If Philadelphia wins on Thursday and takes the series, Phillies fans will point to this major homer by Harper as what sparked them to get there.
On the broadcast, it was clear that two people, whether they be Phillies fans or ballpark employees, got a glimpse at the homer by standing on the stadium roof.
Look, we do not encourage anyone who is not already supposed to be on the roof at Citizens Bank Park to be on the roof at Citizens Bank Park.
These two folks were either just doing their job and got a sick view at a big Phillies moment during Game 3 of the NLDS … or just got busted on national television for being where they weren’t supposed to be.
They say a picture is worth a thousand words. Bryce Harper agrees.
Philadelphia Phillies slugger Bryce Harper’s glare across to Atlanta Braves shortstop Orlando Arcia has already produced one of the defining moments of this MLB Playoffs.
After he knocked a three-run homer out of Citizens Bank Park, Harper stared down Arcia as he rounded the bases after Arcia allegedly poked fun at Harper was the last out in the Braves’ Game 2 ALDS win.
Well, Harper clearly took this alleged slight seriously as he tried to cast some not-so-subtle shade Arcia’s way on this game-altering homer.
The Phillies social media team shared a very clear photo of this moment on Twitter, and you can see Harper’s glare for yourself in high definition.
Bryce Harper is no stranger to big moments in Philadelphia. Last season, Harper lit the city on fire with his game-winning home run that sent the Philadelphia Phillies to the World Series. And now, against the Atlanta Braves, Harper has ignited the city of Philadelphia once more.
The Phillies came into Wednesday night’s Game 3 of the NLDS tied 1-1 with the Braves after Michael Harris II made a stunning catch and double play to end Philadelphia’s hopes of a comeback. It was Harper who was tagged out for the double play, just barely missing getting back to base after starting to run to third.
All while Braves shortstop Orlando Arcia cackled emphatically about Harper’s misfortune, bellowing “ha-ha, atta-boy, Harper!” repeatedly as reporters circled the room.
Well, it’s clear Harper took that jab personally. With Game 3 tied 1-1 in the bottom of the third, Harper took Bryce Elder deep for an absolute moonshot that gave the Phillies the lead. And on his way around second, it seemed as if Harper shot Arcia a look.
If it wasn’t obvious enough, Harper stared down Arcia AGAIN after his second home run of the night, this time a solo shot in the bottom of the fifth inning.
Good morning, Winners! If you’re like me without a dog in this MLB playoff race, you’re probably picking a team to root for. After day one of the playoffs on Tuesday, that choice feels pretty easy.
It’s the Phillies for me and it doesn’t feel close. I feel no other allegiances to any other teams at this point.
And it’s all because Bryce Harper is so stinkin’ cool, man.
This dude just does things his own way and you have to respect it. He’s a veteran now and a lot has changed about him. He feels more mortal than ever before â he’s not winning MVPs anymore and doesn’t have that same level of power behind his bat.
But one thing that’s never changed? He’s doing whatever he wants to do out there. And it’s working.
The evidence is going from first to third base while completely ignoring his coach’s stop sign and making sure his team wins the first game of its postseason.
Everything about it was so cool. It wasn’t just ignoring the sign. It’s the drama, man. His helmet pops off. He’s scampering as hard as he can with his hair flowing in the wind as he rounds third base and enters dangerous territory. The flow of the ball has you on the edge of your seat as it charges down the line into the catcher’s glove, only for it to be just a bit too late.
“Ignore the third base coach at your own peril in a playoff game, right? If youâre right, you look like a hero. If youâre wrong, itâs a âtold ya soâ moment that will make headlines everywhere (given that Iâm writing about this, I guess itâs making a headline no matter what!).”
Harper doesn’t care, man. He’s just out there balling. He’s showing up to the game in Allen Iverson vintage tees and doing whatever he wants to. Most importantly â just like he told Johan Rojas â he’s having so much fun with it all.
I can’t stop watching.
Football junkies, rejoice!
Fall is always a perfect time for the football lovers out there but, starting today, you’re about to get it non-stop. I mean that literally.
Starting from today until Wednesday, November 22, there will be either a college football game or NFL game broadcast on ESPN’s airwaves. The Sun Belt Conference and the MAC are playing games on Tuesdays and Wednesdays from now until Week 13 of the College Football season.
https://www.instagram.com/p/Cx8cyNIuAkV/
This is your heaven, football fans. Enjoy the time.
Now, the league’s Twitter account seems to be indicating an expansion announcement is coming soon. The league tweeted out a video with a bunch of tweets asking for expansion with a caption that only says “10.5.”
Clearly, there’s some big announcement coming. And it’s happening before the WNBA Finals, too, which gives folks time to dissect it and parse through it.
Obviously, this could be an announcement for the Bay Area team that Lacob and crew are trying to build here. But it feels like there’s a solid chance there’s more here. It was only in August that Engelbert said she wanted to expand the league by “one or two” teams. Could this be a two-team announcement? We’ll see.
I just know I can’t wait to find out.
Quick Hits: A whole bunch of regret … What’s up with Rays fans? … and more
Ignore the third base coach at your own peril in a playoff game, right?
If you’re right, you look like a hero. If you’re wrong, it’s a “told ya so” moment that will make headlines everywhere (given that I’m writing about this, I guess it’s making a headline no matter what!).
Here we’ve got Bryce Harper, who was on first base when Nick Castellanos hit a double in the Philadelphia Phillies’ Game 1 Wild Card win over the Miami Marlins. Harper was given the red light from Dusty Wathan, but he ignored it. He slid in safe, but there was some buzz about him blowing through the stop sign:
When Bryce Harper flips his helmet off his head as he runs the bases, well, he ain't stopping. Harper scores from first on Nick Castellanos' double down the left-field line, and the #Phillies have a 4-1 lead.
Teammate Nick Castellanos said that Harper does it all the time … and is right a lot:
Phillies right fielder Nick Castellanos talked about his late RBI, which included Bryce Harper running through Dusty Wathanâs stop sign. @KYWNewsradiopic.twitter.com/XuXyv3TH3h
Meet Hayden Dorfman. He’s a 10-year-old Philadelphia Phillies fan who happened to be the recipient of an amazing object: Bryce Harper’s tossed batting helmet, which the slugger threw into the crowd in anger after Angel Hernandez’s terrible call.
You would think the fan would be appreciative of Hernandez, because it was that bad call on a check swing which led Harper to toss the helmet (which was later signed!) in the first place. But in an interview with NBC Sports Philadelphia, he was asked if Hernandez is his favorite umpire now.
His response: An emphatic “No.” And, really, that’s the correct take:
Do yourself a favor and watch this interview with Hayden Dorfman, who got Bryce Harper's helmet pic.twitter.com/m4tigGA2Zf
The Philadelphia Phillies start was irate, and rightfully so, going at Hernandez at third base after the call and getting ejected in the process, before he tossed his helmet to the crowd.
But let’s get back to what he yelled at Hernandez. Jomboy put together one of those lip-reading videos that we all love to dig into, showing all the NSFW stuff Harper had to say to the embattled umpire.
So, here you go (WARNING: LOTS AND LOTS OF NSFW LANGUAGE AHEAD):
On Thursday, the Philadelphia Phillies were hosting the Pittsburgh Pirates as the 2023 MLB regular season enters its final days. The Phillies recently clinched the first wild card spot in the National League, with the team looking to get back to the World Series off of bats like Harper’s.
In the bottom of the third, with one out and no one on, Harper was faced with a full count. Harper made a check swing on a ball low and away and was called out on strikes after the home plate umpire checked with Hernandez at third. Harper was absolutely livid after the call, as he went off on Hernandez and earned himself an ejection in the process, throwing his batting helmet to the Phillies crowd on his way out.
Angel Hernandez rung up Bryce Harper on this check swing call
The Philadelphia Phillies might want to work on their fundamentals a bit after this one.
Sunday’s game between the Phillies and Pittsburgh Pirates was a frustrating watch for the Philly faithful. The Phillies continued to make mistake after mistake over the course of the game, which allowed the Pirates to walk it off 6-4 in the 10th inning. Trea Turner and Edmundo Sosa collided on an infield pop up for an error. Manager Rob Thomson pulled pitcher Cristopher Sanchez after five innings with 73 pitches and no hits. And worst of all, Bryce Harper and Alec Bohm made egregious baserunning errors in the 10th inning of a tied game.
With Bohm and Harper at second and third respectively, Turner skied a ball out to deep right field. Harper was set to take off for home, but Henry Davis made a great read on the ball to get it into the catcher. Instead of trying for home, however, Harper stopped partway down the base path, causing Bohm to get caught in a rundown on his way to third.
Eventually, Harper did try for home, but was easily thrown out to end the brutal double play.
— Talkinâ Baseball (@TalkinBaseball_) July 30, 2023
It feels like the Phillies have been one of the MLB leaders in TOOTBLANs this year, and this blunder is no doubt at the top of the list. Here’s how MLB fans reacted to the Phillies’ absolutely awful base running on this double play.
The Philadelphia Phillies slugger stepped to the plate on Wednesday night against the Milwaukee Brewers and reliever Hoby Milner. It’s not like Milner is known for being a lights-out pitcher or anything, but Harper just stood there. And in six pitches, he struck out without barely moving.
What gives? Milner himself was mystified (via the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel): “After the first couple of pitches, it was apparent he was taking. I guess the scouting report he was going with was I was going to throw four balls before three strikes approach. Thatâs really all I can say. Thatâs what it looked like. So I just filled it up after that. I just tried to throw fastballs down the middle after that.â
