Washington Nationals 2015 Player Review: Bryce Harper

Our roster review series continues with the player who got the highest grade of the season, Bryce Harper. 

As we continue our player reviews for the 2015 Washington Nationals’ season, we get to the player that continues to dominate the national headlines this week. Earlier this month, Bryce Harper was awarded the National League MVP, the first one in the history of the Nats. At age-22, Harper had a fantastic season for the Nats, even though the team failed to reach its goal of the postseason.

Yes, Harper didn’t get his ring, but he got a bunch of hardware this offseason. Whether it was a MVP, a silver slugger, the Hank Aaron Award, Most Outstanding Player in the NL (Players’ Association), or the two E-Surance MLB awards he won (best Major Leaguer and best everday player), Harper deserved each one of those accolades.

In 153 games this season, Harper had a slash line of .330/.460/.649 with 42 home runs, 99 RBI’s, 118 runs scored, 124 walks, a 1.109 .OPS, and a 9.9 WAR. He led the National League in runs, home runs, slugging, and .OPS, and was second in batting average and walks.

When I joined District On Deck in January, one of the players I was excited to write about on a daily basis was Harper. Even though injuries prevented him from reaching his potential in the past, he showed this season that his at-bats are something you have to stop what you are doing and watch what might happen next.

Back in spring training, I had a conversation with my fellow co-editor, Pablo Roa, about Harper and the plate discipline he was showing when he was one of the leaders in walks at the time. Back when I saw that, I knew it would be a special season for Harper if he stayed healthy, but I never imagined he would have this type of season in an All-Star year.

As you examine the right fielder’s numbers more closely, he did not hit lower than .286 in any given month (April). He drove in double digit runs in every month except August (nine RBI’s in 98 at-bats). Plus, he was an excellent hitter at Nats Park this year. He had a slash line of .345/.448/.682 with 23 home runs and 53 RBI’s.

There are so many memories to look back on about Harper’s year, but if I had to pick one moment, it would be that torrid stretch he had in the month of May. In a month where Harper hit .360 with 13 home runs and 28 RBI’s, it was a three-day stretch from May 6-May 8 that stole the show. He hit six home runs over that span, which included a three home run game against the Marlins and a walk-off home run against the Braves (one of his two walk-off hits in 2015).

While Harper did get thrown out a few times, including late in some games, and being involved in the Jonathan Papelbon incident in September, he did show a lot of maturity in his fourth year in the league. For me, he has come a long way from a player that was once voted the most overrated player in the game.

The main question for Harper going into the 2016 season is can he duplicate what he did in 2015? If you listen to what will soon be his former teammate, Ian Desmond, there might be more greatness to come from Harper in the future, especially if he gets aggressive on the bases:

Late surge lifts Blackhawks over Ducks in OT

ANAHEIM, Calif. — The Chicago Blackhawks‘ visit to Honda Center on Black Friday for a meeting of Western Conference powers has become an annual NHL staple in recent years.

In another new tradition that isn’t limited to holidays, the Blackhawks always seem to find remarkable ways to ruin the Ducks’ day.

Artem Anisimov scored 1:53 into overtime, and the Blackhawks rallied from a two-goal deficit in the final moments of regulation for a 3-2 victory over the Ducks.

After 58 scoreless minutes in which the Blackhawks largely were dominated, the defending Stanley Cup champions roared from behind in their first trip to Anaheim since winning Game 7 of the conference finals here six months ago.

Marian Hossa and Duncan Keith scored man-advantage goals in the final 1:41 of regulation before Anisimov ended it with his 10th goal, delighting the usual hundreds of Blackhawks fans in the sellout crowd.

``Well, I don't think that is the way we'd like to draw it up, but we'll take the win,'' Keith said. ``I thought they outworked us most of the game. We just found a way at the end and snuck out with the two points.''

Brent Seabrook assisted on all three scores in Chicago's fourth straight win at Anaheim on Black Friday. Chicago won the final two games of the conference finals before claiming their third Stanley Cup title in six years.

``It's a good rivalry we have going with them,'' Patrick Kane said. ``It's fun when you kind of stick with it the whole game. No one really panics.''

With an assist on Keith's goal, Kane extended his points streak to 18 games, matching Phil Kessel and Eddie Olczyk for the longest streak by an American-born player in NHL history. He was moments away from losing the streak and the game, but Chicago and the streak survived.

``You look at the Americans that have played the game, and the two guys that are part of that record with Kessel and Olczyk, that's some pretty elite company,'' Kane said. ``Been a fun little ride here.''

Hossa ended John Gibson's shutout bid during a 6-on-4 power play with 1:41 to play after a debatable tripping call against Ducks captain Ryan Getzlaf on Andrew Shaw. Keith got the tying goal with 26.6 seconds left after Kane and Seabrook kept the puck alive.

The Ducks have lost seven of 10 after this gut-punch defeat, but they avoided suggestions that Shaw took a dive.

``I touched him on the back of the leg, and obviously he went down,'' Getzlaf said. ``I don't know how easy it was or whatever it was, but there's 2 minutes left and we're trying to battle them. I don't think that's a necessary call. It had nothing to do with the play. I just think it's such a great hockey game. Both teams are playing so hard, and to end it like that, I didn't think it was necessary.''

Corey Crawford stopped 23 shots for the Blackhawks, who improved to 3-1-1 on their annual six-game trip while the circus takes over United Center.

Andrew Cogliano and Chris Stewart scored early goals for Anaheim, and Gibson stopped 29 shots.

``You knew they were going to come eventually,'' said Gibson, who got within moments of his second shutout of the Blackhawks in two seasons. ``They were going to get something. They found a way to do it.''

After Anaheim's season ended one victory shy of the Stanley Cup Final last spring, the clubs revived their rivalry last month in Chicago.

This rematch included plenty of after-the-whistle chippiness, particularly from Ducks centre Ryan Kesler and Chicago captain Jonathan Toews. They even dropped their gloves late in the first period, but the linesmen separated them before anybody could throw a punch.

NOTES: Anaheim hosted Chicago on Black Friday for the ninth time. ... NL MVP Bryce Harper was in the Blackhawks' dressing room after the game, chatting with Kane. ... Chicago F Teuvo Teravainen returned from a three-game absence with an upper-body injury. ... These teams' only remaining meeting of the regular season is Feb. 13 in Chicago.