Harper calls out teammates, himself

Star outfielder says only catcher Realmuto is ‘really doing his job’ thus far

By Marcus Hayes

Bryce Harper has provided two stirring moments in the 2021 season. He didn’t swing a bat either time.

On April 7, his bunt single in the fifth inning helped the Phillies beat the Mets, and it looked really cool.

On Wednesday night, his candor and accountability set an example for the rest of the team for the rest of the season.

“I think one guy right now [is] really doing his job: J.T. [Realmuto],” Harper said. “Everybody else around him, not doing so much.”

You heard right. That was the $330 million man calling every single hitter out.

The Phillies had just lost a third straight game to the Mets, in which they’d scored four total runs. Realmuto wasn’t the problem. His OPS was .888, 90 points higher than his closest teammates’, Harper and Rhys Hoskins. Realmuto’s .324 batting average led Didi Gregorius’ by 14 points.

Harper kept spitting cold, hard truths. “We need to play hard,” he said. They’re not playing hard, at least, not hard enough. They’re not focusing. They’re not grinding.

“We need to understand that every run counts,” Harper said. “Every out counts as well. You only get 27 of them.”

Also: No excuses, fellas. You might be tired and you might be distracted, but you’re still getting paid.

“We have to do our job every single day, no matter how we’re feeling at the plate,” Harper said. “No matter how we’re feeling on the field, no matter how we’re feeling off the field.”

Present company included? Indeed.