Bryce Harper left the Washington Nationals in free agency earlier this year to sign with the Philadelphia Phillies, and his hope was to beat out his former team within the NL East every season. So far, the plan worked out completely the opposite way.
Not only did the Nationals clinch a playoff spot on Tuesday, but they did so by beating the Phillies 4-1, eliminating Philly from the playoff race in the process. Adding insult to the matter, the Nationals won the second game of the doubleheader 6-5.
After the doubleheader was completed, Harper spoke with reporters and said he had no hard feelings towards his former team.
Bryce Harper said there was no extra sting watching the Nats clinch on the same day his new team got eliminated (via @matt_breen).
"I have no hard feelings toward them at all. They’re a great team. They’re a great organization. That’s why they’re at where they are right now."
— Sam Fortier (@Sam4TR) September 25, 2019
That’s a nice thing for Harper to say, and maybe fine to say publicly, but Philly fans won’t like it. They want Harper to be a dedicated Phillie, one who only wants his team winning and at the expense of the Nats.
Harper is batting .258 with 34 home runs this season. He’s had an OK year, but did not produce nearly the way he or the Phillies want him to. They need him to deliver like an MVP candidate. He does that, and the Phillies are closer to being a playoff team rather than a .500 squad.
