Slowing Down Expectations For Bryce Harper

Bryce Harper, he of the 500+ foot home runs and 96MPH fastballs, doesn't stand a chance.

Thanks to the new age hype machine, he has no choice but to hit a home run every single at bat he takes. Be it for Team USA, College of Southern Nevada, or even just his BP showings. If he doesn't hit one Eleventy billion feet while farting pixie dust, all in attendance cry foul. Upon reaching the pro ranks, if he doesn't hit .330 with 20 home runs in Low-A while standing on his head, the angry chants will be as loud as Philadelphia Eagles fans when Santa walks by.

But is that fair?

And should expectations of his performances be taken back a notch?

I say no, and a resounding "absolutely".

In this age of instant gratification not being quick enough, we expect those hyped as great to be immediately so. No more are the days of learning on the job and minimizing weaknesses. If you are hyped, you better produce. And there are few sports that are harder for a young player to produce in than baseball, at least as a hitter. There's a reason baseball dogma states that most hitters don't reach their prime until their late 20's. It takes time to polish your skills, master your craft, and most importantly- trust yourself and everything you are doing.

You might see some 94 here and there on the showcase circuit, or an MLB caliber yellow hammer on a Team USA trip, but until you see that from every pitcher you face on a daily basis in the Major Leagues; it is not easy to master your skills and your swing to handle those type of pitches.

And yet, Bryce Harper will have to do that immediately. Without any hesitation. If not, he's a bum.

It's quite sad to read some of the internet jockeys' musings on Harper. "Bust" gets thrown around a lot. "Metal bat superstar" is another that is seen quite frequently. "O-V-E-R-R-A-T-E-D" is possibly the most common.

Apparently it is true that behind a computer it doesn't matter if you yourself couldn't hit water if you fell out of a friggin boat, you still have the right to decree who sucks and who doesn't. At least that's what the detractors think. I wonder if they would say the same thing to his face if given the opportunity.

I bet they would be smiling from ear to ear about the show he's putting on during batting practice.

Now that I'm done with that rant, let's take a look at his swing.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o1SMZocHF3E&NR=1

That is raw, unadulterated bat speed and barrel awareness ladies and gentlemen. You can teach a lot of things in this game, but bat speed is one thing you cannot. Increase it? Sure, some here and there. But plus bat speed is as God given as good looks. Some have it and some don't, and when you see it, you can't help but be impressed.

But there is a bit of concern in there. And mind you, most of them are easy fixes that come with strength, experience, and trust.

Taking his God given bat speed, Harper has maximized it with a super sized rear leg push and weight transfer. The boy simply does not get cheated and gives the baseball every bit of juice he's got. That's how he gets his giddy-up.

He starts with a bit of weight on his from leg, sways back, then pushes like all hell to get his lower body started before firing his hips. Explosive, but not well suited for handling pitches in all locations and speeds.

You rarely see that much of a push and transfer work at the Major League level. Once he gets some man muscles on him, he'll learn how to stay centered on his rear hip and how to push and thrust from there. Not early as he does now.

Here's another look at just how much of a transfer and push he has going on.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SYRAaiXE1YI

As for that upper body, a little long, and a little arm-ish. Again, something easily tightened up over time. From his swing pattern, it won't be that hard to turn into a hips and hands guy; different from the push/hips/arms/hands that he is now.

I see a lot of his future struggles in the same mold that Ian Stewart is going through. Both have TREE-MENDOUS bat speed and power, and both still have a ways to go in terms of harnessing and controlling it.

Fortunately for Harper, struggling could be a good thing. That is just about the only way for some players to learn what they are good at, and what they have to work on. His talents and passion are unquestioned. It's his skills that need to be harnessed.

Harper reportedly lost 25 pounds while playing pretty much all of the 2009 spring and summer, and it showed in his swing and Aflac Game performance. I've seen him start loaded on his rear leg and maintain that center of balance, he hammered the ball. When he was starting with his front leg loaded and pushed the rest of his weight to the front even more, he looked like all the internet tough guys wanted him to be; vulnerable.

Regaining that weight and remembering where to start with his weight will go a long way towards Harper playing up to his superstar potential. But there are going to be struggles. There are going to be learning pains. And with the coverage he will get, some will come out of the wood works to say "I told you so".

But since those guys, well, just plain suck at life in their own right; it's wise to just leave them be in their hating ways. Bryce Harper will be just fine. It's just going to take longer than some expect it to.

But when that day comes, the game will have another true superstar hitter. And that has never been a bad thing for the game.