Misspoke or Malicious?

This week comments that the Phillies President of Baseball Operations Dave Dombrowski made 4 months ago are coming back into light. He stated that Bryce Harper did not have an elite season and may never be that elite player again. Obviously, when spring training started the other day everyone wanted to get Bryce Harper’s reaction.

He said what probably anyone would say, that he was taken aback by that comment and did not like it coming out in public as it did.

Here is the thing, Bryce Harper’s asking for an extension back in 2024 was made public by him and his agent. Bryce wanting to sign Trea Turner was made public, Bryce telling the organization to sign J.T. Realmuto was made public, hom wearing the not elite t-shirt and posting it on social media was public. All these moments were by Bryce kinda forcing management’s hand.

Personally,  I believe Dave Dombrowski just gave a bad answer. I don’t feel it was malicious or to motivate.  I believe so because of how quickly Dave Dombrowski apologized to Bryce privately and publicly.  In theory the issue should have been over at that moment. The reporters were just doing thier jobs by asking Bryce of his thoughts. Bryce could have ended the media circus over this in a simple sentence. “We discussed it, he apologized for the comment, he didn’t mean it as it came out and it happens to all of us.” Bang, done!

Instead, he is going on a media tour about it. Held an impromptu press conference at his locker, then went on a podcast, let alone the t-shirt posting.

You can’t say keep it in house when all you’re doing is the opposite and making it a distraction. Now not elite t-shirts will be seen in every stadium outside of Citizens Bank Park. 

We all make mistakes and put our foot in our mouth every now and then. It’s how we hold ourselves accountable after the fact that matters and either rights the ship or the ship runs into an iceberg.

Dombrowski apologized as he should have. Bryce on the other hand is looking right at that ice berg.