Having Fun At Bryce Harper's Expense

Bryce Harper just ain't for me.

Bryce Harper appeared on a cover of Sports Illustrated back in 2009. He was proclaimed to be baseball's Lebron; A teenager who received just far too much publicity for his age, even if he was for real. The article read something to the tune of this, the kid can smash home runs, he can hit for contact, he can throw the ball a million miles an hour, blah, blah, blah. They made him out to be some mythical sports legend who was going to enter the league hit .400 and smash 60 home runs every year. While that was all a product of the immense hype this kid got when he was in high school, he was drafted first overall in 2010 by the Nationals and did just step into his first Major League batters box less than 2 years after being drafted. In eight games Harper has hit .308, drove in three ribbies and even stole home.

While everyone is sitting here clamoring over another cookie cutter phenom story, I'm less than amused. Bryce Harper is a practice hero. He's that kid in high school who you could not stand for a minute. It'd be day three of preseason and Bryce Harper would be stealing the bases like he was Dave Roberts, Game 4 2004 ALCS. He's the guy the coaches just ate up and he made everyone look bad when he'd still be hustling in practice the day after a huge series. Harper just picked up after his sophomore year, earned his GED and went to some no name JUCO near where lived. There he slaughtered the JUCO scene as any phenom would do. Hearing this story made me laugh. Who is this kid kidding? Finish high school bud, enjoy your time there, fraternize with women, experiment with the classic high school no-no's. At the very least, have friends. But nope, Harper just focused in on baseball, forewent the normal high school life and set his sights on an MLB career. I'm sure Bryce hasn't stopped for a second to look around and soak in all the positive things in his life. He'll just keep chugging along, kissing up and trying oh-so hard. Just a practice hero, school boy (you know what).

Jokes and feelings aside pertaining to this kid's route to the show, he did it and he's here. Through eight games he's shown us a glimpse of what should be a bright future. Cole Hamels already sent him a "Welcome To The Show" plunking, so I guess the young gun is here to stay. Just because this kid is going to be a superstar doesn't mean I have to sit here and gush over him. I'll give credit where credit is due, but practice heroes just aren't for me. There's a time for all that hustle in practice, but those Gatorade commercials aren't real Bryce, so just tone it down a little bit. Enjoy your time in the Major Leagues, because who knows what's going to happen tonight, tomorrow or in the coming years.