PHILADELPHIA — Bryce Harper mentioned repeatedly Friday that he won’t make excuses.
However he’s banged up. He reluctantly acknowledged that a lot earlier than Friday evening’s 7-2 loss to Atlanta at Residents Financial institution Park, reducing the Phillies’ lead over the Braves within the Nationwide League East to 5 video games with 27 to play. Attentive Phils followers have seen Harper carrying a protecting black sleeve on his proper arm since Monday’s recreation towards Houston. In addition they may need seen that Harper has not homered in 77 consecutive plate appearances, relationship again to Aug. 9.
Is it a sore wrist? A sore elbow?
“All of it,” Harper instructed MLB.com. “The elbow. The wrist. It’s not something loopy, however clearly it’s there.”
He mentioned his wrist has bothered him since Could. The elbow is more moderen. Harper mentioned he doesn’t recall a particular play or second that irritated the wrist, solely that it “simply usually received worse. I’ve been grinding by that.” However with the postseason a bit of greater than a month away, he mentioned he’s hopeful it won’t be a difficulty in October.
“I don’t need to make excuses for what I do,” Harper mentioned. “You recognize what I’m saying? I’ve simply received to get by it. Hopefully it will get higher, fairly than getting worse. [The wrist’s] lastly attending to the purpose the place I really feel prefer it’s turning a nook. My elbow is simply, like, there.”
Harper had Tommy John surgical procedure on his proper elbow following the 2022 World Sequence. He mentioned this newest irritation isn’t associated to that.
“It’s not the ligament,” he mentioned. “It’s in that space. But it surely’s not the ligament, in order that’s an excellent factor.”
Harper went 3-for-4 with two doubles on Friday. The double within the first inning left his bat at 107.8 mph, per Statcast. The double within the third left his bat at 102.3 mph. He’s batting .394 with six doubles, three RBIs and a 1.050 OPS in his final 9 video games, which is encouraging.
Because the All-Star break, nevertheless, Harper is batting .243 with 5 residence runs, 15 RBIs and a .724 OPS in 38 video games.
He batted .301 with 21 homers, 61 RBIs and a .982 OPS in 81 video games earlier than the break.
“I don’t need to make excuses for the best way I’m enjoying,” Harper mentioned about his lack of energy. “I simply need to be sure that if I can play, then I’m good. If it continues to go the fitting means, then yeah, we’re good. On each ends.”
Requested once more after Friday’s recreation why he’s assured he’ll really feel like himself in October, Harper mentioned, “I simply must. That’s it. It’s a part of the sport. It’s a part of the method of going by a season. Simply received to remain the course, perceive that I rely closely on my physique. I’ve simply received to go.”
Harper’s wrist and elbow points seemingly clarify why Phillies supervisor Rob Thomson didn’t pinch-hit him within the ninth inning of a 6-4 loss to the Nationals on Aug. 18 at Residents Financial institution Park. Thomson mentioned earlier than the sport he needed to offer Harper two consecutive days off earlier than an enormous sequence in Atlanta.
Just a few hours later, Philadelphia put the leadoff hitter on base within the ninth. Cal Stevenson, who represented the tying run, grounded right into a double play. Garrett Stubbs grounded out to finish the sport.
Thomson was questioned by many for not pinch-hitting Harper there. He mentioned after the sport he was “considering long-term.”
Two days later in Atlanta, the Phillies had been late posting the lineup. Thomson mentioned they wanted to verify on the standing of some gamers. He then mentioned not pinch-hitting Harper towards the Nats.
“Folks have to know the No. 1 factor we have now to do right here is win,” Thomson mentioned. “And I hate shedding. I really like successful. We’ve accomplished loads of it right here within the final couple years. However a part of that system is to verify all people is wholesome and that everyone can get by the top of the yr, hopefully get into the playoffs, and we make a long term. So there’s some robust selections it’s important to make alongside the best way to just be sure you keep wholesome.”
Harper isn’t wholesome, however he’s ok to play.
“Typically you’ve received to play by crap,” Harper mentioned. “You recognize? All good.”
