The Philadelphia Phillies defeated the Atlanta Braves in serious fashion following a 10-2 womping in Game 3 of the NLDS on Wednesday night.
A message, or two, was sent from Phillies first baseman Bryce Harper to Braves shortstop Orlando Arcia.
It was signed, sealed and delivered in the form of two home runs, but it was after the game that Harper talked about an incident that occurred when Harper rounded the bases during one of those long balls.
Harper stared directly at Arcia as he touched second base.
“It’s a game,” Harper told reporters after the win. “It’s fun. It’s a lotta fun. That’s what it’s all about.”
He then said, “Yeah, I mean I stared right at him.”
The reason for the stare?
Well …
During Game 2 of the series, Arcia mocked Harper following a base-running snafu. After, Fox Sports’ Jake Mintz reported Arcia said “ha-ha, atta-boy, Harper,” in the clubhouse, postgame.
On Wednesday, Arcia was asked about the quote.
“No, he wasn’t supposed to hear it,” Arcia told reporters, including NBC Sports Philadelphia’s Spencer McKercher. “That’s why we were saying it in the clubhouse.”
Orlando Arcia isn't happy that the "atta boy Harper" quote left the clubhouse pic.twitter.com/rSjoR9eci1
— Talkin’ Baseball (@TalkinBaseball_) October 12, 2023
So, here’s how the MLB world reacted.
Things started out hitting home when the Phillies tweeted out: “Atta-boy, Harper.”
The Braves radio broadcast didn’t love it, however.
He even brought football insider Ian Rapoport into it:
About Jessica Kleinschmidt
Jess is a baseball fan with Reno, Nev. roots residing in the Bay Area. She is the host of "Short and to the Point" and is also a broadcaster with the Oakland A's Radio Network. She previously worked for MLB.com and NBC Sports Bay Area.