Bryce Harper 'Can't Remember Something Like This In My Career' amid Phillies' 8-Game Losing Streak
There is a first time for everything, even for a 15-year Major League Baseball veteran.
"I can't remember something like this in my career," Philadelphia Phillies star Bryce Harper said Thursday when discussing the team's eight-game losing streak, per ESPN's Jesse Rogers. "We got to get through it. Obviously, we don't want to be where we are right now.
"I think you could probably tell me better if we have been through this, or other teams that I've played with have been through this, but I know teams that have been through this and been through the mud a little bit and still climbed out of it. Yeah, we got to do it."
Philadelphia finished 96-66 last season and cruised to a National League East title. The New York Mets finished in second place, a full 13 games behind the division champs.
But it has been a season to forget for both of the division rivals in the early going thus far.
New York just snapped its own 12-game losing streak Wednesday with a victory over the Minnesota Twins, and Philadelphia will take its eight-game losing streak into Thursday's series finale against the Chicago Cubs.
"I think people should feel what it feels like," Harper said. "Obviously, you don't want to just sit here and just say, 'Oh, hey, let's turn the page immediately.' You got to know what it feels like and get through it. You got to get through the mud sometimes and weather the storm a little bit."
The losing streak started against the Cubs on April 14 and then continued through a series against the Atlanta Braves. The Phillies have also lost the first three in the four-game set at Wrigley Field, marking the second time in three series they have gone up against Chicago.
The Cubs also handed the Mets three of their 12 losses during their losing streak.
Harper, who is a two-time MVP and eight-time All-Star, has been solid but unspectacular in 24 games this season with a .261/.350/.511 slash line, five home runs and 13 RBI.
It is hard to blame him for the team's poor performance, but he is certainly someone Philadelphia is counting on to help snap the slump.
While it is still very early in the season, the Phillies are 8.5 games behind the Braves in the National League East. There is plenty of time to make up the ground, but that will become far more difficult if the deficit continues to expand.
