This past Friday night I was perusing MLB.tv on my iPad when I decided take a look at the Washington Nationals, Arizona Diamondbacks game. . I was treated to more than that.
I was impressed with another young lefty named Ross Detwiler. In 6.1 innings pitched the left-hander allowed just one earned run on three hits, and three walks.
With the win Detwiler he improves to 3-1 on the year, and now boasts a 1.59 ERA. The Nationals won the game 2-1, and look to be a team to be reckoned with in the National League East.
I’ve read where he has an edginess and cockiness about him. What I saw was a confident young baseball player.
Harper carries himself like a seasoned professional on the field. He can do everything well. He swings the bat anticipating that he is going to hit the ball.
While that may sound simple, it’s not an attribute that you can teach. He simply believes in his ability to play baseball. He was pitched away most of the night.
Frankly to throw a baseball to Harper on the inner half of the plate is not smart and most pitchers would probably admit that it was a mistake.
Harper took an outside fastball and lined it into the opposite field, left field to drive in the game-winning run. 19-year-olds don’t usually do that. I suppose like any young player Harper is going to have his ups and downs.
Major league pitchers have a way of making young phenoms look bad. Harper will have to adjust, but it’s hard to find anything in his DNA that suggest he cannot.
It is fun watching a kid play the game with energy and enthusiasm.
Washington Nationals baseball is on the map, and with the young talented bunch of players they have, they may be here for a while.
Nats News : The Nationals suffered a huge blow on Sunday night when right fielder Jayson Werth broke his left wrist while attempting a sliding catch in their 9-3 loss to the Phillies. Harper stole home in the first inning after being hit by a Cole Hamels pitch earlier in the frame.
Update – Washington Nationals right fielder Jayson Werth will be sidelined for 12 weeks after having surgery on his broken left wrist, MLB.com reported Monday
