Phillies' Bryce Harper shows he understands Philadelphia, unlike Nick Castellanos

Matt Sullivan

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Phillies' Bryce Harper shows he understands Philadelphia, unlike Nick Castellanos image

The Philadelphia Phillies lost Game 2 of the NLDS to the Los Angeles Dodgers, to be just one more loss from elimination. It was a brutal loss in Games 1 and 2, with a chance to win both games, but the offense came up short, or the bullpen blew it late.

After Game 2, Nick Castellanos came out and spoke on how hard it can be to play in front of Phillies fans. He described how, when the fans have the players' backs, it's incredible, but when they are booing or don't support the team, it's a lot more difficult to win.

This comment from Castellanos set Phillies fans off. But, ahead of Game 3, Bryce Harper pushed back on Castellanos' comments. Jeff Skversky of 6 ABC News shared Harper's comments, saying that he'd boo himself based on how he and the team have played.

Bryce Harper sympathizes with fans booing the Phillies after their poor performance in the NLDS

"I don't feel that way," Harper said. "I love playing in the Bank. I love our fans too. I boo myself when I get out. I'm the same way. And I trust in what they do. They show up for us every day, day in and day out. So if we deserve to be booed or if we deserve to - you know, they spend their hard-earned dollar to come watch us play. I expect greatness out of myself and my teammates as well. ... We got some of the best fans in baseball."

The comments from Castellanos sparked backlash from Phillies fans, as his comments could be interpreted as the Phillies fans' frustrations with the team, as part of why the Phillies lost Games 1 and 2.

But Harper's comments push back on that idea. He's struggled in the playoffs since Game 3 of the NLCS in 2023, but Harper is still trying his hardest and isn't letting the fans' frustrations affect him.

Philadelphia sports fans have been this way for a long time, as they aren't afraid of letting the players know their feelings. When it's going well, like it was for the Philadelphia Eagles in 2024 and this season for the Phillies, it's an incredible positive.

But in the NLDS, the fans haven't had much to cheer for. Ironically, Castellanos had one of the biggest moments for the Phillies, hitting a double to score two runs and make it a one-run game in the 9th. But the Phillies couldn't get him home after a questionable decision from Rob Thomson to bunt Bryson Stott.

More: Matt Strahm blasts MLB analyst after Phillies' NLDS loss

When the team is struggling so much, it's hard for Phillies fans not to express their discontent with the team. This Phillies team should be playing way better than they are, and while the fans haven't uplifted the team, they haven't had much to cheer for this October.

The comments from Castellanos don't sit well in the wake of the Game 2 loss. But Harper's comments better exemplify the Philadelphia fandom mindset. Philly sports fans want the best for their team, and they don't hold back when the team isn't performing well.

Now on the verge of elimination, the Phillies will have to come together as a team and secure two road wins over the Dodgers to stay alive and bring the series back to Philadelphia for another chance to perform in front of a home crowd.

For now, Castellanos and the Phillies won't be the subject of booing from Phillies fans, as they'll face a Dodgers crowd hoping to see their team make it back to the NLCS and push for a second straight World Series championship.

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Matt Sullivan

Matt Sullivan is a freelance writer for The Sporting News, predominantly covering MLB. Matt is a native of Pennsylvania and has worked with Athlon Sports, Last Word on Sports, and other outlets.