3 reasons Phillies should embrace playoff rematch with Braves, 1 they shouldn’t

Should the Phillies hope to face the familiar postseason foe again this year?

The Philadelphia Phillies have faced the Atlanta Braves in the NLDS two postseasons in a row
The Philadelphia Phillies have faced the Atlanta Braves in the NLDS two postseasons in a row | Tim Nwachukwu/GettyImages
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Two words: Orlando Arcia 

The Phillies should welcome the exciting drama and entertainment that has been stirred up by Braves infielder Orlando Arcia. The rivalry between the Phillies and Braves has always been there, but it probably picked up steam big time after the "Atta Boy Harper" incident from last season’s NLDS. For those needing a reminder, Arcia coined that phrase to mock Phillies’ superstar Bryce Harper after Harper made a crucial base-running error that led to him being doubled off to end Game 2 of the series.

Nevertheless, Harper and the Phillies got the last laugh in the end as the star first baseman came back in the very next game to deliver two big home run blasts to power Philadelphia to victory. And each time, Harper showed up Arcia by giving him the now famous staredown as he rounded the bases. 

In case people thought that was the end of it, just recently, Arcia was at it again in a game against the Phillies on Aug. 21. During the fourth inning, Arcia hit a 387-foot homer off Phillies’ starter Aaron Nola. As he rounded the bases, he stared down Harper, hoping to return the favor to the Phillies’ first baseman. 

As a result, for those that want to see what more theatrics Arcia can pull out of his sleeve and how it will end, stay tuned if the Phillies and Braves rekindle this October for some must-watch baseball. Wouldn’t it be great to see the Phillies stick it to Arcia and the Braves as they eliminate them once again from the postseason?

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