Bryce Harper or Mike Trout

[Omar 382]

This is weird. I went to Fangraphs.com's home page and they had an article on this very subject.

The Case for Noah Syndergaard as Baseball’s Best Pitcher | FanGraphs Baseball

 

[SlinkyRedfoot]

Id like to insert Manny Machado into this discussion, as one of the best all around players in baseball, we definitely dont hear enough about

Interestingly enough, Machado is a FA in the same class as Harper, and wouldnt be a bad consolation prize to the team that loses out on Bryce

As a matter of Fact, would Machado and another star FA in that class, be a better choice than Bryce, for the same cost?

I disagree. Machado is one that I would call an injury risk. He's 23 and has already had both knees operated on and has missed significant time in the minors and majors because of it. That, to me, is a much bigger red flag than Harper missing time for running into a wall.

 

[SlinkyRedfoot]

I said I'd take him if there was an expansion draft because of his young age. I don't remember saying he was the one of the best, but if I did, I must have been using the phrase "one of the best" liberally, like top 20 pitcher, which I think he is.

Either that or I'M LOSING MY FUCKING MIND

I take Clayton Kershaw and Noah Syndergaard. You get the best SP in baseball who will also be a good influence on the new team, and you get a guy who isn't eligible for free agency until 2021 who is already one of the best pitchers in baseball.

 

[SlinkyRedfoot]

This is weird. I went to Fangraphs.com's home page and they had an article on this very subject.

The Case for Noah Syndergaard as Baseball’s Best Pitcher | FanGraphs Baseball

That is coincidental.

There's no question Syndergaard has been fucking outrageous as of late, but he's got a whole lot less of a track record than Harper does, and in the OP you docked Harper for his lack of track record.

Don't get me wrong, if Syndergaard was on the Indians, I'd be stroking my dick so hard it'd be smoking right now. However, Indian or not, you're not going to catch me calling a guy with only 170 innings pitched one of the best pitchers in baseball.

 

[SlinkyRedfoot]

@HammerDown - I fucking love the search functionality of your site, man.

 

[Omar 382]

Ok, so now we're getting into the options of me using "one of the best" liberally or me losing my mind

 

[Omar 382]

I mean, how do you define "one of the best"? Let's say there's 150 starting pitchers in baseball right now. There's more because of injuries, demotions, etc., but let's call it 150. For him to be top 15, he's in the top 10% of pitchers. That is just cause for saying "one of the best"

 

[SlinkyRedfoot]

I mean, how do you define "one of the best"? Let's say there's 150 starting pitchers in baseball right now. There's more because of injuries, demotions, etc., but let's call it 150. For him to be top 15, he's in the top 10% of pitchers. That is just cause for saying "one of the best"

The semantic debate isn't terribly interesting, but generally speaking, I would agree, being in the top tenth percentile should qualify you. So the question is, are there fifteen pitchers I'd rather have in 2016 than Syndergaard, and my answer is yes.

 

[handicappers]

Willie Mays and Babe Ruth say hi and say no

False

 

[Omar 382]

False

Are you mentally challenged?

 

[Fountain City Blues]

Man, you really can't go wrong here- but I'd be leaning Harper right now since Harper has come into his own offensively; meanwhile Trout isn't a speed terrorist on the basepaths anymore.

 

[StanMarsh51]

Harper's last 45 games: 19 HR, 44 RBI, 38 runs

 

[Indrid Cold]

I disagree. Machado is one that I would call an injury risk. He's 23 and has already had both knees operated on and has missed significant time in the minors and majors because of it. That, to me, is a much bigger red flag than Harper missing time for running into a wall.

Harper also missed a lot of time after he hurt his thumb sliding headfirst into a bag after his dumbass manager (since fired) called him out for "not hustling".
I agree, Harper's injuries have been related more to being a bit too "enthusiastic" in the field rather than having chronic issues with his body. Machado reminds me too much of Tony Oliva, another guy with huge ability who also had bad knees from the get go...it really crippled Oliva's career.

 

[Cedrique]

Trout, and it's not even close

 

[SlinkyRedfoot]

Trout, and it's not even close

You've been kicking it with Dr. Emmett Brown again, haven't you?

 

[Mondo Jay]

Trout is amazing, but I'm leaning Harper going forward. Just think how good he will be when he is Trout's age..

 

[SlinkyRedfoot]

Trout is amazing, but I'm leaning Harper going forward. Just think how good he will be when he is Trout's age..

I'm leaning Harper too. Considering that Trout doesn't steal bags anymore, we're left with what they're doing at the plate. Considering that Harper's 2015 season was better than anything Trout's done, and he's hit the ground running this year, I'm thinking the kids got a bright frucking fruture.

 

[SlinkyRedfoot]

Since July 18, 2014, when he got his feet back under him after injury, here's Harper's slash line:

.318/.430/.606/1.037

976 PAs. That a solid year and a half of mind-numbing production. I'm excited to see what he does this season.

 

[Cedrique]

You've been kicking it with Dr. Emmett Brown again, haven't you?

Sorry, I'm at a seminar on internet trolling here at the Airport Ramada and I just wanted to check out one of the techniques I learned, which is ending any statement with "and it isn't even close". Maybe I should have chosen a more polarizing topic, like the Bonds vs Ted Williams debate.

 

[Omar 382]

Sorry, I'm at a seminar on internet trolling here at the Airport Ramada and I just wanted to check out one of the techniques I learned, which is ending any statement with "and it isn't even close". Maybe I should have chosen a more polarizing topic, like the Bonds vs Ted Williams debate.

Yeah, or Andres Blanco in the three-hole