After Game 2 of the series between the Braves and the Phillies, Orlando Arcia said, in his team’s locker room, a well-felt “Atta boy Harper” following the error on the cushions of the first baseman.
With Harper having an ego, who loves Philly and who wants to perform in the playoffs, let’s say that it hurt the main person concerned.
When he learned the Braves player had said that, the Phillies star took it personal.
Result? During yesterday’s game, Bryce hit two home runs in a convincing victory for his team… and he made sure that Arcia had nothing more to say to him.
Until then, so good.
But the problem is that things have gotten out of control since then. Many players took a stand on the matter, mentioning that journalists had no business reporting Arcia’s comments.
What you need to know is that Arcia did not make his comments directly to the media: he said it to teammates while the media were present.
But still: the players are wrong on this one.
The guys have times to talk among themselves and if they don’t want the media to hear what they have to say, they can just keep quiet when the reporters are around.
They know it very well.
Journalists help publicize game and they are part of history during a ball season. Fans like to follow certain journalists or certain personalities.
When a player says (to the media!) that he doesn’t want journalists to report what they heard, but which was not intended for them, he is wrong.
In fact, Chris Bassitt is right: position players confuse their pitchers by adding fuel to the fire.
Arcia just wasn’t able to hold back and sometimes, in the playoffs, it doesn’t take much to provoke the opponent.
Ultimately, it gives a little spice to series that clearly need it at the moment. But it’s annoying to see players trying to distance themselves from that.
Imagine not being accountable for what we say… knowing that there are media in the place. Come on…
- Who would have home field advantage in the World Series against the Phillies? Houston doesn’t have the advantage over Philly, but Texas does.
- Names to watch in Toronto.
