Call it homerism if you want, but I'm really surprised people don't talk more about this guy. Gold Glove caliber defense at 3B and at 20 years old is currently leading the majors with 97 hits. He's on pace for 70 doubles (no player has hit 60 since 1936).

I do think Trout's better, but Machado should at least be in the discussion. I'd take Machado in a heartbeat over Harper.

MORE DOUBLES AT HIS AGE THAN  TED WILLIAMS+ JOE DIMAGGIO

Filthy cheater.

Well he did workout with ARod in high school.

I'd say he's HGH'd up by now.   And cheats on his wife.   He might be gay.

Wish he would walk more, but you can't complain too much when a guy does so much at such a young age...

I think he's been hanging around AJ a little too much.

He single-handedly made me scoff at "war".  He's got one of the highest, and has an OBP around .350, and he may hit 15 homers on the season. 


GTFO thinking this kid is anywhere NEAR Bryce Harper

Ya, who wants 200 hits, 15 HRs and 60 doubles when you can have 150 hits, 25 HR and 30-40 doubles.

Clearly you don't realize singles and doubles add up. Not to mention Machado comes without the diva complex.

Not to mention Machado is well ahead of the league fielding % and range factor among 3B - and Harper is behind the league fielding % at all 3 OF positions, and marginally ahead in range factor.

Machado's defense helps him but  you can't just count hits without counting outs.  Sure, he leads the league in hits right now but he also leads in at bats and plate appearances and is 4th in outs made.  I'd hate to see him peak now and decline from here.  It's hard to improve and sustain greatness without better plate discipline.  Isn't that one of your issues with Adam Jones?  He's young, though, and I hope he's going to be great.  I'd still take Harper now.

Ichiro and Jeter were always pretty high in PA and AB.    I think most players would take their careers. 

Posted by trsnoke on 6/18/2013 3:25:00 PM (view original):
Machado's defense helps him but  you can't just count hits without counting outs.  Sure, he leads the league in hits right now but he also leads in at bats and plate appearances and is 4th in outs made.  I'd hate to see him peak now and decline from here.  It's hard to improve and sustain greatness without better plate discipline.  Isn't that one of your issues with Adam Jones?  He's young, though, and I hope he's going to be great.  I'd still take Harper now.

A .354 OBP is still above league average (and extremely valuable when combined with a near .500 SLG and great infield defense). I'd take Harper too but I doubt this is Machado's peak. 20 year olds in the majors having this much success tend to go on to be superstars.

I still feel Harper is vastly overrated.

There's a lot of hype with him, so yea.  But he's 20 and was killing it before he went down.  He was rushed to the majors and had a very good season at 19.