The Craziest Part of the "Atta Boy Harper" Atlanta Braves Situation

In Game 2 of the NLDS, the Atlanta Braves beat the Philadelphia Phillies 5-4 thanks to a baserunning mistake by Phillies outfielder, Bryce Harper, who made a baserunning error getting caught between first and second base for the final out of the game after Nick Castelonnos hit one to the moon and Braves outfielder, Michael Harris, went into his shuttle and caught the moon ball.

Michael Harris makes an unreal catch & doubles up Harper to end the game!!!pic.twitter.com/kHK7iHjVn0

— Prospect Dugout (@prospectdugout) October 10, 2023

According to the Washington Post, Braves shortstop, Orlando Arcia was heard celebrating in the locker room shouting “Atta boy, Harper.”

Not the biggest deal ever. The Braves won a playoff game and players celebrated. Seems common.

Unfortunately, that “atta boy” quote went directly to Bryce Harper.

Here was his response in Game 3:

BRYCE HARPER THREE-RUN HR ‼️

PHILLY GOES UP 4-1 IN GAME 3 pic.twitter.com/TFU2vcHH44

— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) October 11, 2023

2 homers
4 RBIs
2 staredowns at Orlando Arcia as he jogged around the bases

What should’ve been a cool baseball moment was immediately ruined by the Braves turning themselves into victims, sobbing about the sanctity of the locker room and how they were robbed of their privacy when reporters dared to publish the words they chose to say around reporters.

“He wasn’t supposed to hear.”

Orlando Arcia discusses his comments made about Bryce Harper in the clubhouse after Game 2: pic.twitter.com/n9U3PS3sVr

— NBC Sports Philadelphia (@NBCSPhilly) October 12, 2023

Here’s what Braves catcher, Travis D’Arnaud, said about the Harper quote:

“The clubhouse is a sanctuary. I think that when things like that get out, it doesn’t make people want to talk to the media at all. It affects the people who have been great to us all year, and it is what it is.”

Damn the media for listening to them and saying the things they heard which is pretty much their whole ass job.

So yes, we could talk about how the Braves are gigantic babies or we can debate what journalists given access to professional locker rooms should and should not be allowed to include in their final stories but there is something far funnier about this whole situation.

Bryce Harper is a fucking sicko.

All Arcia said was “atta boy” and Bryce Harper swatted two baseballs into the parking lot out of spite. Orlando Arcia wasn’t disrespectful. He didn’t call Bryce out of his name. Didn’t insult him. Didn’t cross any sort of personal line.

He made fun of him for making a mistake and Bryce Harper—a man who refuses to feel embarrassed—blacked out and had one of the best games of his postseason career solely because a guy on the other team said “lol, nice.”

Hitting a baseball is hard as hell. Hitting a baseball thrown by a major league pitcher is a nightmare. Hitting a baseball thrown by a major league pitcher in a playoff game with all eyes on you and the stakes at its highest is fucking impossible.

You play an excruciatingly long 162-game season only to be forced into a 3-game series with the Miami Marlins that you easily sweep just to go head-to-head with a historically dominant Atlanta Braves team that, on paper, has far more talent than what you have in your clubhouse.

You’re the star of the team. Any and all failures are placed on your shoulders. Every time you strike out, it’s magnified by a bajillion. The entire stadium stands to their feet when you step into the batter’s box. Your life will be hell if you don’t produce. You’re the highest-paid player on the team. There could not be more pressure on your shoulders.

All of that was erased from Bryce Harper’s mind when he heard someone say ‘atta boy’. This straight-up sicko transformed into the best baseball player ever because someone tried to make fun of him.

This is not a man who can be given any additional motivation or every baseball he sees turns into the size of beach balls and he’ll launch them into the clouds.

I cannot let this part of the story go unnoticed. Feel free to continue laughing at the Braves for their pearl-clutching and pretending like someone went through their garbage bags to find dirt on them but I will never forget the game where Bryce hit two homers because he heard an opposing player say “atta boy Harper”.