Phillies manager Gabe Kapler is OK with fans booing Bryce Harper: 'I don't blame them'
Go right ahead a boo, Philadelphia. Your manager doesn’t blame ya. In fact, he understands.
Bryce Harper had a rough first month to start his Philadelphia Phillies career, sending fans at Citizens Bank Park into choruses of boos earlier this week. He gets why it happens and so does manager Gabe Kapler.
Kapler: ‘Give them a reason to cheer’
Kapler, a former player himself, gave his views during an appearance Friday on “Inside Pitch” on MLB Network Radio.
“I love the answer of ‘give them a reason to cheer,’ ” Kapler said. “You know, like give them a reason to be on their feet.”
Gabe Kapler has no issues with #Phillies fans booing Bryce Harper. #RingTheBell pic.twitter.com/f8SfiMivRD
— MLB Network Radio on SiriusXM (@MLBNetworkRadio) May 3, 2019
Kapler compared it to Wells Fargo Center on Thursday night when the Philadelphia 76ers went up 2-1 in the second-round series of the NBA playoffs. They defeated the Toronto Raptors, 116-95.
Kapler said:
“It was electric at the Wells Fargo Center. And obviously that’s how it is when you’re winning a basketball game. But the Sixers gave the fans something to get excited about and that place absolutely rocked.
“When we play our game of baseball, Citizens Bank Park rocks. They come out and support us. When we don’t play well they ask for a better performance. I don’t blame them for that. Bryce doesn’t blame them for that. And if we want better results we just, as a team, as a group, have to give them something to get excited about.”
Kapler told SportsRadio 94 WIP he’s “not concerned at all” about Harper and that every ball player, including Harper in his past, goes through streaks.
Harper: ‘I’d do the same thing’
Harper told the media he’d also boo if were a fan.
"It's not fun to lose, not fun to watch when you're playing that way. [I was] 0 for 4 with two punchies. I'm probably thinking the same thing walking back to the dugout."
To be fair, it’s early and expectations are incredibly high not only because of the numbers of the contract — 13 years and $330 million — but also because of his status and city. As Yahoo Sports’ Chris Cwik wrote earlier this week, if he can push his contact rate back up to meet his career average he should be all right before the all-star break hits.
Harper also took some heat from none other than “hey now, you’re an all-star” singers, Smash Mouth.
Not the worst April for Phillies
It wasn’t an MVP month for the superstar, or the team, yet the Phillies lead the NL East during a season that’s expected to get jumbled at the top.
Wins in April matter in August.
Rhys Hoskins ranks 10th in the league in on-base plus slugging percentage (1.011) and lit the fuse for the rivalry with the New York Mets.
More from Yahoo Sports:
