Absolutely Ridiculous
perkdog
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I copied this from CBS...
Bryce Harper made his debut with the Nationals last week. (Getty Images)
It was one word. But in baseball, it is an undeniably big word: Mantle.
With that one word, Nationals manager Davey Johnson raised the stakes in the expectations for 19-year-old wunderkind Bryce Harper. Maybe unnecessarily so.
More on Bryce Harper
Johnson, who played with Frank Robinson, Brooks Robinson and Hank Aaron, and managed Cal Ripken Jr., Gary Sheffield, Roberto Alomar and all those talented 1986 Mets, was called to answer a question from well-known Washington Post columnist Thomas Boswell about whether he could think of any one player who he is reminded of when he sees Harper swing so hard while keeping his balance and mechanics. And Johnson provided that one-word answer. "Mantle."
Harper likely will be a huge star one day. His power is off the charts, and his arm and speed are special, too. Baseball insiders generally view him as the best positional prospect in the game. One National League executive said Tuesday, "I think he will win home run titles and compete for MVP awards."
But that's still a far cry from your own manager invoking that word. Mantle.
The reality is, Harper's legend has been growing since he reputedly hit a 502-foot home run at Las Vegas High in his hometown known for its stars, before he got a GED and skipped most of high school to embark on his inevitable pro career. Nationals teammates teased him this spring by posting "Namath 12" above his locker after he suggested in an MLB.com intereview that he could see emulating Joe Namath's lifestyle. In reality, he has been drawing comparisons to superstars for years so it was no surprise for Harper to utter his own over-the-top comp.
But with this one word Johnson set the bar even higher. It's great that Davey, a supporter for Harper to make the Nationals from the start, is so honest. But it seems to be a reach that's unnecessary. And maybe a little bit unfair.
I recall in the spring of 2011 when I was quizzing then-manager Jim Riggleman about Harper, and the comparison Riggleman made was to Clint Hurdle, who we know now as the loquacious, consistently upbeat manager of the Pittsburgh Pirates and formerly of the Colorado Rockies. But before that, back in the 1970s, Hurdle was a baseball prospect comparable to Harper. Like Harper, Hurdle was featured in Sports Illustrated as a wonderboy who was destined to be the next great thing. We know now he never was.
While Riggleman's comparison wasn't nearly as interesting as Davey's, it might have been more prudent. Harper seems better equipped to hear crazy comparisons than your average kid. But still, why invoke that name?
People who are close to Harper say he didn't show any nervousness at all for his callup at storied Dodger Stadium, and it sure didn't look like it with the way he played. He's probably better equipped and prepared to handle what's said than almost any prospect before him. Heck, he even impressed Vin Scully, the legendary Dodgers broadcaster who has seen everything and is believed to have broadcast Mantle's first game in a big-league park six decades ago (an exhibition game against the Brooklyn Dodgers).
But the hype is getting crazy. For Harper's first game, people hardly noticed that Stephen Strasburg, an equally ballyhooed prospect, was pitching for the Nationals.
Harper is a better kid than he has been given credit for, too. It's hard not to feel different when everyone is telling you how special you are at age 19 (and much earlier than that), and yes, he will occasionally say something that reminds you he is the only teenager currently playing major-league baseball.
But he isn't a bad lad at all. His veteran Nationals teammates seemed to genuinely like him in his two spring trainings with the team. The batboy of his Arizona Fall League team, who I met through Twitter, an Arizona State student, told me over sushi in Scottsdale this spring that he and Mike Trout, the other "top" positional prospect in the game, were two of the kindest guys on that team.
But let's not lose sight of the fact he won't turn 20 until after the season and that the Nationals' original plan was to give Harper 300-400 at-bats at Triple-A Syracuse, not the 75 he actually did get before they realized they desperately needed an offensive spark with both Ryan Zimmerman and Mike Morse out with injuries.
And please, let's not forget there is only one Mantle.
Bryce Harper made his debut with the Nationals last week. (Getty Images)
It was one word. But in baseball, it is an undeniably big word: Mantle.
With that one word, Nationals manager Davey Johnson raised the stakes in the expectations for 19-year-old wunderkind Bryce Harper. Maybe unnecessarily so.
More on Bryce Harper
Johnson, who played with Frank Robinson, Brooks Robinson and Hank Aaron, and managed Cal Ripken Jr., Gary Sheffield, Roberto Alomar and all those talented 1986 Mets, was called to answer a question from well-known Washington Post columnist Thomas Boswell about whether he could think of any one player who he is reminded of when he sees Harper swing so hard while keeping his balance and mechanics. And Johnson provided that one-word answer. "Mantle."
Harper likely will be a huge star one day. His power is off the charts, and his arm and speed are special, too. Baseball insiders generally view him as the best positional prospect in the game. One National League executive said Tuesday, "I think he will win home run titles and compete for MVP awards."
But that's still a far cry from your own manager invoking that word. Mantle.
The reality is, Harper's legend has been growing since he reputedly hit a 502-foot home run at Las Vegas High in his hometown known for its stars, before he got a GED and skipped most of high school to embark on his inevitable pro career. Nationals teammates teased him this spring by posting "Namath 12" above his locker after he suggested in an MLB.com intereview that he could see emulating Joe Namath's lifestyle. In reality, he has been drawing comparisons to superstars for years so it was no surprise for Harper to utter his own over-the-top comp.
But with this one word Johnson set the bar even higher. It's great that Davey, a supporter for Harper to make the Nationals from the start, is so honest. But it seems to be a reach that's unnecessary. And maybe a little bit unfair.
I recall in the spring of 2011 when I was quizzing then-manager Jim Riggleman about Harper, and the comparison Riggleman made was to Clint Hurdle, who we know now as the loquacious, consistently upbeat manager of the Pittsburgh Pirates and formerly of the Colorado Rockies. But before that, back in the 1970s, Hurdle was a baseball prospect comparable to Harper. Like Harper, Hurdle was featured in Sports Illustrated as a wonderboy who was destined to be the next great thing. We know now he never was.
While Riggleman's comparison wasn't nearly as interesting as Davey's, it might have been more prudent. Harper seems better equipped to hear crazy comparisons than your average kid. But still, why invoke that name?
People who are close to Harper say he didn't show any nervousness at all for his callup at storied Dodger Stadium, and it sure didn't look like it with the way he played. He's probably better equipped and prepared to handle what's said than almost any prospect before him. Heck, he even impressed Vin Scully, the legendary Dodgers broadcaster who has seen everything and is believed to have broadcast Mantle's first game in a big-league park six decades ago (an exhibition game against the Brooklyn Dodgers).
But the hype is getting crazy. For Harper's first game, people hardly noticed that Stephen Strasburg, an equally ballyhooed prospect, was pitching for the Nationals.
Harper is a better kid than he has been given credit for, too. It's hard not to feel different when everyone is telling you how special you are at age 19 (and much earlier than that), and yes, he will occasionally say something that reminds you he is the only teenager currently playing major-league baseball.
But he isn't a bad lad at all. His veteran Nationals teammates seemed to genuinely like him in his two spring trainings with the team. The batboy of his Arizona Fall League team, who I met through Twitter, an Arizona State student, told me over sushi in Scottsdale this spring that he and Mike Trout, the other "top" positional prospect in the game, were two of the kindest guys on that team.
But let's not lose sight of the fact he won't turn 20 until after the season and that the Nationals' original plan was to give Harper 300-400 at-bats at Triple-A Syracuse, not the 75 he actually did get before they realized they desperately needed an offensive spark with both Ryan Zimmerman and Mike Morse out with injuries.
And please, let's not forget there is only one Mantle.
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Comments
I remember when Sparky Anderson did the same thing to Chris Pittaro.
<< <i>Hi Paul
I remember when Sparky Anderson did the same thing to Chris Pittaro. >>
Hi....Im not sure I know who you are but I guess.........................."skinpitch" ??????
I googled Chris Pittaro and saw his '86 card, funny stuff and ofcourse I remembered his card but dont remember him.
This kid is very, very special. He's just get started. See what I posted on the other thread..
"Live everyday, don't throw it away"
Collecting 1970s Topps baseball wax, rack and cello packs, as well as PCGS graded Half Cents, Large Cents, Two Cent pieces and Three Cent Silver pieces.
<< <i>Let's see where he's at after a couple months at least before comparing him to HOFers...geez.. >>
We don't need to wait... He's been doing it for years even as a young kid.
Oh he just doubled again. 3-4 tonight, 6-13 in his MLB career!
"Live everyday, don't throw it away"
Ian Desmond hits a walk off 2 run shot with Harper on base. It would have only tied the game without Harper. I think the Nationals have a team and then some!
"Live everyday, don't throw it away"
Forget blocking him; find out where he lives and go punch him in the nuts. --WalterSobchak 9/12/12
Looking for Al Hrabosky and any OPC Dave Campbells (the ESPN guy)
~WalterSobchak
Kirk Gibson was compared to Mantle over 30 years ago. It can't be easy having that hanging over your head but I think Harper is going to be just fine. He acts like a 19 year old (imagine that) but man he's got talent. In Seattle I've had the pleasure of watching both Griffey and Arod come of age, and it's incredible to see that kind of talent blossom.
<< <i>
<< <i>Let's see where he's at after a couple months at least before comparing him to HOFers...geez.. >>
We don't need to wait... He's been doing it for years even as a young kid.
Oh he just doubled again. 3-4 tonight, 6-13 in his MLB career! >>
In the words of Harvey Kietel aka Mr. Wolf in Pulp Fiction..."Well let's not start sucking each others d*cks quite yet"
"Live everyday, don't throw it away"
<< <i>whether he could think of any one player who he is reminded of when he sees Harper swing so hard while keeping his balance and mechanics. And Johnson provided that one-word answer. "Mantle." >>
Why the big deal about the quote? Johnson didn't say he would be as good or better than Mantle. He answered a question about a specific trait. Does this mean I can't compare my drunk uncle's drinking habits to Mantles?
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<< <i>
<< <i>whether he could think of any one player who he is reminded of when he sees Harper swing so hard while keeping his balance and mechanics. And Johnson provided that one-word answer. "Mantle." >>
Why the big deal about the quote? Johnson didn't say he would be as good or better than Mantle. He answered a question about a specific trait. >>
+1
<< <i>Hi Paul
I remember when Sparky Anderson did the same thing to Chris Pittaro. >>
I seem to recall it being Torey Lovullo that he attached that to. Could have been either one - or both. Sparky loved to lay massive expectations on guys who sucked.
Tabe
<< <i>
<< <i>
<< <i>whether he could think of any one player who he is reminded of when he sees Harper swing so hard while keeping his balance and mechanics. And Johnson provided that one-word answer. "Mantle." >>
Why the big deal about the quote? Johnson didn't say he would be as good or better than Mantle. He answered a question about a specific trait. >>
+1 >>
- 2 Because its absolutely ridiculous that the Word Mantle is even mentioned