Bryce Harper

Thoughts on Bryce Harper

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I really hadn’t seen much of Bryce Harper until last year’s playoffs.  After seeing him compete against the Giants in the 2014 National League Division Series, although in a losing effort, it was hard not to be impressed.  He was the only one to come through for the Nationals and he was only 21 years old.

While Harper was hitting clutch home runs his more seasoned counterparts, Jayson Werth and Adam LaRoche, did nothing.  Werth and LaRoche hit .059 and .056 respectively and neither had an RBI.  Meanwhile, at 21 years of age, Bryce Harper hit .294 with three homers and four RBIs.

In past seasons Harper had a hard time staying healthy but he has this year and he’s putting up MVP type numbers.  Last night he hit his 40th home run of the season, making him only the seventh player in MLB history to hit 40 in the season in which he was twenty-two.  The previous six players to accomplish the feat are Alex Rodriguez, Juan Gonzalez, Johnny Bench, Eddie Mathews (twice), Joe DiMaggio and Mel Ott.

Tigers 8 Blue Jays 3

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Make it two in a row over the Blue Jays and two in a row scoring eight runs.  The highlight of the game however, was a fantastic catch by Alex “A Squared Money” Avila who played his first game at first base filling if for the injured Jose Miguel Cabrera.

Avila was 1-3 at the plate with a walk and a K and didn’t exactly tear the cover off of the ball but I think there is an outside chance the his bat could come alive if he continues to play first base.  There is no chance he is going to hit playing catcher but a first there may be a glimmer of hope.

Home run derby contestants, fear not, you don’t have to be on a major league roster to pitch.  If you remember, a few years ago Bryce Harper’s father pitched to him in HRD so I’m pretty Joba is still available.

Alex Avila 7/4/2015
Alex Avila 7/4/2015

Home Run Derby…

Crippy Baseball , , , ,

So I watched the home run derby tonight.  I didn’t really care for it.  I’ve never really cared for it, but I didn’t feel like reading and I don’t watch anything but baseball or hockey on television.

I find the derby exhausting to watch and worrying, like it is my problem, that the participants will ruin their swings and have poor second halves.  I know it is irrational, but so is being a semi-professional baseball/hockey fan.  🙂

In case you missed it and care, Yoenis Cespedes of the Oakland A’s beat the Washington National’s Bryce Harper to claim the 2013 crown.

Our own Prince Fielder, defending champion, didn’t make it past the first round.  He only hit five, which wasn’t enough to move on to round two.

The thing that struck me the most was the maturity of Bryce Harper.  I don’t know what he’s like personally but I find it astounding that he can be in his second ASG and he’s not even 21.  I guess I can’t imagine having the mental capacity to handle that big of a stage a that young of an age.  But, I guess a lot of guys do it.  There are plenty of 18 and 19 year olds playing in the NHL.

Well, at least we have the ASG tomorrow.  The lack of games makes this the worst week of summer, for me, anyway.

“God, I love baseball.” – Roy Hobbs | The Natural