Bryce Harper is enemy No. 1 for the Atlanta Braves this postseason, and that’s not just because of his big home runs and beef with Orlando Arcia.
Harper hit two home runs in his Philadelphia Phillies’ 10-2 win over the Braves in Game 3 of their NLDS on Wednesday at Citizens Bank Park. He delivered a huge blow in the third with a 3-run home run. Harper also homered in the fifth. After both home runs, he stared down Arcia, who was reported to have mocked Harper for a baserunning error to end Game 2 on Monday.
But it wasn’t just the staredowns of Arcia that drew attention.
Harper did a throat-slash gesture towards his dugout after homering in the third. He repeated the gesture as he crossed home plate.
https://twitter.com/_piccone/status/1712234350861766835
Braves radio announcer Joe Simpson, who teams with Ben Ingram, made note of the gesture after the first home run. Harper did the same gesture again after his second home run.
How Bryce Harper's 2nd dinger of the game sounded on Braves radio
"Again gave the throat-slashing sign, which given today's climate around the world, I'm not sure that's quite what anybody wants to see"
And then tries to defend Arcia for whatever reason pic.twitter.com/6dFezIfwvD
— Nick Piccone (@_piccone) October 11, 2023
Simpson wasn’t a fan of the throat slash.
“Again gave the throat-slashing sign, which given today’s climate around the world, I’m not sure that’s quite what anybody wants to see,” Simpson said.
Simpson was likely alluding to the war in Israel.
Though some may view the comments as soft, the NFL banned the throat slash in 1999. Moreover, the Braves had done the same gesture in the 2019 postseason.
