Harper or Machado

[Sportsguy9695]

Harper and it’s not even close

 

[PEOPLESCHICKEN]

Harper.

Machado has bad knees, and I'm not giving a big contract to a guy that cries about being tagged too hard.

You are not thinking big picture. When his knees go out he can ride a zero turn and mow your fucking lawn!

Ya know, because thats what Messicans do Mang

 

[scoutyjones2]

Yeah, positional scarcity is the only reason. The allure of getting a great fielding SS who can hit 35 bombs. But I think I'm leaning even more towards Harper. Can you imagine if a few years from now Machado was unable to play the middle infield or 3b? And moving to 1B/DH doesn't necessarily make you into a better hitter. Look no further than Joe Mauer

Is he a great fielding SS? Dudes played like 55 games there...

 

[Cedrique]

Is he a great fielding SS? Dudes played like 55 games there...

Good point. He's a plus fielder at 3rd base. I guess we'll know more about his defense at shortstop after he plays out this season.

 

[Mike A. S.]

Harper is better offensively but Machado is close enough and plays a much more difficult defensive position, not to mention he actually still plays defensively much better despite that.

 

[navamind]

Harper is better offensively but Machado is close enough and plays a much more difficult defensive position, not to mention he actually still plays defensively much better despite that.

Idk about that. Here's their career stats:

Harper: .285/.387/.518, 142 wRC+
Machado: .279/.329/.474, 115 wRC+

It's also worth noting that Harper's played 775 games while Machado has 771. Harper has 4 more career WAR.

Last 3 years (2015-17):
Harper: .296/.416/.560, 156 wRC+
Machado: .280/.338/.502, 123 wRC+

There's been an even bigger gap between them over the last 3 years. Harper's shown more power and is *much* better at getting on base. Machado might provide a lot more defensive value (and at a tougher position), but I don't think that makes up for offense.

 

[SlinkyRedfoot]

Idk about that. Here's their career stats:

Harper: .285/.387/.518, 142 wRC+
Machado: .279/.329/.474, 115 wRC+

It's also worth noting that Harper's played 775 games while Machado has 771. Harper has 4 more career WAR.

Last 3 years (2015-17):
Harper: .296/.416/.560, 156 wRC+
Machado: .280/.338/.502, 123 wRC+

There's been an even bigger gap between them over the last 3 years. Harper's shown more power and is *much* better at getting on base. Machado might provide a lot more defensive value (and at a tougher position), but I don't think that makes up for offense.

Plus, I think Machado had three knee surgeries before his 24th birthday. That would make me nervous.

 

[Mike A. S.]

Idk about that. Here's their career stats:

Harper: .285/.387/.518, 142 wRC+
Machado: .279/.329/.474, 115 wRC+

It's also worth noting that Harper's played 775 games while Machado has 771. Harper has 4 more career WAR.

Last 3 years (2015-17):
Harper: .296/.416/.560, 156 wRC+
Machado: .280/.338/.502, 123 wRC+

There's been an even bigger gap between them over the last 3 years. Harper's shown more power and is *much* better at getting on base. Machado might provide a lot more defensive value (and at a tougher position), but I don't think that makes up for offense.

Their 162-game averages:
Machado: 29 HR, 86 RBI, 8 SB, .279 AVG, .330 OBP, 183 H
Harper: 32 HR, 90 RBI, 13 SB, .285 AVG, .387 OBP, 165 H

I think that's pretty darn comparable. The only thing with a reasonable difference is the OBP. And I think the major defensive difference between the two makes up for the rest. Manny has 2 Gold Gloves, compared to 0 for Harper, again at a much more difficult position. And I think he could've easily have won more Gold Gloves already.

 

[Kevin12773]

Since I like the left side of the cubs infield it's Harper all day every day

 

[SlinkyRedfoot]

Their 162-game averages:
Machado: 29 HR, 86 RBI, 8 SB, .279 AVG, .330 OBP, 183 H
Harper: 32 HR, 90 RBI, 13 SB, .285 AVG, .387 OBP, 165 H

I think that's pretty darn comparable. The only thing with a reasonable difference is the OBP.

I notice you left off SLG and OPS, which is odd because you provided AVE and OBP. Here are their complete 162 game slash lines with OPS+

Machado: .279/.330/.477/.806/116
Harper: .285/.387/.518/.905/141

Much less comparable when you look at the whole picture.

 

[redseat]

Don't want my team to spend that much scratch on ANY player... That would mean ticket prices would go up even more and way too fing much! and you really have to wonder what money said team would have for the rest of it's players... They had better hope they have their skilled players already locked up for years before they sign either player for that much....

I'm going with Harper imo... Red Sox should be perfectly fine with Devers at third....... Outfield would be fine but Harper clearly out hits JBJ by a MILE and would be an IMMEDIATE upgrade offensively. With that said, I'd take JBJ d over Harper's... But that's not what we are talking about...

So I'd pick Harper

 

[navamind]

Their 162-game averages:
Machado: 29 HR, 86 RBI, 8 SB, .279 AVG, .330 OBP, 183 H
Harper: 32 HR, 90 RBI, 13 SB, .285 AVG, .387 OBP, 165 H

I think that's pretty darn comparable. The only thing with a reasonable difference is the OBP. And I think the major defensive difference between the two makes up for the rest. Manny has 2 Gold Gloves, compared to 0 for Harper, again at a much more difficult position. And I think he could've easily have won more Gold Gloves already.

57 points of OBP isn't a reasonable difference IMO. That's a lot. Just look at the league OBP over their careers.

Major League Baseball Batting Year-by-Year Averages | Baseball-Reference.com

 

[SlinkyRedfoot]

I'd take JBJ d over Harper's...

I bet you would!

 

[Mike A. S.]

I notice you left off SLG and OPS, which is odd because you provided AVE and OBP. Here are their complete 162 game slash lines with OPS+

Machado: .279/.330/.477/.806/116
Harper: .285/.387/.518/.905/141

Much less comparable when you look at the whole picture.

Yeah, I left those out because those stats are kinda stupid. Especially the OPS. Why do you need OBP and SLG and then also OPS? And if you are indeed looking at the whole picture like you said then you'd be looking at the defense, which again points WAY toward Machado's favor.

 

[Mike A. S.]

57 points of OBP isn't a reasonable difference IMO. That's a lot. Just look at the league OBP over their careers.

Major League Baseball Batting Year-by-Year Averages | Baseball-Reference.com

Yeah, but it's the only one that is a reasonable difference, which is what I said. And like I said earlier, I admit Harper is a better hitter. Do you think their defense is comparable at all? Do you really think their bats are a bigger difference then their gloves?

 

[BigKen]

I like 'em both but don't want either. Then every other player on the Red Sox especially the pitching staff will want more.

Doesn't matter anyway. The Yankees or Dodgers will sigh both. My guess....Dodgers. They didn't spend any mone=y this year because of these two being available next.

 

[Erie Warrior]

Harper, pretty sure he never cried about being tagged too hard.

 

[redseat]

I bet you would!

well, they do say once you go..... lol

 

[SlinkyRedfoot]

Yeah, I left those out because those stats are kinda stupid. Especially the OPS. Why do you need OBP and SLG and then also OPS? And if you are indeed looking at the whole picture like you said then you'd be looking at the defense, which again points WAY toward Machado's favor.

“Stats are stupid if they don’t support my point”

lolz

 

[Mike A. S.]

“Stats are stupid if they don’t support my point”

lolz

Nice argument. So Harper is better at OBP and he's better at SLG...so let's combine the two so we can give him another stat he can win at...yeah, great stat. I can combine things to make Machado look like he's winning more stats too. But I like real stats. And I like that you keep ignoring the part about defense, even though I keep admitting that Harper's bat is better. But yeah, you can act like I'm the one saying things are stupid if they don't support my point.