Bryce Harper spending MLB lockout in most Philadelphia way possible

How is Bryce Harper spending the MLB lockout?

Bryce Harper might be locked out by the Philadelphia Phillies, but it’s not stopping him from spending his locked-out offseason in a very Philly way.

On Wednesday evening, the reigning NL MVP shared a snap to his Instagram Story of the film Invincible playing on his tv and tagged Vince Papale, Mark Whalberg, and the Philadelphia Eagles.

The 2006 sports drama stars Whalberg as Papale and tells his story of going from teacher to 30-year-old NFL rookie with the Eagles. He played wide receiver and special teams for the Eagles from 1976-79, when a shoulder injury ended his career.

While the filmmakers took many dramatic liberties with Papale’s story, the theme of perseverance is one that Harper would understandably gravitate to. There’s also a bitter irony to one of baseball’s biggest stars sitting at home watching inspiring sports movies while miserly owners try to pinch every penny.

While the Eagles won their first-ever Super Bowl championship in 2017, the Phillies haven’t even reached the postseason since 2011. Signing Harper in 2019 to what was at the time the richest contract in North American pro sports history was supposed to usher in a new era of glory for one of baseball’s oldest clubs.

Harper has made his preference for collective team success over personal achievement abundantly clear, especially during his MVP season. And when he won the award, he only said he was “hungry” for more.

What do the Phillies need to do this offseason to contend in 2022?

Of course, if Harper wants more, he can’t do it alone, as evidenced by the fact that his MVP season wasn’t enough to propel the Phillies into the postseason. The front office needs to build a winning team around him.

Maybe the scouts should look around the sandlots for a teacher who throws 95 mph.