The Chosen One?

[JimmyTwoTimes37]

Bryce Harper, just drafted #1 overall by the Washington Nationals, is an absolute freak. Hit a 570 foot homerun earlier this year

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V4NPF5bPEsg

EDIT: Reds draft Switch hitter catcher from the U Yasmani Grandal

[DC Muskie]

Going to see Strasburg tomorrow.

Go Nats!

[GoMuskies]

Will Strassburg ever throw to Harper? Probably not. Even if they play for the Nats at the same time, Harper is likely to be a corner outfielder.

Harper is the best draft prospect since Ken Griffey, Jr.

[Espe]

The Nats annocunced Harper as an outfielder when they picked him.

[Juice]

The Nats annocunced Harper as an outfielder when they picked him.

Which means the Reds got the best catcher in the draft.
The Reds really needed to make this pick, there is absolutely no catching depth in the system. Mesoraco has finally figured it out this year but Fleury hasn't been hitting in Dayton, Soto was just moved to the position, and Castillo and Miller obviously aren't prospects or worthy of extended time in the majors.

[Backyard Champ]

I can't stand how he puts that crap all over his face.

[X-band '01]

Going to see Strasburg tomorrow.

Go Nats!

The Reds caught a break by not catching Strasburg last Saturday - that game was sold out in anticipation of that being his originally planned debut. That said, it's not a good sign for your franchise that Washington has been in line for back-to-back #1 picks.

[Juice]

The Reds caught a break by not catching Strasburg last Saturday - that game was sold out in anticipation of that being his originally planned debut. That said, it's not a good sign for your franchise that Washington has been in line for back-to-back #1 picks.

True but they nailed their first round draft picks last year with Strasburg and Storen. Both are now in the majors.

[DC Muskie]

The Reds caught a break by not catching Strasburg last Saturday - that game was sold out in anticipation of that being his originally planned debut. That said, it's not a good sign for your franchise that Washington has been in line for back-to-back #1 picks.

It was actually Friday. And it wasn't sold out but pretty close. I was there, my tickets have actually fell right on the dates people thought he would pitch, so I lucked out.

I don't care that the Nats have back to back picks. We have lost over 200 games the last two years. But it looks like that won't happen this year, which is all that matters.

[Titanxman04]

It was actually Friday. And it wasn't sold out but pretty close. I was there, my tickets have actually fell right on the dates people thought he would pitch, so I lucked out.

I don't care that the Nats have back to back picks. We have lost over 200 games the last two years. But it looks like that won't happen this year, which is all that matters.

DC, being a fellow Redskins fan, I clearly thought you'd be an Orioles fan. This disappoints me. Looks like Drews Crew and I are still the only folks rooting for Baltimore, who I swear is trying to break the record for most consecutive years with a top 5 pick in the draft. Damn you Peter Angelos.

[DC Muskie]

DC, being a fellow Redskins fan, I clearly thought you'd be an Orioles fan. This disappoints me. Looks like Drews Crew and I are still the only folks rooting for Baltimore, who I swear is trying to break the record for most consecutive years with a top 5 pick in the draft. Damn you Peter Angelos.

I'm a Cleveland fan first and foremost. The Nats are my National league team and I bought partial season tickets this year with some friends and fellow Xavier alumni. I like the fact they actually play baseball in the National League, although I'm a Tribe fan through and through.

The whole concept of being a Redskins fan and an Orioles fan is completely foreign to me. Do you scream "OOOOOO" during the National Anthem at Redskins games? The most completely bizarre ritual in all of sports in my opinion.

I still like you guys...maybe Drew a little less since he is a fan of Art Modell's trash.

[PMI]

Going to see Strasburg tomorrow.

Go Nats!

See you there.

[MD Muskie]

DC, being a fellow Redskins fan, I clearly thought you'd be an Orioles fan. This disappoints me. Looks like Drews Crew and I are still the only folks rooting for Baltimore, who I swear is trying to break the record for most consecutive years with a top 5 pick in the draft. Damn you Peter Angelos.

Sadly i am an Orioles fan. Not easy being one right now. Even the prior Golden Child - Can't Miss Prospect, Matt Wieters is struggling. Anyway, while i think Strasburg will be a fine and very very good pitcher, the Nats fans need to stop thinking he is their meal ticket. In a full season, he will pitch in less then a quarter of their games. He will not be the sole factor to glory. Baseball is more of a team effort than having one man win a game like in basketball. Look at the Cardinals when they won the World Series, it was David Freaking Eckstein that won the MVP.

Now for Harper. The kid is 17 and has only used an aluminum bat. While he might be the next great thing since sliced bread, lets at least see him face some real pitching, because he was not facing that at Southern Nevada or where ever he went.

[PMI]

I grew up an O's fan but more of a casual one who just loved going to the games, but didn't get as passionate as I did with other teams. I wish the O's were still good and still like them, but they suck. The Nats getting good would be good for the city. I'm a DC fan first and foremost. Not DC Muskie per se, but DC sports. So I root for the Nats because I root for DC. They are my 4th favorite pro team because baseball is my fourth favorite pro sport. I like all sports, but not equally. Just like how I will still love my 4th favorite child, but just not as much as her three brothers.

[Juice]

Now for Harper. The kid is 17 and has only used an aluminum bat. While he might be the next great thing since sliced bread, lets at least see him face some real pitching, because he was not facing that at Southern Nevada or where ever he went.

He played in a wooden bat league in college and has practiced with a wooden bat consistently since he was about 10-11.

[DC Muskie]

Anyway, while i think Strasburg will be a fine and very very good pitcher, the Nats fans need to stop thinking he is their meal ticket. In a full season, he will pitch in less then a quarter of their games. He will not be the sole factor to glory. Baseball is more of a team effort than having one man win a game like in basketball. Look at the Cardinals when they won the World Series, it was David Freaking Eckstein that won the MVP.

Now for Harper. The kid is 17 and has only used an aluminum bat. While he might be the next great thing since sliced bread, lets at least see him face some real pitching, because he was not facing that at Southern Nevada or where ever he went.

Wait, Nats fans are not allowed to be excited? What a leap to compare them to the Cardinals. All the Nats want is to be over .500. These are minor steps. Should Nats fans just assume not show up tonight and ho-hum season after season, because gee, we don't have David Eckstein for the playoffs? I don't get that.

As for Harper, he just finished playing his first season with a wooden bat. His stats were .442/.524/.986 (AVG/OBP/SLG) with 88 runs scored, 29 home runs, 89 RBIs, 18 SBs, and a 1.510 OPS. This is a kid who is supposed to be a high school junior. He is playing guys who are at least three years older then him.

I love the argument that "let's wait and see what he does against big leaguers." well know crap, lets. That's the entire point of being excited. I can't wait to see Strasburg tonight and I look forward to seeing Harper play in a few years. Hopefully we can sign David Eckstein and really get something going.

[GoMuskies]

I think the previous record for homeruns at his JUCO was 11. Not bad.

Harper is going to be unreal unless he gets hurt or goes Josh Hamilton.

[XUfaninJAX]

As an O's fan, I'm excited about this Machado kid they drafted. Kid's numbers are ridiculous, and he's the second coming of A-Rod apparently. They better get him signed by August 16th, which could be difficult with Boras as his agent. Either way, just like McFail's "plan" we won't expect to see results for a few years.

[gladdenguy]

I can complain about being a Reds fan with 10 straight years of losing....but being a Cubs, Nationals, or Orioles fan, wow.

[DC Muskie]

I can complain about being a Reds fan with 10 straight years of losing....but being a Cubs, Nationals, or Orioles fan, wow.

I'm sorry, but how is being a Nationals fan the same as a Cubs fan or Orioles fan?

The team is entering just their third year of existence. We were .500 in our first season in a terrible ballpark.

The Cubs are a joke. Plain and simple. The O's are a team that is run by someone who is an absolute idiot, and that's being nice.

I think it's worse to be Royals fan. Or a Pirates fan. Look at those two franchises. I get a little tired of reading how horrible the overall franchise in Washington is. We are not good, by no means, but we haven't strung along seven, ten, twelve or seventeen straight losing seasons.

The Nats should not be held in the same sentence as teams like the Royals, the Pirates, or the O's.

[xnatic03]

In all honesty, I'm tired of the Strasburg hype. Guy has great stuff, I'm sure, but he's not pitched in the bigs yet. Meanwhile, Leake is tearing it up in the majors without ever having played an inning in the minors, and he is barely getting any press.

[X-band '01]

I'm sorry, but how is being a Nationals fan the same as a Cubs fan or Orioles fan?

The team is entering just their third year of existence. We were .500 in our first season in a terrible ballpark.



Yes and no. They did have a history in Montreal (which was halfway decent until the 1994 strike began the dominoes which decimated the core of their team). There was some initial enthusiasm about playing in Washington that was bigger than moving into their new park back in 2008. The NL East isn't as formidable a division in which to try to build a winner against, let's say, the AL East or NL West.


In all honesty, I'm tired of the Strasburg hype. Guy has great stuff, I'm sure, but he's not pitched in the bigs yet. Meanwhile, Leake is tearing it up in the majors without ever having played an inning in the minors, and he is barely getting any press.

Leake doesn't play in a big market, but as long as he's able to sustain his success the hype will build for him. Tim Lincecum is another guy who was drafted recently who also made it quick to the bigs, but playing in San Francisco (plus an unconventional windup and delivery) makes him a bigger household name.

I'm sure Washington wanted to play it safe with a #1 overall pick; the Reds situation was a perfect place for Leake to go straight to the bigs.

[xnatic03]

Yes and no. They did have a history in Montreal (which was halfway decent until the 1994 strike began the dominoes which decimated the core of their team). There was some initial enthusiasm about playing in Washington that was bigger than moving into their new park back in 2008. The NL East isn't as formidable a division in which to try to build a winner against, let's say, the AL East or NL West.



Leake doesn't play in a big market, but as long as he's able to sustain his success the hype will build for him. Tim Lincecum is another guy who was drafted recently who also made it quick to the bigs, but playing in San Francisco (plus an unconventional windup and delivery) makes him a bigger household name.

I'm sure Washington wanted to play it safe with a #1 overall pick; the Reds situation was a perfect place for Leake to go straight to the bigs.

The hype would have been there for Strasburg regardless of where he landed. The Nationals may be in a large market, but they've been terrible since they landed in the capitol and have played and spent much like a small market club. I think the problem with all the hype is that you can miss out on other rookies having great seasons (i.e. Leake and Jaime Garcia).

[BlueX]

Looking at the box score Strasburg lived up to the hype. Not sure why the MLB Network showed the Mets/SD game in NEO.

[X-band '01]

Looking at the box score Strasburg lived up to the hype. Not sure why the MLB Network showed the Mets/SD game in NEO.

That may be an area where the game could have been seen on Fox Sports Pittsburgh - that's their territory on FSN now that the Indians are on SportsTime Ohio.

[D-West & PO-Z]

In all honesty, I'm tired of the Strasburg hype. Guy has great stuff, I'm sure, but he's not pitched in the bigs yet. Meanwhile, Leake is tearing it up in the majors without ever having played an inning in the minors, and he is barely getting any press.

After that start get used to it. I know he was playing the Pirates but the dude was unreal.

[DC Muskie]

Yes and no. They did have a history in Montreal (which was halfway decent until the 1994 strike began the dominoes which decimated the core of their team). There was some initial enthusiasm about playing in Washington that was bigger than moving into their new park back in 2008. The NL East isn't as formidable a division in which to try to build a winner against, let's say, the AL East or NL West.

I'm just going to give you a pass on this. Because it's obvious you have no idea what you are talking about.

[XUfaninJAX]

Strasburg's stuff was just nasty. I don't care if it was the Pirates, 14 K's is 14 K's and a lot of them he simply embarassed the batters. What's even more unreal is the way he ended his outing... it looked like he could have gone the whole 9 innings at that pace. It was well played by the manager to limit the pitches though.

[Smails]

Classic DC response....friggin classic

I taped the Reds gams last night to watch the Nats game (I cant believe i just said that) and that kid is the real fuking deal. Just electric, filthy stuff. Im sure the game was a blast to attend DC, but I hope you taped it so you can watch him from the center field camera. His ball actually looked like a 'riser' a couple times.

[Juice]

Classic DC response....friggin classic

I taped the Reds gams last night to watch the Nats game (I cant believe i just said that) and that kid is the real fuking deal. Just electric, filthy stuff. Im sure the game was a blast to attend DC, but I hope you taped it so you can watch him from the center field camera. His ball actually looked like a 'riser' a couple times.

I hope you just deleted the recording of the Reds game. I stupidly went to the game and missed Strasburg, but I did get to see a good performance by Matt Cain.

[DC Muskie]

Classic DC response....friggin classic

I taped the Reds gams last night to watch the Nats game (I cant believe i just said that) and that kid is the real fuking deal. Just electric, filthy stuff. Im sure the game was a blast to attend DC, but I hope you taped it so you can watch him from the center field camera. His ball actually looked like a 'riser' a couple times.

I actually did. Unfortunately the MLB replay this morning has the Nats TV guy (which includes Rob dibble). I would have loved to hear what Costas had to say about the seventh.

My friends and I had a great time. People were booing every time a ball was called, erupted in the second inning with two outs and two strikes. I couldn't believe that. There were vendors there selling things I've never seen sold. Trust me, when you go to the game when there's 15,000 or fewer people you notice everything.

I don't mean to be a prick to our Band friend, but the NL East has produced the last two NL World Series participant, has the Mets, and oh yeah the Braves, and when those guys aren't winning, the Marlins go out and win a World Series.

[D-West & PO-Z]

I actually did. Unfortunately the MLB replay this morning has the Nats TV guy (which includes Rob dibble). I would have loved to hear what Costas had to say about the seventh.

My friends and I had a great time. People were booing every time a ball was called, erupted in the second inning with two outs and two strikes. I couldn't believe that. There were vendors there selling things I've never seen sold. Trust me, when you go to the game when there's 15,000 or fewer people you notice everything.

I don't mean to be a prick to our Band friend, but the NL East has produced the last two NL World Series participant, has the Mets, and oh yeah the Braves, and when those guys aren't winning, the Marlins go out and win a World Series.

Ha no kidding. The NL West?? In the words of my friend Alan from The Hangover: Ha, classic.

[DoubleD86]

Also, to whoever questioned Bryce Harper because he played at Southern Nevada and they don't play anyone, you do realize baseball is the one sport where JUCO still has TONS of talent. Kids either have to sign out of high school, go to college for 3 years or go to Juco. Because of that, many very good players who are drafted out of high school, but are not drafted as high as they want end up going to Juco for one or two years to get drafted again sooner. Nothing about the competition Bryce has played should be somehow seen as a reason to discount what he did. Oh yeah, HE'S FREAKING 17! He should be a junior in high school. As others have said, he has also been playing with wooden bats for a pretty long time and played in some of the better AS and AABC tourneys around. The kid is the real deal, and between him and Strasburg, the Nats have themselves a hell of a duo to build around.

[X-band '01]

I stand by what I said regarding the NL West - top to bottom that has been a historically competitive division. It's not like I said the Comedy Central division is tops.

I'll listed to the argument that the Braves are reloading and will eventually threaten the Phils, but the Mets? That's funny - they spend a ton of money and have a pair of epic tank jobs to show for it the past couple of seasons. The Marlins have had I think all of 2 postseason appearances in their history, but they do get points for cashing in both opportunities.

[DC Muskie]

I stand by what I said regarding the NL West - top to bottom that has been a historically competitive division. It's not like I said the Comedy Central division is tops.

I'll listed to the argument that the Braves are reloading and will eventually threaten the Phils, but the Mets? That's funny - they spend a ton of money and have a pair of epic tank jobs to show for it the past couple of seasons. The Marlins have had I think all of 2 postseason appearances in their history, but they do get points for cashing in both opportunities.

Well, the Padres have 5 appearances Band Man. I'm trying to remember the last time the Dodgers won the pennant. Of that's right, it was 1988. Ronald Reagan was president back then I think.

Your point was the Nationals shouldn't have a problem putting together a formidable team because they don't have to go up against the Dodgers and the Giants, the Giants, who before 2002, won the pennant in 1989. At least Reagan left office by then.

When a team like the Marlins are able to win the World Series and a team like the Dodgers can't even get to the World Series in over 20 years, I can't figure out that somehow that division is more competitive and tougher to produce a winner. You realize that the Rockies and the Padres have more losing seasons, then winning seasons?

I really don't understand your argument. Are you saying that Nats should be able to build a winner because the NL East isn't as tough as the NL West?

I think it's tough to build a winner anywhere. NL East, AL Central, AL West, whatever.