Oct 6, 2025; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia Phillies first baseman Bryce Harper (3) reacts to striking out against the Los Angeles Dodgers in the sixth inning during game two of the NLDS round for the 2025 MLB playoffs at Citizens Bank Park. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-Imagn Images
LOS ANGELES - Nick Castellanos got himself in the middle of a another controversial commentary following a game on Monday.
Whether he was intentionally taking a shot at the fans or simply answering a question if he's surprised by how the team has struggled at home in the playoffs in the past few seasons considering how loud the place is..
"I think the stadium is alive on both sides," Castellanos said after the Game 2 loss. "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. So the environment can be with us and the environment can be against us."
Depending on how you read that statement, he's either spot on, or speaking out of turn.
You can interpret it as him simply saying fans are tough on them and hold them to a higher standard than any other fan base does their team - and he'd be right.
Or you could interpret as him taking a jab at fans for being boobirds, and if he did mean that, you'd have every right to take offense.
Either way, Bryce Harper wanted you to know he's on your side.
Bryce Harper: “(Phillies fans) spend their hard-earned dollars to come watch us play, they expect greatness out of us, and I expect greatness out of myself and my teammates.”
(via @AntSanPhilly) pic.twitter.com/jWuM1O6snX
"I don't feel that way," he said. "I love playing at the Bank. I love our fans. I boo myself when I get out. I'm the same way."
Here's the thing, as much as that sounds like classic Bryce pandering, it's also him to a tee. He's a perfectionist. He views himself as an elite superstar. He doesn't like when he's not in the conversation as one of the best players in the sport. So, yeah, he's going to be a self-flagellator.
But he's smart, and he also knows you'll eat it up when he says these things, so, win/win.
"I trust in what they do," he added about the fans. "They show up for us every day. Day-in and day-out. So, if we deserve to be booed, 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 my teammates as well."
But then there was one other thing he added. And again, everything Harper says is intentional.
"If they believe that, I don't know what's going through their head or mindset. We've got some of the best fans in baseball and they make me play better. So, I enjoy it.
I will probably get booed tomorrow night, too. So, it's kind of the same thing. It's like, what are we talking about? Same stuff."
He used "they" to make it plural, but it was only Castellanos who said it. And Harper is infinitely aware of everything. He knows what the narratives are. He pays attention.
So, when he says something pointed, that's his way of leading. Taking anything out on the fans, that's not kosher in Harper's mind.
And even less so on a night when the team lost a home playoff game and was pushed to the brink of elimination.
Time and place.
To be clear, this isn't creating a rift in the clubhouse. The Phillies aren't getting distracted by these mostly meaningless comments.
But, Bryce wanted to be sure his teammates, and the fans, all knew where he stood on this narrative.
And it's with the fans. With Harper, it always will be.
