Mock Drafts are the requirement of every sports writer – it states this in line 34b of our unwritten contract.  However, since I laugh in the face of the law (ha ha) I decided to do a brisk walking record (as opposed to a running record – I’m not that physically fit). It seems like mere days since the NBA season ended, and now it is draft time, a time when tall men dress up and go to New Jersey to figure out what team now owns their rights. While it does seem like something we fought a war to end, since it involves hundreds of millions of dollars being paid to the draftees, it’s all good.

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It could happen.

The Chicago White Sox are at the top of the American League Central Division, with, funnily enough, the same win percentage (.533) as the Boston Red Sox — the team that just traded fan favorite Youkilis.

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Yes, really. Ahead of the NBA Draft, where he is expected to be a top, if not the top, pick, Anthony Davis (Kentucky) has filed trademark paperwork with the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office for the phrases “Fear the Brow” and “Raise the Brow”.

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If you talk to any established Major League catchers, you’ll find that they are not lacking in brain power – meaning, they’re generally smart guys – and if you don’t have the brains, you probably won’t have a career behind the plate. Catchers who aren’t up to snuff generally find themselves moved to another position (if they can hit) or unemployed. Learning how to manage a roster of very different personalities, prepare for an ever-changing list of opponents, and still progress offensively is a brutal job that few are equipped to handle. For these reasons, the catcher’s position is the toughest to groom for success, and when you have a Minor League star in this position, a team will make sure he gets all the help he needs. This is how the Nationals screwed Bryce Harper.

Bryce Harper is the best MLB-ready high school prospect since Ken Griffey Jr. Just like Griffey, Harper is a gifted left-handed hitter with Hall of Fame offensive potential. What is shocking is that Harper was a catcher. His above-average arm made him impossible to run against, and his instincts when it came to managing a field of guys were phenomenal. Harper was a natural behind the plate, but his bat was causing an issue. Despite high-level defensive skills as a catcher, his offense made him too valuable to catch. The chance of injury and reduced offensive performance would increase exponentially if he remained at catcher. His future could be curtailed by a home plate collision, an errant pitch or a foul tip. Harper wasn’t given the chance to fulfill his catching promise; he would have to try to make a career someplace else.

Harper’s athletic ability gives him options all around the diamond. He could be a first baseman, but it would be a waste of his speed and his arm. Third base would be a good option except the Nationals have a young franchise cornerstone in Ryan Zimmerman. Harper could shift to the outfield, as he has the skills to play any of the three positions. This decision is where Harper’s career could potentially go off-track.

Since Harper was a natural, and great catchers are always in demand, why not give him some time behind the plate? This would benefit both parties: the Nationals would gain roster and lineup options with Harper’s ability to catch – even if just a few times per year. Allowing Harper the chance to catch would give him options throughout his career. If his offensive skills weren’t up to par, he could still fall back on his catching ability and still be an above-average offensive backstop. The Nationals do have a franchise catcher in Wilson Ramos, but in the last nine months he was kidnapped and shredded his ACL (possibly the worst year for any player in baseball…ever). Would extra depth be a bad thing?

Giving Bryce Harper a chance to catch despite his lofty career status does have precedence. Phil Nevin was the top overall pick in the 1992 MLB Draft by the Houston Astros, a true offensive machine. Nevin was an average third baseman, but his ability to hit with immense power made him a star in the making. Nevin’s career trajectory failed to launch as fast as expected, and by 1995 he was volunteering to catch as a way to keep his career afloat. After some initial struggles, Nevin debuted in the Majors in 1996. In four years, Nevin earned part-time playing time until his break-out year in 1999. Nevin finally displayed the talent and skills that made him the first overall pick. From 1999-2001 he averaged 32 homers and hit over .300 in two of three years. Over the rest of his career, Nevin’s ability to catch gave him an advantage due to his versatility. Most teams don’t want to keep three catchers on the roster, but a third person in another position who can catch is a massive advantage.

Are the Nationals being cautious or selfish? You don’t want to delay Harper’s trip to the big leagues by having him spend more time in the minors, but is the short-term gain worth the potential for greater long-term reward? The Nationals are one of the youngest teams in Major League Baseball, but are also serious playoff contenders. They have one of the best rotations in baseball, and pitching wins titles. Their offense is greatly improved with Harper’s bat, but it still might not be good enough. The two players with the highest batting averages on the team are starting pitchers – never a recipe for success. The Nationals need another major bat – something they won’t find in the current trade market. If they focused on next year, they would have their starting catcher back, a more mature pitching staff, and the chance to add another bat or two. Although nobody wants to put off winning, it takes a smart front office to look at the big picture. That is what the Nationals need to do with Bryce Harper – look at the big picture – all through the bars of a catcher’s mask.

After an impressive second half to a condensed season and a thrilling playoff run that landed them within a game of the Finals, the Boston Celtics championship run is over and could spell the end of an era in Boston. With Ray Allen and Kevin Garnett both thirty-six years old and upcoming free agents,  the likelihood of resigning both players is very slim. Ray stated that his legs have a few more years of basketball left, while Kevin remains evasive on the future, some experts believing that he will retire and others claiming he will go for at least one more season. What does this actually mean for the Boston Celtics? Following last week’s news that Brandon Bass would opt out of his player option for 2012-2013, only four Celtics have guaranteed contracts for next season: Paul Pierce, Rajon Rondo, Avery Bradley and JaJuan Johnson. It has been reported that Bass would like to return but wants the stability of a long-term contract; however with his flashes during this past season and playoffs, he may attract more lucrative offers from teams other than Boston.

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It used to be, you were only rewarded when you accomplished something. Scored a certain amount of points? Here’s your school letter to pin on that jacket. Had the best batting average in the district? There’s your name in the paper. While children of a certain age should be playing sports for fun and not to be insanely competitive, the mentality that “everybody wins” is doing monumental harm to a central key to success in life: motivation.I remember the first time I realized I didn’t deserve something. I got a letter for playing softball in high school. Now, I wasn’t horrible but … well, yeah I was pretty horrible (this is why I write about sports.) But I digress – my point is that everyone got the same trophy at the end of the year. The girl who pitched a no-hitter got the same trophy as the girl who had splinters from riding the bench (that was me, if you didn’t already guess). I loved getting the trophy to show off, but in my heart I knew I didn’t deserve it. I remember asking my aunt, who came to all my games, “Did I play well today?” and she would say, “You always put 100% in … your skills will improve if you practice more.” Today, we are so afraid of hurting someone’s delicate feelings and creating a feeling of exclusion that we reward people for underperformance. This is true not only in sports, but in every area of life. Think of someone you know who gets money and or recognition that is grossly disproportional to their actual achievement level. I’ll bet you know many.

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