3. Keep Bryce Harper healthy: He’s the most recognizable face on the team, the fiery young kid, and, though Rendon is likely the leading producer at the moment, the guy with the most upside on the Nationals roster. Yet as of 2014, Bryce Harper has been a bit of a disappointment in terms of production.
Part of that is the fact that Harper’s dealt with injuries. He played in 139 games his rookie season in 2012, and every season since, his number of games has gone down, playing in only 100 during the 2014 campaign.
This year, the Nationals must resolve to keep Bryce Harper healthy. As we saw in the NLDS against the Giants, Harper can be a force to be reckoned with when he gets hot. With the bat of Adam LaRoche now swinging in Chicago, the Nats will need Harper’s power now more than ever.
Part of that is trying to help Bryce play his position safely without endangering himself, a task much more easily said than done. The team won’t let him roam the open plains of center field while Denard Span is still on the roster, so they’ll have to make sure Harper is comfortable playing in right and keep him from crashing into the wall too many times.
The other part of that is not egging Harper on (this means you, Matt Williams). Bryce Harper is a hustler and plays the game hard. There’s no sense in provoking him to the point of injury. Just let him play the way he plays, though if the baserunning gaffes could be cut down, I wouldn’t mind that either.
Also, while I’m at it, I’d also like Matt Williams to resolve to put Harper in the three spot in the order. There’s no reason to keep stuffing him in the back half of the order.