Is Bryce Harper The Phillies 1st Baseman Going Forward? Jayson Stark Shares His Thoughts
When the Phillies signed Bryce Harper, no one would have told you he would be playing first base. At least not this early in his career here. But Tommy John’s…
Bryce Harper #3 of the Philadelphia Phillies catches the ball for an out against the Miami Marlins during the ninth inning at loanDepot park on August 01, 2023 in Miami, Florida.
(Photo by Megan Briggs/Getty Images)When the Phillies signed Bryce Harper, no one would have told you he would be playing first base. At least not this early in his career here. But Tommy John's surgery has kept him out of the outfield this year until he can get to the point he can make those long throws again. So for now, they have him playing first base, and he has been very good at it. He is not just occasionally making exceptional plays, but he also makes all the instinctual plays as if he has been playing first base for years now.
This has people asking, could this be the permanent thing going forward? Jayson Stark joined The Best Show Ever this week and shared his thoughts on that question.
"I asked Dave (Dombrowski) if it is possible that Bryce Harper's future is not in the outfield, that he is actually going to be their 1st basemen of the future. And I was surprised that he didn't say no. He said they have not had the conversation yet, but it is possible. He also went on and said he does not care where Bryce plays, because of his bat and his baseball IQ."
So at the very least, they are considering it. And it could be their best option. Because as Jayson Stark went on to discuss, the Phillies have a major logjam in the outfield.
"They have a lot of outfielders. Schwarber is locked in here for two more years. Castellanos is locked in here for 3 more years. They obviously love Marsh, they really love Johan Rojas. Justin Crawford is one of their best prospects. And they kind of like what they have in Pache..."
There is not room for everybody. If Harper moves back to the outfield, that means they would have to choose between Marsh, Rojas, and Pache in Center going forward. They could continue to platoon there, but you would probably prefer to have an everyday guy. And while it is down the line a bit still, Crawford could complicate that situation further in a few years.
It is nice for once to finally have an abundance of outfielders. Its a position the Phillies have struggled to develop in the past. But it does make for some difficult choices. And Bryce Harper playing 1st could make that choice a little easier as it would open up one of the corner outfield spots. Which is why for now, the Phillies are keeping their options open.
"But they also have options. Alec Bohm could slide to first base. Suppose Aaron Nola leaves, they may have to trade from their outfield depth to find a starter, a Corbin Bunes kind of guy. Rhys Hoskins is looking for a 1-year type deal somewhere, he could plug that hole at 1st. I think they are leaving their options open. But if you peer into the future, I don't see how Bryce Harper is not their 1st baseman at some point."
You can listen to the full conversation with Jayson Stark below:
The Best Show Ever Is Asking For Your Helping Getting Local Teachers the Supplies They Need:
The Teachers Of The Delaware Valley Need Our Help
As the '23-'24 school year approaches, thousands of teachers in the Delaware Valley will face the annual struggle of securing supplies for their classrooms. It's not uncommon for them to spend a fair amount of their own money on basic supplies. Things like pencils, markers, whiteboards, and notebooks. The things we would all think of as essentials for a functioning classroom.
According to a 2021 survey published in Yahoo Finance!, teachers spend about $750 on average every year on classroom supplies. Much of that cost comes to help kick off the school year. And the prices of these supplies continue to go up, while teacher salaries stay the same.
We'd like to ease the burden with your help. We asked our Fanatic listeners who are teachers to submit a wish list so we could help them start the year off strong. But we could use your help making sure each of them get the supplies they need. Every little bit can help. Even if you can just help them buy one item for $1, we appreciate any support you can give.
Check out the list of Fanatic listeners/teachers below who have each submitted a Wish List filled with basic teaching necessities.
Aaryn Snyder
Schuylkill Valley Elementary
Amy Pekarchik
Leap Academy in Camden, NJ
6th Grade Math
Breanna Miller
James J. Sullivan Elementary School
Reading Specialist
Caitlin Bedesem
MaST Community Charter School III
Carla Drabik
Benjamin Franklin Middle School in Levittown, PA
7th Grade Math
Cayla Maratea
James R. Ludlow Elementary School in Phila, PA
Kindergarten
Christine O'Connor
Richey Elementary School in Newport, DE
Reading Specialist, Grades K-5
Connie McHugh
Neil Armstrong MS in Fairless Hills, PA
7th grade ELA teacher
Dina Hurwitz
Greenberg School in Phila, PA
1st Grade
Kathryn Eagle
E B Barth Elementary in Pottstown
1st Grade
Eileen Rafferty
Samuel Smith Elementary in Burlington City, NJ
Sally Foose
Rupert Elementary School & Franklin Elementary School in Pottstown, PA
PreK-4th Grade, General Music & Choir
Gina Terefenko
Holbein Middle School in Mount Holly, NJ
5th & 6th Grade Math and Reading to Special Ed
Laurie Gresko
Rupert Elementary School in Pottstown, PA
Hannah Hubbs
Gilbert Spruance Elementary School in Phila, PA
Kindergarten
Brooke Hughes
Hanby Elementary School in Wilmington, DE
1st grade
Jennifer LaMantia
Mother of Divine Grace in Phila, PA
3rd Grade
Josetta LaFaver
Northeast Middle School (Reading School District)
Kerri Garrity
Saint Mary Magdalen in Media, PA
6th-8th Grade Math
Kerri Ward
MaST Community Charter School III in Phila, PA
Kristie Dappolone
Maude Wilkins Elementary in Maple Shade, NJ
2nd Grade
Luke Dougan
G.W. Childs in Phila, PA
Maria Resinski
Good Shepherd Catholic Regional in Glenside, PA
Megan Jones
Watson Comly Elementary in Phila, PA
Michael McHugh
Harry S Truman High School in Levittown, PA
Patricia Bogda
Battle Hill Elementary in Union, NJ
3rd Grade
Rachel Peixoto
Antonia Pantoja Charter School in Phila, PA
Sherry Stockmal
Spring-Ford Area School District
Taylor Butler
Winslow Twp School District
2nd-3rd Grade Special Ed
Thomas Negron
Multicultural Academy Charter School in Phila, PA
Algebra 1
Timothy Smallwood
Hill Top Preparatory School in Bryn Mawr, PA
Phys Ed
William Kerr
Gertrude C. Folwell Elementary in Mt. Holly, NJ
Michelle Carter
St. James Regional Catholic School in Ridley Park, PA
Maria Shadle
St. Andrew School in Newtown, PA
Colleen Corcoran
Jefferson Elementary
Lauren Buckley
Lakeview Elementary School in Ridley Park, PA
Kelsey Hultz
Rupert Elementary in Pottstown, PA
Katharine Webb
Freire Charter Middle School in Phila, PA
Taylor Honert
Montgomery County Intermediate Unit in Norristown, PA
Reynalda Campbell
Mastery Charter Mann Elementary in Phila, PA
Lizzy Hoenigke
John Wister Elementary in Germantown
Keri Cooper
Billingsport School in Paulsboro, NJ
Elizabeth Hagmayer
Southampton Township School #2 in Southampton Township, NJ
Hope Weiner
Chester A. Arthur Elementary School in Phila, PA
Melissa Dugan
Elwyn Davidson School in Media, PA
Melanie Hansley
Tyson Schoener Elementary School in Reading, PA
Tara Johnson
Voorhees Middle School
Kayla Murray
Rupert Elementary School in Pottstown, PA
Kristyn Yost
Francis Willard Elementary School in Phila, PA
Jennifer Bolling
Glenwood Avenue Elementary School in Wildwood, NJ
Amanda Haney
Emlen Elementary, School District of Philadelphia
Sandy McHugh
Early Learning Academy
Samantha Miller
Riverton Elementary School in Riverton, NJ
Chrissy Griffoni
Dr. Henry H. Davis Family School, Camden City, NJ
8th Grade ELA Teacher
Candy Marchant
Franklin Towne High School
Math
Marlena Ruser
Coatesville Area School District at Rainbow Elementary
2nd Grade
Bo Shappell
Daniel Boone Area High School
Health & PE Teacher
Ashley Bellevou
Rupert Elementary in Pottstown, PA
Helen Lam
Greenberg Elementary, The School District of Philadelphia
1st Grade Teacher
Jacinda Bartolucci
Rupert Elementary School
Kindergarten Teacher, Pottstown, PA
Tiffany Cunningham
John H. Webster, Phila, PA
MaryEllen Gresko
St. Jude School in Chalfont, PA
5th Grade
Mollie Taylor
Potter Thomas Elementary School, Phila, PA
Jenna Winchenbach
Tracy Elementary School in Raston, PA
Angela Cianchetta
Northeast Middle School in Reading, PA
Chelsea Williams
J.P McCaskey High School, Lancaster School District
Brian Morris
Samuel S. Fels High School in the Philadelphia School District, Music Director
Nichole Brown
Arthur P. Schalick High School in Pittsgrove, NJ, Grades 9-12 Multiple Disabilities
Stephanie McDonald
John S. Clarke Elementary Center in Pottsville, PA, Special Education
Lynn Mills
Charles Street School in Palmyra, NJ, Kindergarten
Raichl Davenport
William Penn Charter, Phila PA, 5th Grade
Renay Langley
Willow Hill, 6th grade teacher
Jessica Nicholls
Phila, PA
