It was seemingly a plea of desperation.
Following another post-All Star Game defeat, this time a 1-0 loss to the Miami Marlins that secured their fourth consecutive series loss to start the second half and dropped them to 3-8 in their last 11 games, Bryce Harper uttered a statement of fact we all know to be true.
“I think we need some help.”
Here’s Harper’s full quote to media covering the team in Miami (courtesy of NBC Sports Philadelphia):
“I think we need some help,” he said after the loss. “I think we’ve proved (ourselves) pretty much all year. We’ve done a pretty good job. But any time you can get some help in here, some reinforcements, I think it helps.”
Harper was asked if he thought the Phillies needed a bat or an arm.
“I think both,” he said. “Obviously, everybody knows what we need. I’ve said it over the last few days. We need both.”
First, Harper is right. Dropping the first two games of a series against a team that entered with a 12-game losing streak is the latest stumble for this group of players lugging around a combined $315 million payroll.
While giving himself and his teammates credit for putting them in a playoff position, holding a two-game lead on the NL’s second wild card spot, Harper clearly believes they cannot finish the job on their own.
His comments are perilous. This group began the season in such a funk they got their popular manager, Rob Thomson, fired. Now this band of high-priced, postseason-tested athletes is tumbling back toward .500 and losing ground in the NL East race. They were held to one or zero runs for the sixth time in 11 games since the break and a league-leading 26th time overall. They have the worst on-base percentage in the sport, are 5-21 when the 5th spot in the rotation comes around, and have only a couple relievers one can truly say they trust.
The non-pitching numbers, in particular, are damning.
Harper’s plea for help carries with it an uncomfortable possibility.
What if Dombrowski can’t get something done? Is Harper essentially admitting they don’t have enough to compete for a World Series as currently constructed?
Harper’s lackluster July (.611 OPS, 2 HRs, 9 RBIs in July) has been a big part of this most recent team-wide offensive funk. A return to normal production from Harper and Kyle Schwarber (.746 OPS, 3 HRs in July) would go a long way towards fixing some of the offensive issues. But they’re not alone.
Trea Turner is finally hitting but is a black hole defensively. Bryson Stott is one of the few players providing production (.789 OPS in June, .793 on July). J.T. Realmuto, Justin Crawford, Turner, Alec Bohm and Edmundo Sosa all have OBPs at .305 or under, and even Stott’s overall OBP is just .309.
The Phillies currently have one everyday outfielder — Bryan de la Cruz, a non-roster spring training invitee who has been with Lehigh Valley for all but the last two weeks of the season. Brandon Marsh and Justin Crawford are both part-time players again.
How can a team with a payroll north of $300 million be so desperate for help? There aren’t enough mirrors to go around.
Even if Dombrowski is able to pull of a few moves to add reinforcements, how on earth can they have the kind of effect Harper seems to think is required?
Let’s forget about the idea of Tarik Skubal, Mason Miller, or a mega-hitter joining the Phillies in the next week. Given the dearth of quality prospects in the organization, it is highly unlikely Dombrowski can pull off a need for a star and still do enough to make up for deficiencies at the back of the starting rotation, high leverage/left-handed relievers, and the lineup.
If Taylor Ward, Connor Griffin and a couple of relievers are added, does that suddenly transform the Phils?
In order for this team to hit its stride, it must change it’s stripes. This season, in particular, has seen the production level of the position player, in particular, fall off a cliff.
The number of players who have put up below replacement-level numbers this season is shocking:
- Alec Bohm (-0.8)
- Adolis Garcia (-0.8, out for the season)
- Otto Kemp (-0.7, in the minors)
- Gabriel Rincones Jr. (-0.6)
- Rafael Marchan (-0.6, injured)
- Felix Reyes (-0.5, in the minors)
- Edmundo Sosa (-0.4)
- Justin Crawford (-0.3)
- Trea Turner (-0.3)
- Garrett Stubbs (-0.2)
- Dylan Moore 9 (-0.2, no longer w/ team)
- Steward Berroa (-0.1)
The Phillies have only four players who are north of 1.0 bWAR this season:
- Kyle Schwarber (2.5)
- Harper (1.9)
- Derek Hill (1.5)
- Brandon Marsh (1.3)
That’s right, Derek Hill currently has more WAR than All Star Game starter Brandon Marsh.
So yes, Bryce Harper is correct. The Phillies do need help, and with an extended work stoppage wiping out part or all of the 2027 a real possibility, it’s incumbent upon the front office to do whatever is needed to give this roster a chance to win it all.
It’s also ridiculous Harper, or anyone else, needs Dave Dombrowski’s Trade Deadline moves to save them.
