Harper and Strasburg

The Nats have some real, legit talent on their team in the form of Stephen Strasburg and Bryce Harper.  Good thing I chose Stras as one of the players I collect, considering many of his cards go for a gajillion dollars.  It's ok, they are fun to chase.  

This is one of my most recent Strasburg cards.  He pitched last night, and pitched well, although the Nats lost on a Babe Ruth Matt Kemp homer in the bottom of the 10th, that most just KNEW would happen.  The dude is superhuman. 

I don't collect Harper, and I won't, but I got both of these cards for a dollar apiece, and, well, I am adding them to my personal collection.  Watching him play these past two days has showed me he has matured mentally.  The only douche move he pulled was last night rounding first on a double he purposely thew off his helmet, a-la Pete Rose.  This was his first hit in the majors, and it just looked weird.  In addition to his hitting, the kid runs VERY fast.  He's impressive.

Harper had the chance to make a play at the plate last night, and threw an absolute, perfect laser to catcher Wilson Ramos (below).  Ramos dropped it and the runner was safe, but it showed just another weapon Harper has.

Bad for Phillies fans, good for the Nationals, and for baseball.  If I said this to my Phillies friends not in the blogosphere, I'd be labeled a sell-out for not hating the Nats.  Yes, I am a Phillies fan first, but I am also a fan of baseball, and I appreciate this stuff.  No longer is the NL East a battle between the Phillies and the Braves--the Nationals are in that mix too, and I think they will be for a long, long time.