Philadelphia Phillies manager Don Mattingly made it pretty clear that he didn’t appreciate Bryce Harper’s comment about the team needing “some help” at the trade deadline.
After Tuesday night’s loss to the Miami Marlins, Bryce Harper was asked if the Phillies could turn things around in time to be successful in the post-season.
“I think we need some help,” Harper replied. “But you know, I think we’ve proved pretty much all year we’ve done a pretty good job. But anytime you can get some help in here and reinforcements, I think it helps.”
In a follow-up question, Bryce Harper was asked if that help should come in the form of some hitting or some pitching.
“I think both,” he replied. “Obviously, everybody knows what we need. I’ve said it over the last couple of days.”
Don Mattingly responds to Bryce Harper’s trade deadline comments
Wednesday morning, manager Don Mattingly admitted that he wasn’t a big fan of what Bryce Harper said.
“I just don’t like it from the fact of what I’ve been saying, that you’re saying we don’t like our players that are here,” NBC Sports Philadelphia reported Mattingly said. “I think you’re always trying to get better, always incrementally trying to get better, no matter who you are.
“You’re the Dodgers, you’ve won two straight. They’re trying to get better in different ways. We’re in the same boat, right? You’re always trying to get better.
“But when you say something about our team, then you’re saying something about one of our players that you don’t like.”
Bryce Harper isn’t wrong, though. According to MLB.com, the Phillies outfielders entered Tuesday with a combined .658 OPS, which ranked 29th in baseball. The team is also 3-8 and had scored one or zero runs in six of their first 11 games since the All-Star break.
“When you’ve been through this…” Mattingly continued. “Guys want to be GMs without a real understanding of where the organization is, exactly where everything goes, not only this year but moving forward. Players like being GMs and making calls and spending other people’s money. So, (I’ll) just let it go at that.
“I mean, Dave’s been doing this awhile. He’s never really backed away from trying to get guys. We’re trying to get better. You know, we’re trying to get better at the deadline.”