Trout > Harper

Whenever you turn on the telly these days it’s hard to miss Bryce Harper. Playing in the nation’s capital, just down the road from the New York media, every move Harper makes is chronicled. Best player in baseball, is what the media shoves down out throats. Is this true?

 

He did put on a show last week in Atlanta. Home runs. Grand slam. Four hits in one game. Two opposite field doubles in one game. Running catches in the outfield. He’s been putting on a show. Rookie of the year at 19 years old, plus four all-star appearances in five years. One MVP. But is he the best in the game?

 

Out on the left coast there’s a challenger. Kid named Trout. Also won rookie of the year at the age of 19. Five all-star appearances in six years. Two MVP awards – plus three 2nd-place finishes. That’s like Tiger Woods winning majors, but Jack Nicklaus winning more (18) – plus finishing second another 19 times (and in the top five 56 times, and top ten 73 times). But back to baseball.

 

..G…PA…R...H..2B.3B.HR.BI.SB.CS.BB.K.

162 684 104 162 31  4  31 85  14   7  97 139 BH

162 710 119 184 35  8  34 99  29   5  95 156 MT

 

Based on their 162 games averages, Trout out-performs Harper in every major category. Harper does strike out slightly less and walk slightly more, but that’s about it. More sacrifice bunts. Trout boasts a higher batting average, on base percentage, slugging percentage, and OPS.

 

avg.OBP.SLG.OPS.TB.gdp.HBP.SH.SF.IBB
282 386  509  895 1223 44  16     9   22  47 BH

307 406  560  966 1723 41  49     0   37  48 MT

 

Some of the numerical differences are due to injuries that kept Harper out of games, but then again Trout’s durability adds to his superiority. The Angel steals more than twice as many bases, with an 85% success rate compared to Harper’s more pedestrian 67%.

 

YR.G..PA..runs.hits..2B..3B.HR..RBI.SB.CS.BB…K

5 676 2853 434 677 128 17 128 354 058 28 404 579 BH

6 832 3647 612 944 182 39 173 511 147 28 486 803 MT

 

All numbers aside, Harper’s brashness and arrogance detract from his popularity. It’s unlikely he will ever be loved like DiMaggio, Mantle, Ripken, or Jeter. Harper may be the next Reggie Jackson – Sammy Sosa to Trout’s Mark McGuire.

 

..G..TB.GDP.HBP.IBB

162.293  11    04   11 BH

162 335  08    10   09 MT

 

Both are must-see, generational players. Today’s DiMaggio and Williams. I never saw Mantle play. This may be as close as I get.