Former Phillies closer Jonathan Papelbon criticized “shitshow” team and Bryce Harper in interview
An ex-Philadelphia Phillies player might be the only person not enjoying what’s going on with the team this summer.
In an exclusive interview with Betway Insider, 12-year MLB veteran Jonathan Papelbon discussed his former teams, the Red Sox and Phillies. He was especially critical of the latter, which is surprising given the Sox skid in July and the Phillies’ strong finish to the first half.
And yet, Papelbon doesn’t like what he sees:
"“Their pitching is okay, their bullpen is okay. But in order to be a good team and have a good postseason run, you have to have leadership. I don’t think the Phillies have any of that.It’s always been kind of chaotic in Philadelphia, with the fans, with the players, with the front office. It’s like a sh*tshow there. And, for me, I see the sh*tshow continuing. I mean, they fired their manager, what, two months into the season? As long as that stuff happens, Philadelphia will never win again. Philadelphia will never get back to the playoffs.”"
Has Papelbon actually watched the Phillies since Rob Thomson took over for Joe Girardi? Everyone praises Thomson for bringing a calming presence to the clubhouse. Rival managers endorsed him, the players adore him, the younger guys are flourishing, even the bullpen is doing well. Zack Wheeler and Aaron Nola should’ve been All-Stars, and Bryce Harper and Kyle Schwarber are. This team is far from “okay.”
They also currently have a tie for the third Wild Card spot, a position they’ve reached without the injured Harper and Jean Segura. They can strengthen their position in the league before the trade deadline, too.
Speaking of Harper, when asked about his former Nationals teammate, Papelbon essentially confirmed that he hasn’t been paying attention to the team:
"“I don’t necessarily see him being a huge leader of the team, because he was never really a leader when I played with him. He kind of went about his own business and more was a me-guy or an I-guy, and wasn’t really into what was happening in the clubhouse, and didn’t have that pull for the team.I don’t view him as a true leader but when he’s out it obviously takes a bat out of the lineup. Somebody’s going to have to step up for them. I don’t know who it may be. Schwarber is hitting some bombs this year, but it’s gonna take more than that.”"
Papelbon and Harper overlapped in Washington DC at the end of the former’s career. The franchise all-time saves leader made it clear he wanted out, so much so that at the end of this interview, he said it:
"“I wanted to get the hell out of Philadelphia.”"
So the Phillies dealt him across the division to the Nationals at the 2015 trade deadline. At the time, Harper was 22 years old and in the midst of his first NL MVP season. Papelbon was 12 years his senior, and they did not see eye to eye. By the end of the regular season, the pitcher didn’t like how the slugger had handled his late-game at-bat, and when Harper walked down the dugout steps, Papelbon seized him by the throat and slammed him into a wall.
While both described the incident as akin to brothers fighting, it’s far from a normal clubhouse dispute and hard to forget.
But Harper is not the same kid Papelbon knew back then. Now a 29-year-old father of two, he’s known in the clubhouse for his leadership. He speaks only of team success, not personal glory. When he won his second NL MVP award last fall, he only said he was hungry for a Phillies championship. When the Phillies honored him at the beginning of the season, he told the crowd, “let’s go have a party on Broad Street.” As in, a World Series parade.
Most importantly, Harper is a mentor to younger players, both in the clubhouse and in the minor leagues. He’s worked with Alec Bohm and Bryson Stott, and this week, reached out to the Phillies’ first-round pick, Justin Crawford. Those aren’t the actions of a man only concerned with himself.
All in all, Papelbon’s comments make it clear he’s not living in the present. He sounds like a former flame who initiated the breakup but isn’t happy to see their ex find greater happiness without him. From his derision of the Phillies during one of their best months since before he joined the team, to his outdated criticism of Harper, to the fact that he never even officially retired, this is a man stuck in the past.
The Phillies should only look forward.