Bryce Harper Signs With Phillies

[Bellhorn04]

phillies phans are as phickle as they come. especially with baseball. the moment the phils lose 5 in a row all the interest will go right back to the Eagles. it's a football town.

followed by football, then football, football, football, basketball, then.......baseball.

this signing was not about winning. it was about selling Harper jerseys to teenage girls. end of story.

 

But the Philles also added Realmuto, Segura and others.

[moonslav59]

But the Philles also added Realmuto, Segura and others.

 

Yes, and they showed signs of being pretty competitive last year.

 

If I was a Philly fan, I'd be excited about the next few years.

[notin]

The Phillies are making a huge splash this off-season and certainly grabbing headlines. And obviously selling a few tickets.

 

But until this actually translates into wins, the competition for the entertainment dollar of the casual fan isn’t over. If the Phillies start out, say, 20-40, Bryce Harper Mania won’t matter to casual fans, beyond the occasional gripe about how “overrated” Harper has always been...

[Bellhorn04]

The Phillies are making a huge splash this off-season and certainly grabbing headlines. And obviously selling a few tickets.

 

But until this actually translates into wins, the competition for the entertainment dollar of the casual fan isn’t over. If the Phillies start out, say, 20-40, Bryce Harper Mania won’t matter to casual fans, beyond the occasional gripe about how “overrated” Harper has always been...

 

Sure. But you can't say management isn't trying. And it would be a somewhat stunning development if they start 20-40.

[notin]

Yes, and they showed signs of being pretty competitive last year.

 

If I was a Philly fan, I'd be excited about the next few years.

 

 

Weird thought of the day: Somewhere in the USA or Dominican Republic, there is an 8 year old boy who will one day play Major League Baseball against or with Bryce Harper before this contract expires...

[notin]

Sure. But you can't say management isn't trying. And it would be a somewhat stunning development if they start 20-40.

 

 

I didn’t say they weren’t. I think this whole “too many teams are tanking” is overblown and not exactly anything new in MLB (or any sport).

 

But they certainly might start out poorly. Remember when Detroit acquired Miguel Cabrera and the press penned them in for the AL Central title with over 1,000 runs scored? And then they came in last in the AL Central after an 0-9 start?

 

It can happen and wouldn’t be unprecedented...

[Slasher9]

But the Philles also added Realmuto, Segura and others.

 

they sure did. those deals will not hurt the winning over the long haul like the harper deal will. no doubt it will give a boost this season. but my point was that the 100,000 ticket sale spike we saw will not be sustained once the phillies lose 5 games in a row this season. phillies fans are football fans.

[SCM33]

This contract has so many different variables to it.

 

He could suck, and the PHI fans will eat him alive.

He could succeed, but the PHI fans will expect more and eat him alive.

He could play great, and the PHI fans will eat him alive.

 

He will never be worth the contract, they rarely are. The incredible thing is, if he decides to mail it in at age 30/31, they are still on the hook for 7/8 years!!!!!! Imagine that, he is already paid, what does he care if they arent winning? The Manny Ramirez contract and the A-Rod contracts were huge, long term deals at their time. Both players were considered baggage at the end of their deals......Harper could be baggage for almost the entire length of those deals by the time he gets halfway through. Crazy to think about.

Edited March 7, 2019 by SCM33

[Fan_since_Boggs]

I think this contract is going to work out well for Harper and the Phillies. The fact that Harper declined opt-outs will help endear him to Phillies fans. Harper wanted to go to one place and stay there for the rest of his baseball career. He picked the Phillies, the fans will eat that up and cheer him.

[redsoxrules]

I don't understand the big deal of no opt out clause. Yeah sure he can't opt out but he wouldn't have opted out anyways as no one would give him a better deal that he has now anyways.

[SCM33]

I think this contract is going to work out well for Harper and the Phillies. The fact that Harper declined opt-outs will help endear him to Phillies fans. Harper wanted to go to one place and stay there for the rest of his baseball career. He picked the Phillies, the fans will eat that up and cheer him.

 

If he plays poorly, there is NO WAY he gets out of that contract. There is NO WAY the Phillies get out of that contract. He won't be "endeared" to anyone if he sucks.

[Slasher9]

the first game he goes 0-4 in philly he will get boos...

[SCM33]

the first game he goes 0-4 in philly he will get boos...

 

Exactly. Thats a ton of pressure on him to perform. They don't look at baseball the way they do either. If he is hitting .249 down there, it doesn't matter what his other numbers say. They will crucify him for making that money, hitting .249, no matter how many wins hes worth.

 

That is a train wreck waiting to happen.