we are seeing here.

This is the Lebron James of baseball.