Bryce Harper, 19, is about to make his Nats Park debut in less than two hours. He is potentially the highest impact player the Nationals will ever have given his power, speed, and drive. One sportswriter likened him to Pete Rose, though Rose didn't go for the long ball often.
Harper is probably capable of hitting 40-50 homeruns in a season. I say probably because he has yet to fully develop physically.
Washington hasn't ever had a position player with this talent to my knowledge. Walter Johnson, a century ago, dominated the game from the mound and helped the old Senators win a World Series in 1924. The city now has Steven Strasburg to lead its incredible pitching while the young phenom Harper matures and develops and hopefully beefs up its batting.
Another World Series could be on the horizon. Let's hope its an "event horizon."
Steve Dingledine
7:39 pm on Tuesday, May 1, 2012
Harper just struck out on pitch in the dirt in his first AB.
Steve Dingledine
8:21 pm on Tuesday, May 1, 2012
0 for 2 after a groundout to short in the 5th inning. Nats bats continue to struggle. 1-0 Diamondbacks through 5
Steve Dingledine
9:05 pm on Tuesday, May 1, 2012
Another groundout in the 7th. The Nats have now been held scoreless for 17 straight innings. Arizona now up 4-0 after 7.
Steve Dingledine
10:44 pm on Tuesday, May 1, 2012
Ugly game. Ugly 5-game losing streak that is danger of extending and washing out the 14-4 start. Baseball seasons are full of these streaks and hopefully this one will end soon.
Shaun Courtney
11:40 pm on Tuesday, May 1, 2012
What a bummer! Thanks for all of the updates!