Bryce Harper to Start 2012 Season in the Minor Leagues

It seems Bryce Harper isn't quite ready for the big leagues just yet... we're just going to have to wait a month or two to see a preposterous amount of eye black smeared all over his adorable face.

The Washington Nationals cut four players on Sunday, sending the outfielder along with them to the minors. Harper will begin the 2012 season with the Triple-A Syracuse Chiefs, where he'll sign a whole lot of autographs before taking center field.

Unusually humble, Harper had this to say about his demotion:

"I'm just going to take it, and go down there and work hard and try to get up here as quick as I can... Of course you want to come in here and make the team every year. Hopefully, that’s the last time I’ll get sent down. But it’s what happened. I wasn’t expecting it, but it’s okay."

The 19-year-old rookie, who is converting from catcher to outfielder, went 5-for-11 to start spring training, but was just three for his last 17 with 11 strikeouts. Looks like he needs a bit more seasoning.

Aside from Harper just not being ready fundamentally, Dave Sheinin of Nationals Journal pointed this out among other things:

"If the Nationals keep him in the minors for about a month, they get an extra year of his services — in fact, his age-25 season — before he reaches free agency. If they keep him down for about three months, they can save millions of dollars in a few years by keeping him from reaching arbitration eligibility early."

Sneaky stuff Mike Rizzo.

[Nationals Journal]

Babes Love Baseball's Top 10 MLB Stories of 2010

It was a hell of a season. In case you've forgotten what was so great about it in the aftermath of yet another year when your team did not win the World Series, here is a list of the Top 10 things that we believe made the 2010 baseball season wonderful, memorable, and oftentimes hilarious. In no particular order.

10. Suffering from Over the Hill Syndrome, Ken Griffey Jr. nodded off in the clubhouse and slept right through a pinch hit appearance. A few weeks later, The Kid retired after 21 illustrious seasons in the game. [Not Now Kids, Grandpa's Trying to Nap]

9. The New York Yankees failed miserably at acquiring the studly Cliff Lee. High fives all around. [Cliff Lee Reunites with the Philadelphia Phillies]

National(s) Day Of Mourning

Did you hear that? It was the sound of all 68 of the Nationals' fans along with the 70 bajillion heartbroken Stephen Strasburg fans collectively yelling "NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!"

The 22-year-old rookie phenom underwent a second MRI which revealed he has a "significant tear" in his right elbow. The tear will most likely require Tommy John surgery, and then about 12 - 18 months of extensive rehab.

It's Bryce Harper Hype Time!

Scott Boras has a flair for the dramatic. Like last year's no. 1 draft choice Stephen Strasburg, Bryce Harper and his agent waited until the final seconds of the day until he and his client inked a deal.

The catching phenom, who became the first JUCO player to be taken with the first pick, settled on a $9.9 million, five-year contract with the Washington Nationals just before Monday’s midnight deadline. That would be a record for a kid fresh out of the draft who isn't a pitcher or a free agent. Now he'll be able to buy an endless supply of eye black to smear all over most of his face!

The 17-year-old baseball-crushing backstop from the College of Southern Nevada will receive a $6.25 million signing bonus in five installments of $1.25 million through 2014.

Bryce Harper is a Badass

After doodling in the dirt upon a called third strike, soon-to-be first overall pick Bryce Harper was ejected from the Junior College World Series and suspended for two games.

Check it out.

[USA Today] | [Nationals Enquirer]

Mr. T Says Stay In School, Bryce Harper

Bryce Harper is barely old enough to pump gas.

He's barely old enough to stay out past 10pm making out with other teenage girls. Yet, he's apparently old enough to skip his last two years of high school to follow his dream of becoming a major league baseball player.

Continue reading this story at Fantasy Pros 911.