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Harper Fires Back at Castellanos for Blaming Phillies Fans for Playoff Struggles
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- Harper Fires Back at Castellanos for Blaming Phillies Fans for Playoff Struggles
Credit: Eric Hartline-Imagn Images
Bryce Harper clapped back at Nick Castellanos ' claim that Philadelphia Phillies fans are to blame for the team's postseason struggles at Citizens Bank Park .
Following Monday's Game 2 NLDS loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers that dropped the Phillies in an 0-2 hole, Castellanos told reporters that Phillies fans can become a hindrance when things go bad on the field.
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"I think that the stadium is alive on both sides, right?" Castellanos said, via The Philadelphia Inquirer's David Murphy . "When the game is going good, it's wind at our back, but when the game is not going good, it's wind in our face. The environment can be with us, and the environment can be against us."
The criticism didn't stop there. Castellanos added that the Phillies play "more tight" at home because they're concerned about being "reprimanded" by fans.
"When everything's going good and you're rolling it's a [pain] to play here when you're an opposing team because the environment is amazing," he explained. "But if we run into adversity and the tide shifts and now we're playing more tight because we don't want to be reprimanded for something bad."
Harper Defends Phillies Faithful
Those comments didn't sit well with Harper when he was asked about them Tuesday after traveling cross-country to Los Angeles for Wednesday's Game 3.
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"I don't feel that way. I love playing at 'The Bank.' I love our fans. I boo when I get out. I'm the same way," said Harper, via The Athletic's Matt Gelb.
"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, if we deserve to — they spend their hard-earned dollar to come watch us play; they expect greatness out of us and I expect greatness out of myself and teammates as well."
Harper added that he enjoys the Phillies fans' passion and doesn't understand why teammates won't feel the same way.
"If they believe that, I don't know what's going through their head or mindset," said Harper. "We've got some of the best fans in baseball, and they make me play better. So I enjoy it.
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"I will probably get booed [Wednesday] night, too. So it's kind of the same thing. It's, like, what are we talking about? Same stuff."
Citizens Bank Park hasn't been the home-field advantage it's been in years past. The Phillies have lost five of their last six postseason games there, dating back to Game 6 of the 2023 NLCS.
The biggest issue has been the woeful offense and bullpen implosions — not Phillies fans. Trea Turner , Kyle Schwarber and Harper are a combined 2-for-21 with 11 strikeouts in the NLDS, while the bullpen has allowed five earned runs and two inherited runners to score.
The Phillies face a do-or-die Game 3 as Aaron Nola takes the mound to save the season.
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