Phillies

Salty Nationals fans destroy Bryce Harper jerseys

Salty Nationals fans destroy Bryce Harper jerseys

By Erin Dunne April 01, 2019 4:39 PM

Wow, whole lotta salt over there in D.C., huh?

Look, we get it. Jerseys are expensive. We know because literally all of us in Philly ordered a Bryce Harper jersey the second the news broke that he had signed with the Phillies.

And sometimes you just don’t want to buy a whole new jersey, but sometimes, you really just should.

It looks like some salty Nationals fans were determined to keep their older jerseys and got, well, creative, with fixing them up. Here are some of the best (or worst, you decide) ones we found on social media. 

 

 

 

 

 



Other fans just got weird ...

 

This guy is gonna be in Philly for 13 years. I think it’s time to let this one go and hang up that old cut-up shirsey. Just keep all of this in mind when Juan Soto becomes a free agent in 2025.

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Bryce Harper hears plenty of boos, strikes out during first at-bat in D.C. as a visitor

Bryce Harper hears plenty of boos, strikes out during first at-bat in D.C. as a visitor

By Corey Seidman April 02, 2019 8:27 PM

WASHINGTON — Bryce Harper was booed during the Phillies' lineup announcement, booed again when he stepped into the on-deck circle and booed even more loudly when he came to the plate for his first visiting plate appearance in D.C.

The boos continued before each pitch and the cheers were just as loud when Max Scherzer fired two strikes by Harper to get ahead 0-2. Scherzer definitely had a little more oomph on his fastball for Harper. He opened the game at 94 mph to Andrew McCutchen but hit 97 on his third pitch to Harper.

Harper struck out swinging on a 2-2 changeup.

While recognizing how good the Phillies can be, Harper's ex-teammates with the Nats are sick of hearing about him, sick of talking about him and were eager for this game to pass (see story). 

Harper will always be a storyline when the Phils come to Washington in the future, but it won't be quite like this.

In his second at-bat Tuesday, Harper struck out swinging at a 92 mph cutter on a full count. Scherzer 2, Harper 0.

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Bryce Harper's ex-teammates tired of talking about him but thoroughly impressed by Phillies

Bryce Harper's ex-teammates tired of talking about him but thoroughly impressed by Phillies

By Corey Seidman April 02, 2019 5:50 PM

WASHINGTON — Adam Eaton is sick of hearing about Bryce Harper but eager to see him face Max Scherzer.

Sean Doolittle has spent time game planning for Harper but is focused more on the Phillies' lineup as a whole.

"It's not just him," Doolittle said Tuesday ahead of the Phillies' first meeting of the year with the Nationals. "One thing that I think is lost in this is that we're talking a lot about Bryce, rightfully so, but look at the other guys in that lineup. 

"This is probably the deepest lineup in the league and it was on full display in that first series, the kind of damage they can do and the different ways they can burn you. There are a lot of other guys in this lineup you have to take seriously. There aren't many holes."

Many in Philadelphia have said the same thing in recent days, but it's interesting to hear that opinion from a rival pitcher. Doolittle knows how focused he and his teammates have to be when facing any Phillie one through eight, not just the $330 million man.

The Phillies' rivalry with the Nationals is already intriguing enough given the two rosters, but Harper's 13-year marriage with the Phils kicks things up several notches. If Harper plays out his full contract with the Phils, he'll end his career having played in Philly nearly twice as long as he played in Washington.

Harper said a lot of the right things Tuesday in his return to Nationals Park. He spoke of visiting one of his favorite food spots immediately Monday, talked about good times, referenced the teammates he grew strong bonds with.

He said it all while wearing a shirt that read "Philly" across the chest and a hat that read "Positive Vibes."

The vibes Harper gets in D.C. this week will likely be mixed.

"We're all tired of hearing about it and just excited to get out on the field and play," said Eaton, Harper's former outfield-mate. "I think he's tired of it as well. As much as you think he loves the spotlight, he really doesn't. He loves to crawl in a hole and go play baseball. I think everybody involved just really wants to move on and play for October."

These are two of the deepest rosters in the National League. The Phillies, according to Doolittle and many others, are among the best offenses in the game. The Nationals are still rock solid up and down the lineup and have an edge on every team in baseball with their 1-2-3 of Scherzer, Stephen Strasburg and Patrick Corbin.

Harper will get his first taste of Scherzer Tuesday night. He couldn't recall facing him in live batting practice.

Will either of them have an advantage on the other?

"Intel, yeah, you know what, a little bit," Eaton said. "You play behind pitchers enough, especially as a centerfielder, you see how their pitches move, the shape, the demeanor, maybe what's coming next. With him and Max, it should be interesting. Max is very predictable but also not very predictable. He always seems like he's one step ahead of the hitter even if he's faced him quite a bit. And he's even evolved since last year with certain pitches he's throwing a little more frequently. 

"It's must-see TV in my opinion."

Will the Nats gain any extra inspiration from facing the former face of their franchise?

Eaton laughed at the question.

"This is a big-league clubhouse," he said. "I want to win, I don't care who's over there. I think everyone would say that. If you're getting up because Bryce Harper's on the other side, we've got a problem. 

"It doesn't matter if your grandma is playing shortstop, we want to win."

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