The great fans of baseball want to see Bryce Harper. It would figure when he’s a 19-year-old phenom every fan has his or her eyes on, gladly entertained by one of baseball’s prodigies, a rookie outfielder who would be honored for the opportunity to play in the All-Star Game on July 10th in Kansas City.
In the big scheme of things, for someone who has started in all but one game since being promoted to the majors on April 28, he won’t respectfully be voted in to an exhibition game determined by popularity. That’s odd when he was one of the hottest, must-see Internet sensations, becoming a trending topic on social media as fans began raving about a major leaguer who is only a teenage boy wonder. But how does he not earn a trip to Kansas City? How does MLB totally neglect his potential and premature conquest? How can Harper be snubbed from a game that appease fans?
This was one sure to turn into a political debate, by generating a battalion of hype for a teenager who can’t breathe much with all the national attention following him everywhere he goes. They’re not smarter, nor more compassionate of this generation’s phenom. If so, Harper would have been voted in and not omitted from the Midsummer Classic as he’s clearly an extraordinary rookie who America embraces, ever since he debuted in the majors with the Washington Nationals in the nation’s capital amid a presidential election year. Mostly all the discussions are related to the upcoming election in D.C. — but not when there’s a teen sensation. Not many people acknowledged his 425-foot home run he smashed that sailed out of Fenway Park a few weeks ago and made national headlines the next day, but perhaps now would be fair to have Harper represent the Nationals in the Midsummer Classic.
It’s only wrong and would be an insult to the kid and the masses if he wasn’t included in the All-Star festivities, as our homeland ameliorates his celebrity and does not rest on his laurels, speaking kindly of his attributes and raw talent as if he’s baseball’s next decade’s elite player. If he’s not invited to the All-Star Game, then you know something is wrong with the folks and Major League Baseball, overlooking Harper’s .274 batting average, eight home runs and 22 runs batted in — numbers worthy of this exhibition game for the fans. His manager, Davey Johnson, appears to be glad that he’d rather spend the All-Star break on vacation at home in Nevada and thinks the young man can use rest and recharge for the second half of the season, as it becomes tight and tense in a pennant race down the stretch. Your favorite, Harper — who wouldn’t mind being snubbed, going home, intermixing with his family and eating home-cooked meals — won’t participate in this year’s meaningless game, although he’s undoubtedly deserving from his impressive first-half.
“That’s a clown question, bro.”
It’s a clown question all right. He has many years ahead of him, no doubt, because he’s only a kid, although he could have and should have been the sixth teenager in history to make the All-Star Game. He’s too young to drink, he’s a minor, but he’s not too young to earn a spot on the NL roster. All eyes of the average fan are turned to him, eager to find out if he claims the last NL roster spot — among five players. The list consist of Michael Bourn, Aaron Hill and David Fresse, but Chipper Jones, the 40-year-old Braves legend, on Tuesday was named to replace Dodgers’ outfielder Matt Kemp and added to the NL All-Star roster. It’s basically because he’s hitting .291 with six homers and 29 RBIs, and with all the controversy this week about players getting snubbed — of all people — it was Jones who earned the nod.
There’s been much publicity, with tempers flaring early this week between NL manager Tony LaRussa and Reds manager Dusty Baker, about some deserving players being snubbed and left behind — to name a few — Johnny Cueto and Brandon Phillips. As for Harper, though, he’s well on his way to have the kind of career we all anticipated and has played with swagger. He’s what baseball needs. That’s hype and more of it. He’s what baseball wants, a newsworthy star to reshape and spice up an uneventful sport that has each year fallen into oblivion. It’s never good to rob viewers of the most fascinating young talent in baseball, when Harper, after all, is ascending in an age that fans are gladly entertained and attracted to child prodigies of baseball, earning the most national attention for their promising talent, the way they are marketed and their youth.
As advertised, Harper has a rare amalgam of moxie and flair and firepower. The Nationals are finally heralded for their exuberance and exertion. It’s a terrible loss if he’s not seen in Kansas City, and sadly, he won’t. That means baseball loses out. That means baseball is crazy to not award the kid. Harper is liked, not only for his maturity and authenticity, but his charisma and fast track ability. If you’ve never seen him, he’s rocking a rather bizarre hairstyle.
It’s a clown hairstyle, bro.
Not because of his hairstyle, but let’s see Harper, please?
Give this kid a spot in the game.
America wants Harper, and so should you.
