BBTF's Newsblog Discussion :: Nationals calling up Bryce Harper, placing Ryan Zimmerman on disabled list

Baseball Primer Newsblog
— The Best News Links from the Baseball Newsstand

Friday, April 27, 2012

Nationals calling up Bryce Harper, placing Ryan Zimmerman on disabled list

Ryan Zimmerman needing a stint on the disabled list certainly isn’t a surprise considering the third baseman’s shoulder injury hasn’t shown any improvement, but the Nationals’ choice to replace him on the roster is a shocker.

General manager Mike Rizzo announced that Bryce Harper will be called up from Triple-A tomorrow to make his MLB debut this weekend at Dodger Stadium, which seemingly comes out of nowhere given that the top prospect was hitting just .250 with a .333 on-base percentage and .375 slugging percentage in 20 games at Triple-A.

Thanks to Drew.

Repoz Posted: April 27, 2012 at 05:01 PM | 49 comment(s) Login to Bookmark
Tags: nationals

Reader Comments and Retorts

Go to end of page

Statements posted here are those of our readers and do not represent the BaseballThinkFactory. Names are provided by the poster and are not verified. We ask that posters follow our submission policy. Please report any inappropriate comments.

1. Dan Posted: April 27, 2012 at 05:16 PM (#4117953)

Bold move. I like it.

They've been regularly playing Bernadina, Nady, and Ankiel in the OF. Even if he has a rough adjustment period, he's not likely to be a big downgrade over those guys.

2. Boxkutter Posted: April 27, 2012 at 05:16 PM (#4117954)

I saw MLB.com posted something on their Facebook feed about it, but I couldn't find anything on ESPN or MiLB about it. Thanks for verifying.

3. TerpNats Posted: April 27, 2012 at 05:19 PM (#4117956)

Not exactly Willie Mays with the 1951 Minneapolis Millers. I only hope Harper's ready, and that Johnson, Strasburg, Zimmerman, Werth and others will make sure he follows the right path. I just don't want this to be the Nats' response to RGIII; that's a tactic the Redskins or Steinbrenner's Yankees would do (remember Jose Rijo as their answer to Dwight Gooden over in Queens?).

4. Lassus Posted: April 27, 2012 at 05:20 PM (#4117957)

WTF? I haven't even had a chance to make it out to Syracuse yet. Booooooo.

5. Walks Clog Up the Bases Posted: April 27, 2012 at 05:23 PM (#4117958)

The MLB Tonight crew interviewed Ankiel after a game last week and, naturally, the subject of Bryce Harper came up. It was amusing hearing Ankiel say in a roundabout way that the Nationals shouldn't rush bringing up Harper to the big leagues.

6. Crispix Attacks 2: Swag Airlines Posted: April 27, 2012 at 05:28 PM (#4117960)

WTF? I haven't even had a chance to make it out to Syracuse yet. Booooooo.

Don't worry, he'll be back there soon.

7. Guapo Posted: April 27, 2012 at 05:31 PM (#4117965)

Per Mark Zuckerman on Twitter, Nationals LFs are hitting .097 this season. So that should lower expectations, right?

8. Joey B. has ignited his October #Natitude Posted: April 27, 2012 at 05:32 PM (#4117967)

Dear Lerners, Rizzo, and the rest of the Nationals organization:

Please, for the love of Pete stop insulting the intelligence of your loyal fans, because we're not nearly as stupid as you seem to think we are. We pretty much all know that you're lying about Zimmerman's injury and that it's worse than what you're letting on. So just stop it already; you make rooting for your organization hard enough as it is sometimes. We can handle the truth. Seriously.

Sincerely,
A fan

9. JJ1986 Posted: April 27, 2012 at 05:32 PM (#4117968)

they can't wait til Tuesday so he can debut at home?

10. Ray (RDP)

Posted: April 27, 2012 at 05:35 PM (#4117979)

I don't think he's ready yet, and if he's not, they've burned an option. I guess not a big deal because eventually he'll come up for good.

It's one thing to aggressively promote a player; that's not what's happening here. He hasn't earned the callup.

11. JJ1986 Posted: April 27, 2012 at 05:38 PM (#4117986)

Harper's on the 40 already.

12. Benji Posted: April 27, 2012 at 05:38 PM (#4117987)

13. JE (Jason Epstein)

Posted: April 27, 2012 at 05:40 PM (#4117988)

Harper has a sub-.400 SLG in over 200 PAs since graduating from A-ball last year. Maybe Mike Trout should be taking notes?

14. Joey B. has ignited his October #Natitude Posted: April 27, 2012 at 05:41 PM (#4117989)

Benji dude, it's not just you, it's pretty much all of us. Today's ballplayers are the biggest bunch of fragile little pussyboys to ever step between the white lines.

15. The Yankee Clapper Posted: April 27, 2012 at 05:42 PM (#4117991)

I don't think he's ready yet, and if he's not, they've burned an option.

The Nationals didn't burn anything that they weren't awfully likely to use later in the year.

16. fra paolo Posted: April 27, 2012 at 05:44 PM (#4117995)

they can't wait til Tuesday so he can debut at home?

If he can provide an immediate offensive boost, and the Nationals and their fans want to win games: no, they can't.

This is a team that has been having serious trouble scoring runs. For a below-average offensive team to be 14-5 after nineteen games is astounding. The team just ahead of it in runs per game is 9-10; the one just behind is 6-13.

17. Dangerous Dean Posted: April 27, 2012 at 05:44 PM (#4117997)

If you hate a player, I mean really hate him, find a way to get him on my fantasy team. Last year was bad, but this year, just one team has Carpenter, Storen, Gardner, Ellsbury, Morse and Zimmerman plus Reyes, Scherzer and Stanton. Needless to say, I am the kiss of death to players.

Trade for every Yankee you can. It would be a shame if they cratered. Oh, and stay away from my Rangers!!!

18. Dan Posted: April 27, 2012 at 05:46 PM (#4117998)

I don't think he's ready yet, and if he's not, they've burned an option. I guess not a big deal because eventually he'll come up for good.

It's one thing to aggressively promote a player; that's not what's happening here. He hasn't earned the callup.

The Nationals already "burned" the option when they sent him to AAA in March. He's on the 40 man roster.

19. Ray (RDP)

Posted: April 27, 2012 at 05:56 PM (#4118004)

Harper's on the 40 already.

Thanks to all for the corrections. I will provide your cokes.

20. Rickey Fredonia Fudge Duckery Precious Twiddle Posted: April 27, 2012 at 05:58 PM (#4118007)

Please, for the love of Pete stop insulting the intelligence of your loyal fans, because we're not nearly as stupid as you seem to think we are. We pretty much all know that you're lying about Zimmerman's injury and that it's worse than what you're letting on. So just stop it already; you make rooting for your organization hard enough as it is sometimes. We can handle the truth. Seriously.

MEET THE METS,
MEET THE METS,
Step right up and greet the Mets!

21. Howie B. Posted: April 27, 2012 at 06:01 PM (#4118009)

TerpNats - that's one of my favorite Willie Mays stories. The Giants called Mays up to the major leagues in late May 1951. Mays was afraid to go, telling manager Leo Durocher that he wasn't sure he was ready for the majors yet and that he didn't think he could hit big-league pitching. Durocher asked, "What are you hitting now?" Mays answered, ".477.”

Durocher, exasperated, asked Willie ".477? Do you think you could hit two-f^cking-fifty for me?"

Willie told him, ".250? I think so."

"Well then get your f^cking a$$ up here!!"

22. RMc and His Roster of Rubbish Posted: April 27, 2012 at 07:11 PM (#4118045)

Just fer funzies, I took a look at all teams that started 14-5. The '12 Nats are actually the 91st team to win 14 of their first 19, so it's not as uncommon as you think.

Of the other 90:

*Average win pct: .585 (95 wins)
*Best: 1885 Chicago NL, 87-25 (.777), who won the NL pennant (That same year, St. Louis also started 14-5 and finished 79-35 [.705] for the second-best wpct for a 14-5 starter, and won the AA pennant.)
*Best since 1900: 1998 Yankees, 114-48 (.704), edging out the 1939 Yanks, 106-45 (.702)
*Worst: 1978 Oakland A's, 69-93 (.426). Only 7 of the 90 finished under .500 (2 in the 19c, '42 Indians, '52 Red Sox, '73 White Sox, '78 A's, '95 Phillies).
*First-place teams: 40
*Second-place teams: 23
*Third-place teams: 7
*Fourth or lower: 20
*World champs: 11 (1878 Boston, 1885 Chicago NL/St. Louis AA [co-champs], '05 Giants, '31 Cardinals, '39 Yanks, '51 Yanks, '56 Yanks, '58 Yanks, '81 Dodgers, '90 Reds, '98 Yanks)
*Other pennant winners: 18
*Other division winners: 14
*Only other Washington team to start 14-5: 1932 Senators. They finished third, 93-61 (.605)

23. Petunia inquires about ponies Posted: April 27, 2012 at 07:15 PM (#4118050)

If you hate a player, I mean really hate him, find a way to get him on my fantasy team. Last year was bad, but this year, just one team has Carpenter, Storen, Gardner, Ellsbury, Morse and Zimmerman plus Reyes, Scherzer and Stanton. Needless to say, I am the kiss of death to players.

Okay, I paid for Utley and Stephen Drew on purpose. But BJ Upton and Gardner was going too far. Of course, it doesn't help that the three closers I ended up getting (12 team league) were Madson, Storen and Bailey. I had to trade Granderson, my best keeper value, for Putz and Walden - who are both sure to get hurt in short order - after blowing most of my FAAB on F Rodney and Hector Santiago. Then after last week's game when I posted a screenshot of my day's stats on the league message board - I have both Cliff Lee and Matt Cain - Lee goes on the DL the next day.

Lesson? Nobody cares about anybody else's fantasy team. Remind me to tell you a really awful bad beat story sometime.

24. Boxkutter Posted: April 27, 2012 at 07:41 PM (#4118057)

Lesson? Nobody cares about anybody else's fantasy team. Remind me to tell you a really awful bad beat story sometime.

only if it involves Pocket Aces.

25. Tulo's Fishy Mullet (mrams) Posted: April 27, 2012 at 09:55 PM (#4118163)

Ooh, and Scully gets to tell us about Harper tonight (maybe).

26. BourbonSamurai, vassal of the Harpsburg Empire Posted: April 27, 2012 at 10:43 PM (#4118199)

As soon as I heard this I went to grab tickets to his first game in DC then realized I already had them! Very excited how this worked out

27. Jim Wisinski

Posted: April 27, 2012 at 10:56 PM (#4118211)

I know Harper is very young still and super toolsy but he hasn't been any good outside of Low-A yet. I didn't understand why he started the season at AAA in the first place and calling him up now is unorthodox to say the least.

Hell, his performance in the Sally League at 18 was only slightly better than Delmon Young's :)

28. Rafael Bellylard: Built like a Fielder Posted: April 27, 2012 at 11:26 PM (#4118234)

The game will be on MLB Network tomorrow night. I rarely get excited about single, regular season games, but Strasburg pitching and Harper in his debut against the best player in the game is must-see TV.

29. JE (Jason Epstein)

Posted: April 27, 2012 at 11:40 PM (#4118249)

I know Harper is very young still and super toolsy but he hasn't been any good outside of Low-A yet. I didn't understand why he started the season at AAA in the first place and calling him up now is unorthodox to say the least.

In fairness, Harper went nuts in the Arizona Fall League (.333/.400/.634), even though he was its youngest participant.

30. Crispix Attacks 2: Swag Airlines Posted: April 28, 2012 at 12:02 AM (#4118259)

Thus ends one of those brief periods when the youngest player in the majors is someone who isn't a huge star.

31. Jim Wisinski

Posted: April 28, 2012 at 12:36 AM (#4118275)

In fairness, Harper went nuts in the Arizona Fall League (.333/.400/.634), even though he was its youngest participant.

True, but if my math is right 29.6% of the players in the AFL hit for a .900 OPS or better and typically the AFL isn't real strong in pitching prospects because of workload concerns. His performance is still quite good and improves the outlook a bit but the chances are still pretty good that he's going to suck.

32. SoSHially Unacceptable Posted: April 28, 2012 at 12:40 AM (#4118279)

I hope Lazzeri's been salting away his dollar bucks.

33. fra paolo Posted: April 28, 2012 at 01:08 AM (#4118290)

Bad news SoSHially; Lazzeri hasn't visited the site since August 2010. Dollar bucks presumably stopped visiting at the same time.

34. SoSHially Unacceptable Posted: April 28, 2012 at 01:12 AM (#4118294)

Bad news SoSHially; Lazzeri hasn't visited the site since August 2010. Dollar bucks presumably stopped visiting at the same time.

There was nothing about his offer being conditional on his continued Primacy.

35. The Yankee Clapper Posted: April 28, 2012 at 02:23 AM (#4118306)

Bad news SoSHially; Lazzeri hasn't visited the site since August 2010. Dollar bucks presumably stopped visiting at the same time.

Furtado will probably release his contact info without a subpoena.

36. Robinson Cano Plate Like Home Posted: April 28, 2012 at 03:47 AM (#4118310)

Lazzeri hasn't visited the site since August 2010

It's worse than that--he's been dead since '46.

37. zachtoma Posted: April 28, 2012 at 03:50 AM (#4118311)

38. McCoy Wilfong for Money Posted: April 28, 2012 at 05:46 AM (#4118318)

I've got tickets to Thursday's game and it kind of sucks that Davey won't skip spots in the rotations and go by days off. If he did I'd get to see Strasburg and Harper on Thursday. Granted if Davey had done that from the beginning I wouldn't be lined up to see Stephen either nor if he did that since the rain delay would I get to see him. I guess when every one of your starters looks like Koufax or better out there you don't mind letting the entire rotation pitch.

39. McCoy Wilfong for Money Posted: April 28, 2012 at 05:56 AM (#4118319)

I don't think he's ready but the Nats lineup really needs help right now. I watched the game tonight vs LA and I didn't realize the extent to which they've been hammered by injuries - Morse is out, Zimmerman is out; you have Werth/LaRoche hitting 3/4 and that's basically it for quality bats. Doesn't look much better than the Phillies lineup does these days

Ankiel would be pretty good if he would just take a walk now and then.

Here is an interesting little factoid. Right now in the NL the catchers of the league are hitting better overall than secondbasemen, thirdbasemen, SS, and LFers of the league! They are hitting better than the outfield overall and the infield overall. I found this out because I was going to say that Wilson/Ramos were actually hitting pretty well for catchers but when I looked at the league averages they are basically average for catchers. I think 7 or 8 teams have done better at the catcher spot and 7 or 8 have done worse. Though to give Wilson/Ramos credit after them the bottom 7 or 8 are pretty bad.

Over in the AL it is even more shocking. Catchers are hitting better than firstbasemen, secondbasemen, thirdbasemen, shortstops, and right fielders. Left Field barely beats them out.

40. boteman Posted: April 28, 2012 at 08:25 AM (#4118325)

41. McCoy Wilfong for Money Posted: April 28, 2012 at 08:32 AM (#4118326)

I wonder if CSPAN will get higher ratings than the game in the DC area.

42. cercopithecus aethiops Posted: April 28, 2012 at 09:09 AM (#4118334)

I know Harper is very young still and super toolsy but he hasn't been any good outside of Low-A yet. I didn't understand why he started the season at AAA in the first place and calling him up now is unorthodox to say the least.

That's what happens when you sign a 17 year-old to a major-league contract. His options are getting burned from day 1. He needs to stick in the majors by opening day 2014 or clear waivers to get sent down. They have a need, they have a roster opening, why not give him a taste?

43. McCoy Wilfong for Money Posted: April 28, 2012 at 09:30 AM (#4118346)

The Nationals are off to a good start. The rest of the East is struggling to find traction. The pitching will not stay this hot the whole season. Now is a pretty good time to bring him up. The Nationals need offense but they don't need Harper to carry the offense right this moment. So he can get a month to adjust to being up and so forth. If he tanks they send him back down and I doubt his poor performance would hurt the Nationals anymore than the poor performances they were already getting. He plays well and the Nationals win more games, sell more tickets, sell more goodies, and quite possibly go to the playoffs where they make millions more on top of that. Keeping a prospect down to avoid Super-2 has value but making the playoffs has value as well.

44. Gamingboy Posted: April 28, 2012 at 09:53 AM (#4118353)

Just missed seeing him. Game I was going to go see him play in was rained out.

45. boteman Posted: April 28, 2012 at 09:59 AM (#4118356)

It will be interesting to measure Rizzo's call-up of Harper now against what really happens late in the season if the Nats truly are in contention for the post-season. Will he really shut down Strasburg or Zimmermann if the Nats have a chance? It's one thing to make such a decision in a vacuum before the season starts, it's entirely different under the pressures of an ongoing successful season with PR and marketing, front office, fans all hoping for the previously unthinkable.

Based on this decision on Harper I vote "no shutdown".

46. Dan Posted: April 28, 2012 at 10:17 AM (#4118366)

I've got tickets to Thursday's game and it kind of sucks that Davey won't skip spots in the rotations and go by days off. If he did I'd get to see Strasburg and Harper on Thursday. Granted if Davey had done that from the beginning I wouldn't be lined up to see Stephen either nor if he did that since the rain delay would I get to see him. I guess when every one of your starters looks like Koufax or better out there you don't mind letting the entire rotation pitch.

Keep in mind that Zimmermann and Strasburg are both making their way back from TJ still and might have a slight restriction on their innings, so I doubt Davey Johnson is in a hurry to use up whatever innings they do have. They can probably make it the whole season in the rotation if they stick to a full 5 man rotation (or even do 6 for a bit during the summer maybe), whereas if he started skipping Detwiler he's probably going to have to give each of them at least 2 weeks off from pitching in the rotation to keep their workload in the expected range.

47. phredbird

Posted: April 28, 2012 at 10:57 AM (#4118394)

i am happy to say i am going to be at this game tonight. strasburg is supposed to be pitching, yes?

48. boteman Posted: April 28, 2012 at 12:08 PM (#4118453)

Strasburg is supposed to be pitching, yes?

Supposed to be, but he cut both Achilles tendons with a weed wacker while edging his parents' lawn yesterday and is on the 60-day DL.

49. smileyy Posted: April 28, 2012 at 01:08 PM (#4118490)

[48] I was worried about that when I saw him moving the weed whacker in a "Sideways E" motion. Back and forth, Stephen, not in loops!

You must be Registered and Logged In to post comments.

<< Back to main

Friday, April 27, 2012

Nationals calling up Bryce Harper, placing Ryan Zimmerman on disabled list

Reader Comments and Retorts

BBTF Sponsor

Support BBTF

Bookmarks

Hot Topics