Bryce sent the Bank into Bedlam. Jake Peavy and Alex Avila take you through a breakdown of the NLCS MVP's 8th inning AB and how a pitcher and catcher think during these moments in hostile environments. mlbnetwork mlbnetwork mlbnetwork
The guy who was standing next to me at the game said after Harp hit that foul down the line said "that's it, he's locked in, if he throws the wrong pitch it's gone" and sure enough he was right!! I couldn't believe what I was witnessing I still haven't quite realized it yet.
when he took that change up, i knew he was a different kinda locked in. i was amazed how he took that at all, or did not even check swing it after seeing 100 multiple times.
The last pitch was a clear mistake, fwiw. No movement. Belt high. Outside part of the plate. Suarez was just asking for it. That's where you'd throw it if you were looking to let a retiring player hit his 300th HR on the last pitch of his career.
Even if you say Hader should've been in there, that at bat, at that moment with the stakes so high, defines the greatness of this game. Even if Harper had fanned. A great at bat before the tater, fouling off one country hardball after another, while laying off a change. The cat and mouse, the communication between pitcher and catcher, Harper's complete focus on the task, knowing he wasn't the last but certainly the best chance to avoid a game 6. Every pitch a new chapter. Then, the crack of that bat going the other way straight to Houston. As good as baseball can get.
I’m a San Diego born Philly raised San Diego again. Wanted Padres for baseball and Eagles for Super Bowl 🥹 Harper and Machado both performed so well compared to so many big contract busts. If Tatis was firing this team could’ve been insane. Respect to the ultimate new underdog Philly crushing it all the way bottom to top DONT Stop.
I hate the way pitchers work you in and out, up and down, and with different speeds and movements. I hate pitchers because they make it hard to get solid contact.
Its to bad Harper is so inconsistent. He goes through alot of Slumps and when he does he slumps hard. There is no grey area with him. When he is playing he is either the best in the game or one of the worst.
So this may be the dumbest thing I’ve watched it’s like three clowns on a couch .. why not actual analysts with true speed spin and how movement is essential …
Funny how we're now all supposed to pretend that Harper didn't go limp in the 2014 postseason, the 2016 postseason, and the 2017 postseason. ---It was a timely HR this time around, to be sure, but interesting to watch him nervously pull off the first pitch. 1:55 - no, no, that wasn't in and out, that was up and down. Don't just talk---think! The third pitch was a real gamble, and Harper was way behind (not a 'touch' behind). Would have loved to have now for the four pitch of the PA seen a changeup or curve on the same path as the second pitch, but timed to drop into the strike zone. That would have been a beast to deal with.
