PHILADELPHIA − Bryce Harper wasn’t holding the Dodgers or their superstar player Shohei Ohtani in awe heading into the Phillies’ three-game series with the defending World Series champions Friday night.
Harper was not conceding anything to the Dodgers because of their free-spending ways, where they have spent lavishly up and down their roster, whether it was $700 million for Ohtani or $325 million for starting pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto or nine figures for players like Mookie Betts, Freddie Freeman, Tyler Glasnow and so on.
“I don’t know if people will like this, but I feel like only losers complain about what they’re doing,” Harper said. “I think they’re a great team, a great organization. That’s why guys want to go there and play.
“L.A.’s a great city to play in, obviously. They’re at the mecca of kind of the world of everything − from food to nightlife to sports to the Dodgers to the Lakers to anybody. I mean, they’re going to continue to get guys. They’re going to pull guys from the sport.
“If that’s bullpen, or starting pitching, international players, anything like that, they’re doing what the Dodgers do.”
And it’s not like Harper is in awe of Ohtani, either. In fact, Harper made it a point to say very little when asked about Ohtani’s impact on the sport of baseball.
“Really great player” is all Harper would say.
After all, it’s not like the Phillies are slouches, and perhaps this is the point Harper wanted to get across. They’re 5-1 this season before Friday’s game while the Dodgers are 8-0, the best start for a defending champion in MLB history.
And it’s not like the Phillies are shopping at the bargain racks when it comes to signing players. Harper and Trea Turner both have contracts worth at least $300 million, with a half-dozen others making nine figures.
In fact, the Dodgers are second in MLB payroll, at $323 million (in large part because Ohtani’s contract defers most of the money until later years), and the Phillies are fourth at $284 million.
Harper, of course, gets up for big games against marquee players as evidenced by his production in the past against Ohtani. The two have played against each other 11 times since Harper joined the Phillies, and that includes when Ohtani was playing for the Los Angeles Angels.
In those games, the Phillies are 9-2, including 5-1 last season. In 50 plate appearances, Harper has six homers, 13 RBIs and a .279 average. His OPS is 1.147. Ohtani has 47 plate appearances against the Phillies, and he’s hitting .244 (.724 OPS) with a homer and five RBIs.
Phillies manager Rob Thomson was a bit more diplomatic when asked about Ohtani.
“I love talent, and he’s one of the most talented guys who have ever played the game,” Thomson said. “We haven’t seen him pitch yet, but that’s going to be interesting, too. I love watching guys who have talent, and he’s got it.”
