Phillies president Dave Dombrowski's head-scratching Bryce Harper comments cast major doubt

Hunter Cookston

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Phillies president Dave Dombrowski's head-scratching Bryce Harper comments cast major doubt image

The Philadelphia Phillies’ season came to a crashing halt against the Los Angeles Dodgers in the NLDS. The Dodgers are playing some of the best baseball right now, but the Phillies performed so poorly that they were even booed by their own fans.

“Loudly booed most of the night by their sellout crowd of 45,653 at Citizens Bank Park, the Phillies staged a frenzied ninth-inning rally, only to be beaten by the Los Angeles Dodgers, 4-3, going down 2-0 in the best-of-five series,” USA Today’s Bob Nightengale wrote.

Phillies star Bryce Harper struggled in the series, and part of that may have been due to him missing his newborn son. Because of the playoffs, he wasn’t able to be there for his family the way he wanted to, and that clearly took an emotional toll on him.

“It’s an incredible thing. Being able to hold your son for the first time is something that, it's one of the greatest moments of my life. I love my family. I love my kids. I love baseball. But at the end of the day my family means the most to me. I definitely miss them right now,” Harper said.

At the end-of-year meeting, Phillies president Dave Dombrowski made what might have been the worst possible comment toward his star player. In fact, it’s baffling that the team president would speak this way publicly.

“He didn’t have an elite season like he has in the past. I guess we only find out if he becomes elite [again] or he continues to be good...Can he rise to the next level again? I don't really know that answer,” Dombrowski told the media.

This is a surprising statement, considering the difference Harper has made since signing with the Phillies. He has brought energy and excitement back to a team that desperately needed it before his arrival.

This could create some real tension between the two sides. As the offseason progresses, it will be worth watching how Harper responds if asked about Dombrowski’s comments.

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Hunter Cookston

Hunter Cookston began his career as a sportswriter for the Marion Tribune, where he covered local high school football, basketball and baseball. His passion for sports started at the age of four when he played his first year of tee ball. Growing up in Tennessee, he developed a deep love for the Tennessee Volunteers and Atlanta Braves. Hunter is currently attending Tennessee Wesleyan University, where he is pursuing a BA in Sports Communications/Management.