Source
r/baseball•
burgerocious

Is Bryce Harper really one of the GOATs?

Like everyone, I’ve heard a tonne of hype about Harper for the last 6 or 8 years. I’m kind of curious why so many people think he’s one of the greatest players now and ever. I can see that he’s really athletic and talented but he doesn’t seem to live up to the hype. He has had one great season and another great start to a season but so have a lot of players. I’m not trying to start an argument or anything, I just want to know what I’m missing

Posted Feb 26, 2018, 5:11 PM UTC

063
ndanzigNew York Yankees•

Who thinks Harper is one of the greatest players ever lol?

65
CydoniaKnightCalifornia Angels•

I think he has that kind of upside if he can stay consistent and healthy, but I've never seen anyone say that he's definitely a GOAT-level player without those caveats.

15
mjst0324New York Yankees•

FP Santangelo

6
efitz11Washington Nationals•

the computer dudes

6
[deleted]•

[removed]

1
MayiHav10kMarblesPlzChicago Cubs•

The fact that he's slated to be the highest paid player of all time come next season...money talks louder than words (and stats) for some people. Because they ask themselves "why would he make that much money if he isn't even one of the greatest players ever?". It does leave something to ponder.

-1
JrodkinNew York Yankees•

Value doesn't equate to GOAT status. If A-Rod were 25 (Bryce's age) next off-season, he'd get over six hundred million. There aren't many cases where a player has this much upside and youth, the youth is where the money's coming from.

3
slicebishyboshChicago Cubs•

Me if he puts on a Cubs uniform /s

-2†
burgerociousOP•

Some sports writers and i hear it online regularly. I think it might be because of free agency coming up next year and rumours of him getting $500 million

-5
efitz11Washington Nationals•

He's not potentially getting $500 million because he's the goat, it's because he's potentially a top 3 hitter for the next 10 years.

If Trout was a FA next year he'd definitely get more money than Harper

16
burgerociousOP•

Yeah I guess being that he’s only 25?

-6
efitz11Washington Nationals•

He's 25, had 1 of the best offensive seasons ever at 23, was on his way to another MVP caliber season last year before a freak injury, and had "only" 3.5 fWAR in a rumored injured season. I honestly believe his floor is a 3 WAR season every season for the next 10 years, and obviously his ceiling is ~8+ WAR for several of those seasons, which is why several FOs will think $300+ MM will be worth it.

11
Constant_Gardner11New York Yankees•

Players with 150 HR/400 BB/20 WAR by age 25:

Jimmie Foxx (HOF)
Mel Ott (HOF)
Eddie Mathews (HOF)
Mickey Mantle (HOF)
Ken Griffey (HOF)
Albert Pujols
Mike Trout
Bryce Harper

 

That's why there's hype.

40
VonCornholeNew York Yankees•

For anyone else wondering, A Rod came up 15 walks short of this list while blowing out HR and WAR

22
Rshackleford22Chicago Cubs•

why even put walks, just do this list with HR and WAR.

-5†
CydoniaKnightCalifornia Angels•

HR shows power, walks shows batting eye and plate discipline, WAR is overall.

16
JaylawKansas City Royals•

then just do WAR?

-6
burgerociousOP•

Ok thanks for showing me that

2
JaylawKansas City Royals•

he has 150 hr exactly. so if he continues at the same rate and doesnt decline until he is 36 he will have 450 homers. pujols had 591 at that age. and i think its safe to say he declined a bit in his mid 30s

1
dmendro•

Harper hasn’t hit his prime yet, no reason to think his HR totals won’t go anywhere but up.

1
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[deleted]

-3
mikemil50Chicago Cubs•

Hopefully you're not actually that stupid.

2
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[deleted]

1
LargeRun•

He's 25. He might've been the GOAT draft pospect, and he's already gotten an MVP, but either people are being dumb or you're misinterpreting them when it comes to being an all-time great already.

13
burgerociousOP•

That’s pretty much what I was asking. Am I missing something or are the people saying that just the loud minority.

0
nolandeeSan Francisco Giants•

It's possible people are just saying he had one of the GOAT offensive seasons as his MVP year was crazy. I don't think I've heard anyone actually call him one of the all time greats purely because he's so young. It's not really a conversation you have until someone's much more established in their legacy. Though that's not to say he doesn't have the potential to do so.

2
mike5606New York Yankees•

He's definitely no Trout. Probably a shoe in for the hall of fame if he sustains his career, but a GOAT? He'd need to step it up big time

9
alisonationChicago Cubs•

Do people consider him to be a GOAT at this point, though? I hear it about Trout a lot but not so much about Harper.

7
peaceblaster68National League•

He had a GOAT season. If kept that pace for a few years or got back to that form he’d start to be in that convo. But at the moment he’s just a dangerous hitter who had one insane season and a bunch of decent ones

7
burgerociousOP•

Yeah this is how I see it too. I think he needs to be more consistent. But then again he does have a lot of injuries

0
JaylawKansas City Royals•

i mean, he was 11th in MVP voting in the NL last year, 1 behind the immortal Tommy Pham

4
efitz11Washington Nationals•

I know this is a joke but 11th is pretty good considering he missed basically the last 2 months of the season

18
JaylawKansas City Royals•

4 out of 6 seasons of his career have been just slightly above average. one was very good (2017) and one was excellent

0
efitz11Washington Nationals•

yes, 2016 was a down year, but was still 3.5 fWAR, which isn't terrible.

But let's not forget the first 3 seasons there were his age 19-21 seasons.

1
JaylawKansas City Royals•

OK, but let's not forget we're talking about GOAT, not great player, not all star, not MVP.

I honestly dont think any sane person could think he will end up even in the first tier of OF with Babe, Barry, Musial and Willaims.

But could he end up in the second tier with Mickey, Rickey, Yaz and the kid? Also no.

4
VAForLoversWashington Nationals•

He's one of the current best players. Not even close to one of the greatest ever at this point

2
nomegusta_nuncamasCalifornia Angels•

Today on 11 o'Clock News: Is u/burgerocious really Bryce Harper? Some sources might get you wondering.

2
burgerociousOP•

You got me. I’m here reading comments, running my hands through my amazing hair and padding my ego

0
ryansony18Philadelphia Phillies•

He's just a superstar at very young age. His stats besides his MVP season aren't that impressive though. I think he's only played 2 full seasons so if he keeps getting hurt all the time maybe he doesn't even get into the Hall of Fame. That's why I don't want him to come to Philly next year, I could see him becoming the next Troy Tulawitski.

1
EdiesDaddyToronto Blue Jays•

Not yet. He'll need a bunch of 2015s if he's going to get into that convo. Most guys don't have one of those years though, so...

1
burgerociousOP•

Totally. His 2015 was an awesome season. I guess all his other years have had injuries so maybe that what’s been holding him back

2
Rshackleford22Chicago Cubs•

who the fuck said that?

1
BabylonLiaison•

In terms of hair, no question

1
Sephiroth007Chicago Cubs•

No one has ever said he's one of the goats. Not yet at least

1
burgerociousOP•

That’s my point of view. I’ve just had a few online arguments lately(and in the past) about this. I think he’s done pretty good so far but has a lot to prove. Other people say he’s the best in baseball.

0
2016endoftheworldToronto Blue Jays•

HE"S YOUNG

1
DrTralfamador541Boston Red Sox•

Too early to tell. He appears to have that level of talent, but lots of guys were derailed by injury, lack of drive, bad luck etc.

1
HawkeyeJoshNew York Yankees•

Too early to say, but he has as good a chance as anyone not named Trout or Stanton to be one.

0
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[deleted]

1
mikemil50Chicago Cubs•

I find your lack of Bryant disturbing. And your inclusion of Stanton.

1
HawkeyeJoshNew York Yankees•

Bryant’s only been around for three years. Two more at his rate and I’ll happily include him.

As for Stanton, he’s as prodigious a slugger as there is today. Granted, I could have factored injuries in a bit more.

0
mikemil50Chicago Cubs•

Yeah that's what Bryant has over Stanton big time. Consistency and health. Stanton doesn't have a prayer to ever get included in GOAT discussions.

3
HawkeyeJoshNew York Yankees•

Honestly, I’d give Stanton more credit for health than Harper. Given how often Harper hurts himself due to his style of play, and that Stanton’s first injury was a freak thing (I mean, how often do batters get hit right in the face with a fastball?), that would put Stanton in a better position injury-wise.

-1
DiehardSumoFanChicago Cubs•

Nah, Harper isn't close to the level of Cash Considerations, Tuffy GOATsewisch, and Shohei GOATani.

-3
Kevin69138•

Cash is worth every penny

1