FanPost

Are Bryce Harper and Manny Machado really Generational talents?

Society likes to throw around words a lot- and in most instances, when we do, we water down the value of those words.

How many times have you heard someone toss around the word Hero, Brave, Courageous etc. and you thought to yourself..."Well, I wouldn't go that far."

This offseason in MLB, another word is getting a lot of play and that word is "Generational". It's currently being used to describe two High Caliber MLB Free Agents: Bryce Harper and Manny Machado.

It's also being abused as the main reason the Yankees must, not should, must break the bank and acquire at least one of them.

"I cannot believe Hal is so cheap that he will pass on not one, but two Generational Players...George is rolling over in his grave."'

I am sure you have read something similar, either in a forum, and article or water cooler near you.

So are Harper and Machado truly "Generational Players"?

Well, let's take a look at the definition of the word Generational, and much to my surprise, there are many definitions for it...

Generational:

1: the entire body of individuals born and living at about the same time:

Okay, so here with this one, by definition, every Player in the MLB is a Generational Talent. Hell, you and I are as well. Sign me up, Hal! So, that's strike 1.

2: roughly every 30 years between the birth of parents and the birth of their offspring.

Okay, so that is pretty much everyone playing the game today and then some Strike 2.

3: a group of individuals, of whom are the same approximate age

Well, the MLB has players in their 20's, 30's and 40's...I guess we have to say "Bryce and Manny are Generational Players of the 20-something set". That's a lot to say and now we have categories. Too much work. Strike 3.

4: a group of individuals belonging to a specific category at the same time

This is not the Marvel universe.Strike 4.

5: a single step in natural descent, as of human beings, animals, or plants.

I suppose we could send them out for DNA testing to see if they are human...animal or plant? After all, Bryce was an animal at the plate last season, production wise and Manny hit like a plant vs. Boston in the World Series, so there is a cause. Strike 5.

6:a form, type, class, etc., of objects existing at the same time, having many similarities, developed from a common model or ancestor (often used in combination):

Hey, guess what! We are all generational talents..as is our cars, dogs, cellphones...Strike 6

So by definition, those that toss the label of "Generational Talent" on players like Harper and Machado figuratively just struck out twice in totality- by definition.

Let's go a bit further.

Since generation usually refers to "lifetime", maybe they saying that Harper and Machado are two of the best players of their lifetime?

Well let's see-

Bryce is a 6-Time All-star and he has won 3 awards. Rookie of the Year, 1 MVP and 1 Hank Aaron Award. He has placed in MVP voting 3-times and the only time he finished in the top 10, was in the year he won the award. Not too shabby, not earth-shattering either when talking "generational talent".

Manny Machado is a 4 time all-star with no hardware. None- except two defensive awards in 2013 that no one even looks at. He has placed in MVP voting 3 times, but to be fair, all in the top 10. Not impressed given others at his level and when bestowing the "generational" label on him that so many easy do because it's the hip, cool thing.

What's my point here?

Buster Posey, just for one example (I could use Stanton, Trout and many others here)- , is currently 31- the top end of the "peak zone' traditionally associated with a baseball player. Now, I don't think it is a stretch for anyone to say that Posey is a "very good" player- some might even go as far as to say he is great without much argument.

Yet, no one has ever called him a "generational" talent, despite the fact that...

Posey is a 7-time All-Star, a former Rookie of the Year, 1 MVP title to his name- several defensive awards and 1 batting title- which neither Machado or Harper can claim, yet. His hardware came during the same age range that Harper and Machado are now.

Posey has a .306 career batting average. He averages 19 home runs and 90 RBI per season. He walks on average of 64 times a year and strikes out only 80 times on average. His career WAR is 41.3

Machado? .282 average, hits about 10 more home runs on average than Posey, but drives in the same average of 90 per season. He walks less, strikes out more and his career WAR is 33.8

Harper? A .279 season average, like Machado he will hit 10 more homers than Posey, but he too drive in 90-91 runs a year. Harper walks twice as much as both Machado and Posey but he also strikes out more than Machado and almost twice that of Posey. His Career WAR? 27.4

Toss in the fact that Posey also plays a significantly more labor intensive position than either, and well, my argument is complete. If Harper is supposedly worth $400 million and Machado $300 million based on their numbers, stats and hardware to date then someone owes Posey $450 million.

I think we all can agree that he is not worth that kind of green though. So by association, neither are Machado and Harper.

Look, Harper and Machado were the two best offensive players THIS offseason that were available for the bidding. No argument there.

They are both very good players, no doubt, and either one of them I am sure would be a help to any team they play for. No argument there.

Would I also like to see one, or both in Yankee pinstripes? Yep- no argument there either.

In my opinion, and that of many is that neither is worth the ransom their agents are trying to get. I do not think any player out there is worth 250-300 million, but if you are going to spend that kind of money, you go and get Mike Trout, who is vastly superior that BOTH Machado and Harper in every aspect of the game.

At the end of the day, it's not my money. The Yankees are a business, owe nothing to us other than to field a competitive- and they do that every season. It's always easy to spend someone else's money though, isn't it?

Just like common sense, which is not all that common, we need to stop tossing around words as if they mean nothing.

Bryce Harper and Manny Machado are very good players, some would argue great- there is evidence to support and defend against both perspectives.

But let's be clear- the narrative being bandied about, irresponsibly and ludicrously, is that these two are once-in-a-generation type player.

It's just not true. At least not yet.

I don't think either will reach the ranks of Ruth, Mantle, DiMaggio, Williams...I don't even think either will touch Griffey Jr and they certainly cannot touch Trout so far.

Time, however, will tell, where they end up in the all-time conversation.

Micheal Jordan was a once-in-a-generation player.

Mohammed Ali was a once-in-a-generation Boxer.

Wayne Gretzky was a once-in-a-generation player.

Tiger Woods was a once-in-a-generation golfer.

Hulk Hogan was a once-in-a-generation big guy that wore yellow underwear and rolled around with sweaty men in the battle over fake titles.Okay- that was just to break things up a bit...moving on.

Why do we elevate players to levels they do not yet belong. If this generational nonsense is all about who the best current available free agents were this offseason...then add Dallas Keuchel to that list. Add Zach Britton, David Roberston, Adam Ottavino...and change the narrative to "current" and remove "generational"

Bryce and Manny are good, very good, but let's try and hide our crazy and not get so twisted in cool new catch-phrases to fuel your narrative of they the Yankees should break the bank for either.

Are they even the best two of their age group?

No- Currently Mike Trout is, and it's not even close. Others like Giancarlo Stanton, AaronJudge and Cristian Yelich to name just a few are or will be in that conversation over the next decade...and that alone right there, ends the argument on the misuse of this "Generational" nonsense at present.

They were the two best position players available this offseason, by far, and that is where it should end.

Go ahead and debate below, blow me up, say bad things about my sister...kick my dog if that's the only way you can get your point across. It's all good...and it's just my opinion- not fact.

FanPosts are user-created content and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Pinstripe Alley writing staff or SB Nation.