One scout called him among the worst amateur players he's ever seen from a makeup standpoint, with top-of-the-scale arrogance, a disturbingly large sense of entitlement, and on-field behavior that includes taunting opponents. "He's just a bad, bad guy," said one front-office official. "He's basically the anti-Joe Mauer."
Buster Olney was recently talking about character issues with baseball players. He said scouts are really starting to factor in character issues and that Harper is getting the most scrutiny about this. That some scouts have even told him they hope the Nats take him so they don't have to deal with it. One of the reasons the Braves loved Heyward is his makeup and that they knew he'd be able to handle the pressure of being a superstar.
Last edited by MWB on Wed May 19, 2010 11:17 pm, edited 2 times in total.
I wouldn't mind if the pirates had an arrogant superstar. But seriously, that's kind of interesting, haven't heard much about that side of him. Being 17 with all these expectations...I would guess most any kid would feel like he's the man.
Thats kind of interesting. I never had a reason for it, but I always felt weird about Harper. Maybe I read something about that and only subconsciously remembered it.
Olney also told an interesting story about Hal Newhouser scouting Derek Jeter in 1992. He really like Jeter's makeup, confidence, and family support system along with his baseball skills. He told the Astros Jeter would be a great #1 pick and could be their core. They took Phil Nevin instead and Newhouser quite because of it.
I wouldn't mind if the pirates had an arrogant superstar. But seriously, that's kind of interesting, haven't heard much about that side of him. Being 17 with all these expectations...I would guess most any kid would feel like he's the man.
Yeah, I wonder what's really behind the stories. There don't seem to be many specifics at this point.
Thats kind of interesting. I never had a reason for it, but I always felt weird about Harper. Maybe I read something about that and only subconsciously remembered it.
Saw that report a couple weeks ago. Not surprising, but it could be sour grapes on that scout's part.
My only real feelings on him before that came from an E:60 piece, I think. I don't care if he's 17. The guy's dumb as a post. He sounded staggeringly dumb. Maybe even too dumb to be mean.
I wouldn't mind if the pirates had an arrogant superstar. But seriously, that's kind of interesting, haven't heard much about that side of him. Being 17 with all these expectations...I would guess most any kid would feel like he's the man.
Yeah, I wonder what's really behind the stories. There don't seem to be many specifics at this point.
The interesting thing with him is the testing out of a year of high school. Thats conflicts with the head issues that were reported. It seems like he has the kind of focus you want to see, but maybe he's a little(or a lottle) bit of an ass.
I'm not talking about the ability to do it, i'm talking about the willingness to do it to advance your baseball career. I would be surprised by your inability to wrap your head around that, but you think that the Pirates are the smartest organization in sports, so i'm not.
I can't wait for your defense should the Nats pass on Harper due to salary considerations, having spent millions on Strasburg, then the Pirates pass on Harper due to salary considerations, having spent peanuts on Tony Sanchez.
I love the Buccos, and sometimes question my sanity for doing so, but please pass me the Kool-Aid management has you drinking.
I can't wait for your defense should the Nats pass on Harper due to salary considerations, having spent millions on Strasburg, then the Pirates pass on Harper due to salary considerations, having spent peanuts on Tony Sanchez.
I love the Buccos, and sometimes question my sanity for doing so, but please pass me the Kool-Aid management has you drinking.
It's always more fun bashing the pirates before they even screw up...
I can't wait for your defense should the Nats pass on Harper due to salary considerations, having spent millions on Strasburg, then the Pirates pass on Harper due to salary considerations, having spent peanuts on Tony Sanchez.
I love the Buccos, and sometimes question my sanity for doing so, but please pass me the Kool-Aid management has you drinking.
It's always more fun bashing the pirates before they even screw up...
Aside from the late game rally the rays beat the crap out of the yankees last night.
So...if the rays inquired about the availability of doumit, and NH asked for Beckham...would the ray's gm hang up?
I think they should try and get a pitcher of some sort from Tampa if that were the case, that's their real strength throughout the system and they might have a better chance of getting a good starter.
What is Beckham's strength supposed to be? I looked up his numbers and he looks weak all over. Hitting hasn't been good, he strikes out at an alarming rate for A ball and the fielding numbers don't look good.
Aside from the late game rally the rays beat the crap out of the yankees last night.
So...if the rays inquired about the availability of doumit, and NH asked for Beckham...would the ray's gm hang up?
I think they should try and get a pitcher of some sort from Tampa if that were the case, that's their real strength throughout the system and they might have a better chance of getting a good starter.
What is Beckham's strength supposed to be? I looked up his numbers and he looks weak all over. Hitting hasn't been good, he strikes out at an alarming rate for A ball and the fielding numbers don't look good.
Well..he was the #1 pick just a few years ago, he can definitely still turn it around. i don't think doumit is really worth all that much to anyone, but he's the only trade chip that the pirates really have this season...
The door closed, and Andre Dawson looked directly into Hanley Ramirez's eyes.
"I'm not going to say a lot, because if you say the wrong the thing to me, then you might wind up on the floor on your rear end," Dawson said with Tony Perez standing by his side in a coach's office at Sun Life Stadium.
Awesome...I love seeing two legends put a little snot-nosed **** head in his place.
Aside from the late game rally the rays beat the crap out of the yankees last night.
So...if the rays inquired about the availability of doumit, and NH asked for Beckham...would the ray's gm hang up?
I think they should try and get a pitcher of some sort from Tampa if that were the case, that's their real strength throughout the system and they might have a better chance of getting a good starter.
What is Beckham's strength supposed to be? I looked up his numbers and he looks weak all over. Hitting hasn't been good, he strikes out at an alarming rate for A ball and the fielding numbers don't look good.
Well..he was the #1 pick just a few years ago, he can definitely still turn it around. i don't think doumit is really worth all that much to anyone, but he's the only trade chip that the pirates really have this season...
Yeah, I remember him being the number 1 pick I couldn't remember what the strength of his game was supposed to be. Hitting looks like he'll be able to turn it around with plate discipline. Defense is what seems to be the big question mark, baseball reference says he had 43 errors last year which almost seems impossible but he's already got 7 this year. I can't see a MLB team letting someone play short if they're that bad defensively.
Your right on the Pirates though, they really don't have anyone to trade and bring anything in outside of Doumit. Catchers are always in high demand though, they won't get a great return but I think some contender in need of a catcher will give them at least a decent return come July.
One scout called him among the worst amateur players he's ever seen from a makeup standpoint, with top-of-the-scale arrogance, a disturbingly large sense of entitlement, and on-field behavior that includes taunting opponents. "He's just a bad, bad guy," said one front-office official. "He's basically the anti-Joe Mauer."
Buster Olney was recently talking about character issues with baseball players. He said scouts are really starting to factor in character issues and that Harper is getting the most scrutiny about this. That some scouts have even told him they hope the Nats take him so they don't have to deal with it. One of the reasons the Braves loved Heyward is his makeup and that they knew he'd be able to handle the pressure of being a superstar.
Sounds like he needs Crash Davis to get him into line.
The door closed, and Andre Dawson looked directly into Hanley Ramirez's eyes.
"I'm not going to say a lot, because if you say the wrong the thing to me, then you might wind up on the floor on your rear end," Dawson said with Tony Perez standing by his side in a coach's office at Sun Life Stadium.
Awesome...I love seeing two legends put a little snot-nosed **** head in his place.
The door closed, and Andre Dawson looked directly into Hanley Ramirez's eyes.
"I'm not going to say a lot, because if you say the wrong the thing to me, then you might wind up on the floor on your rear end," Dawson said with Tony Perez standing by his side in a coach's office at Sun Life Stadium.
Awesome...I love seeing two legends put a little snot-nosed **** head in his place.
lulz. I doubt it "put him in his place". If he doesn't face injuries, his career is going to dwarf both of theirs. He's probably a jerk, but if these problems the last few days aren't blown out of proportion, then he knows he's about to have a drastically better career than either of those two and he probably didn't see much significance in those two yelling at him.
The door closed, and Andre Dawson looked directly into Hanley Ramirez's eyes.
"I'm not going to say a lot, because if you say the wrong the thing to me, then you might wind up on the floor on your rear end," Dawson said with Tony Perez standing by his side in a coach's office at Sun Life Stadium.
Awesome...I love seeing two legends put a little snot-nosed **** head in his place.
lulz. I doubt it "put him in his place". If he doesn't face injuries, his career is going to dwarf both of theirs. He's probably a jerk, but if these problems the last few days aren't blown out of proportion, then he knows he's about to have a drastically better career than either of those two and he probably didn't see much significance in those two yelling at him.
Yep, he knows he can get away with it and nobody will really care. Even if he ends up pissing enough people in Florida off and they decide to move him they'll be a line of teams willing to take him on, he'd probably end up in a better situation anyway. I don't think this will bother him a bit.
