Bryce Harper’s titanic home run Saturday lifted the Washington Nationals back into their NLDS. His importance to the team goes well beyond his years.
When the Washington Nationals needed him most Saturday, Bryce Harper delivered in spades. His one-legged moonshot off Carl Edwards tied Game 2 of the National League Divisional Series at three.
After Ryan Zimmerman’s blast to left gave the Nats a 6-3 bulge, the Chicago Cubs went from heavy favorites to equal within ten minutes. As you have heard before, baseball is a cruel mistress.
The impact of Harper’s heroics cannot be understated. Still 24, younger than New York Yankees slugger Aaron Judge, Harper plays with the poise of a player ten years older. You know his knee is not fully recovered, but you cannot tell. He will not let you.
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The signs of progress started last Sunday when he sped from first to home on a double down the right field line. Helmet flying, even the well-coiffed hair was in place. If you could pick someone out of central casting, Harper is the one.
The first 17 innings of the series had been an offensive nightmare, Harper included. Between being too passive Friday and too aggressive at the dish Saturday, the game and series were slipping away.
You will need to ask Edwards about hanging a curve on a 3-1 count, but he did. And, oh boy, Harper made him pay for that mistake. It awoke a sleepy 43-thousand-plus crowd and rattled a steady Cubs bullpen and manager. The timelessness of playoff baseball stung Chicago courtesy of Harper.
By the time Chicago gathered their thoughts, the game was over. A deadlocked series with the hometown facing Max Scherzer on Columbus Day afternoon in a pivotal Game 3. About time the angst gets shared.
In order for a mistake to pay off, you must take advantage. Harper did. He let his bat do the talking and changed the momentum of October. Mixed with Zimmerman, momentum changed uniforms buying a hot dog.
Were you surprised? You should not be.
The 2015 NL Most Valuable Player has the skill set to carry this team on his back. Big home runs and clutch hits are a key reason the division race ended when it did. Harper was injured, but his contributions were recorded on the books.
There is no secret Harper wants to play in a championship environment. He is a player who will turn down the biggest money offer in free agency to play on a championship-ready team. No, hometown discount should not enter your mind as his worth will earn him over $40 million.
But, one gets the sense he understands his role in earning a World Series ring. The confidence he was mocked for earlier in the national press is an asset.
Next: Clutch kabooms saves Nats
The Nats are strong enough to shoulder the burden between players, but Harper’s mental abilities makes them dangerous now. As any leader does.