Bryce Harper: Nationals' Struggling Phenom Must Learn to Control Emotions

Lost in the media circus surrounding Bryce Harper's big league debut and highlight reel plays in his first week are the struggles that he is enduring right now. He was put in a difficult situation when he was called up, but now he is learning the pitfalls of being a rookie in Major League Baseball. 

Specifically, Harper is learning the pitfalls of being a 19-year-old who was called up too soon by the Washington Nationals. Since it appears as if Harper is here to stay, at least until the Nationals figure out what to do with their disastrous outfield situation, he has to learn to keep his emotions and passion in check. 

Don't get me wrong, I love the fire and energy that Harper brings with him whenever he steps on the field or in the batter's box. It is one of the many, many reasons that he is going to turn into a superstar eventually. 

However, Harper needs to learn that not every failure is a cause for some kind of outburst. He made the highlight reels over the weekend not for anything he did on the field, but for his reaction to being called out on strikes in a game against Cincinnati. 

Harper caught a ball in right field and the right side of his face had blood all over it. The mystery of the crimson face was answered after the game when Nationals manager Davey Johnson said that Harper swung his bat at the wall in the dugout, the barrel bounced off the wall and hit him in the face. 

First, it must be said that Harper is incredibly lucky the bat didn't catch his eye and cause vision problems. 

Second, Harper needs to learn that strikeouts and failure are going to be part of the game. It is going to take time for him to get used to because he has dominated everywhere he has played since before he was in high school. 

Emotion is a good thing to have in baseball, but the trick is to not let every little thing snowball on you to the point where you are overwhelmed. Harper is just 6-for-36 in his last nine games with two extra-base hits. 

Instead of getting frustrated at what is happening, Harper must take this as a learning experience and adjust to the way pitchers are attacking him. If he does that, his natural ability will take over and he will have the last laugh. 

The Nationals can't afford to worry about what is going to happen with Harper if he strikes out three times in one game, and he shouldn't be giving them a reason to worry. He is too good and too important to their future to be making silly mistakes like that. 

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