He’s already ranked #7 all-time among center fielders on JAWS rating (which is built to lessen the impact of longevity alone)
Among the 19 center fielders who are already in the Hall, they have an average JAWS of 57.9; Trout’s JAWS is currently 60.8
When looking at lifetime WAR score (for which longevity plays a bigger role), the average HoF CF has a score of 71.2; Trout has a 61.0, over the course of 7 1/2 seasons.
As markdash notes, the Hall has the rule about 10 seasons played, but they have been known to waive the induction rules under special circumstances – for instance, Addie Joss was inducted, despite only playing nine seasons (he died of meningitis just before the start of his tenth season). If Trout were to suffer a tragic accident before playing 10 seasons, given what he’s done to date, I wouldn’t be at all surprised if the rule were waived for him.
Harper having a disastrous (for him) contract year and now this. Barring a big turnaround, will he have to settle for a multiyear contract averaging $20 mil or so a season or will he accept a qualifying offer from the Nats to try to rebuild his value?
Tonight the Cardinals mercifully ended the Mike Matheny error…I mean era. They also fired hitting coach John Mabry and assistant hitting coach Bill Mueller. There will be a press conference tomorrow to address additional coaching staff changes.
I have to be honest, it feels like Christmas in July.
He will still get 300 million plus. A couple subpar months aren’t going to change anything.
The hustle stuff is silly too. Harper isn’t the only one does it but you ever sees stories about anyone else. If I had an elite player with a tendency to over exert himself and get hurt, I’d encourage him not to run all out on the offchance of an error.
I wouldn’t give him anywhere near that much. He is Mr Rollercoaster; one great year followed by a down year. But I agree with you that someone will overpay for him.
This isn’t a couple of subpar months; he is having a mediocre season with the bat and his defense has been terrible. Even discounting the hustle stuff, which absent more evidence I agree one should, I don’t see him getting $300 million.
Harper won an MVP Award… four years ago. He has never had a season anywhere near like it otherwise. Since then he’s had a mediocre year, a pretty good but not great year, and (so far) a bad year. The objective evidence does NOT strongly support the notion that he is legitimately an elite player. Maybe he still can be, but he hasn’t been for three and a half seasons now.
How about the Bucs walkoff and five game sweep against the Brewers today? Question though, shouldn’t there have been a rain delay in the bottom 11? Especially since there was a lightning strike one pitch prior to the game winning hit. I’m all about getting the game over, but the game should not be decided in a quagmire, even though it worked out for my team.
I watch 70-80 Nats games a year and I must agree with RickJay. Plus, it’s also worth noting that Harper’s MVP year in 2015 was the one time in the last four years that they didn’t make the playoffs.
In a clutch situation, I’d rather have Murphy, Rendon, Adams, Reynolds, or newcomer Juan Soto up at the plate. Or Goodwin or Kendrick, for that matter. In other words, Bryce is dispensable. Best outcome would be if they could unload him before the trade deadline. They could use a starting pitcher.
Fangraphs is more generous to him, but the shape is basically the same.
Harper is a very, very odd risk to evaluate. If he was 31, we wouldn’t even be talking about the idea of a huge contract. But he’s only 25, and a 25-year-old who has demonstrated the ability to be an elite player is a phenomenally attractive thing. On the flip side he’s also a 25-year-old who is struggling with his batting average and - way more concerning to me because the batting average is partially a fluke - he plays like an old player. Speed is not a part of Harper’s game and his statistical picture is that of an older player; he doesn’t steal bases, doesn’t hit triples, does’t hit many doubles, and is a bad outfielder. Players who play old when they are young age poorly.
The All-Star game is a joke and it started with the tie many years ago. Taking selfies on the field and talking to players while the ball is in play. Cartoon bullshit. It used to be serious and for league pride.