Bryce Harper: “Our team is built for October”
The Phillies moved one win away from a World Series berth, though Bryce Harper made it clear their task is far from over.
Bryce Harper believes the Philadelphia Phillies have a team built for the postseason, but insisted their job is far from over after moving one win away from the World Series.
The Phillies took a 3-1 lead over the San Diego Padres in the National League Championship Series by coming from 4-0 down to claim a 10-6 win in Game 4 on Saturday at Citizens Bank Park. Philadelphia will have the chance to finish the job on Sunday in Game 5, with Harper in position to realise the ambition he had when he left the Washington Nationals for the Phillies in a blockbuster move in 2019.
“Anywhere you sign, you want the opportunity to get into the postseason, play late into October,” Harper said when asked what his expectations were upon his arrival in 2019. “I said it in my first Spring Training. It’s going to take us a couple years to get there, right? It’s going to take us a couple years to build this thing. It’s going to take a couple years to understand what our identity is and who we are and what we can do. I believe our team is built for October, I really do. I think we have three starters that are really, really good, and I think we have a great bullpen. Eighth and ninth inning, those two guys down there can go two innings plus for us. Just our lineup one through nine. I think our young guys have been really good for us this year. They stepped up, and our veterans as well. This is what we play for. This is what you work for each offseason and going into Spring Training, this is what you want to do.”
The Phillies will face a tough test on Sunday against Padres ace Yu Darvish, who allowed only three hits over seven innings in Game 1, though the two homers he surrendered proved decisive in a 2-0 defeat for San Diego. “I think we’re all just excited for the opportunity. I know I keep saying kind of the same thing, but we’re all just so grateful for the opportunity to be here,” added Harper. “I don’t think any of us are in shock, but to stand here and say that we’re grateful and understand that this opportunity is huge. We’re one of the last teams playing right now, and it’s really cool to see that. When you look at the scoreboard and you see two more, and you look at the scoreboard and nobody’s playing that day, just you, you’re grateful for the opportunity to be here. I think all of us, or myself, I wake up, and I’m just excited. I’m excited, and I’m grateful for the opportunity to come to the ballpark each day. I’m grateful for these fans, them showing out for us and how cool it is, how much fun it is. The job’s not done. We have a lot ahead of us. We have a really tough matchup tomorrow with Yu. We’re excited for that matchup. We’re excited for the opportunity, and just ready to get back tomorrow ready to go.”