The Philadelphia Phillies defeated the Atlanta Braves in serious fashion following a 10-2 womping in Game 3 of the NLDS on Wednesday night.
A message, or two, was sent from Phillies first baseman Bryce Harper to Braves shortstop Orlando Arcia.
It was signed, sealed and delivered in the form of two home runs, but it was after the game that Harper talked about an incident that occurred when Harper rounded the bases during one of those long balls.
Harper stared directly at Arcia as he touched second base.
“It’s a game,” Harper told reporters after the win. “It’s fun. It’s a lotta fun. That’s what it’s all about.”
He then said, “Yeah, I mean I stared right at him.”
“Yeah, I mean I stared right at him”
Bryce is a bad man pic.twitter.com/CUx13pKMfK
— Talkin’ Baseball (@TalkinBaseball_) October 12, 2023
The reason for the stare?
Well …
During Game 2 of the series, Arcia mocked Harper following a base-running snafu. After, Fox Sports’ Jake Mintz reported Arcia said “ha-ha, atta-boy, Harper,” in the clubhouse, postgame.
On Wednesday, Arcia was asked about the quote.
“No, he wasn’t supposed to hear it,” Arcia told reporters, including NBC Sports Philadelphia’s Spencer McKercher. “That’s why we were saying it in the clubhouse.”
Orlando Arcia isn't happy that the "atta boy Harper" quote left the clubhouse pic.twitter.com/rSjoR9eci1
— Talkin’ Baseball (@TalkinBaseball_) October 12, 2023
So, here’s how the MLB world reacted.
Things started out hitting home when the Phillies tweeted out: “Atta-boy, Harper.”
Atta-boy, Harper pic.twitter.com/mcThfdrC3s
— Philadelphia Phillies (@Phillies) October 11, 2023
Arcia during Harper’s next AB pic.twitter.com/mXzcKSDvnq
— Jawn Gonzalez (@JohnGonzalez) October 11, 2023
It was personal for Bryce Harper 🥶
(📸:@MLBLife/X) pic.twitter.com/7pjgzh77KQ
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) October 12, 2023
Bryce Harper to Orlando Arcia. pic.twitter.com/Rsv3t7NZUi
— Victor Williams (@ThePhillyPod) October 11, 2023
Bryce Harper completes his journey to becoming a true Philadelphian by achieving success fueled exclusively by spite
— Franzke & LA (@FranzkeLA) October 11, 2023
The Braves radio broadcast didn’t love it, however.
The Braves radio booth does not approve of Bryce Harper's home run celebrations tonight
(h/t @_piccone) pic.twitter.com/rcEpI9o9cK
— Jomboy Media (@JomboyMedia) October 12, 2023
He even brought football insider Ian Rapoport into it:
Bryce Harper is the worst. … wish he was on the #Mets. 🤨 https://t.co/wTBOfbJMnD
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) October 12, 2023
