GDT 10/23/22 San Diego Padres (Darvish) @ Philadelphia Phillies (Wheeler)

[phillychuck]

Watch Harper and how out of character he is after he hits the HR. It's as if he can't believe it himself. None of the usual bravado around the bases... His "Superman" motion with the Phillies logo on the uniform is subdued. I wonder if he was feeling wobbly-legged after the hit. It will be the biggest hit (possibly along with Rollins' double) of the 21st century Phillies' era.

[Philsmania]

The Harper home run set to the music from one of the most iconic scenes from Moneyball. Incredible
https://twitter.com/Phillies_Muse/status/1584336410751819776

I'm darned near bawling now.

[EastFallowfield]

Franzke and LA call Harper homer

[LoneStarPhan]

We so often see replays of a memorable home run during a players' at bat that I was momentarily questioning whether that just happened or was a replay from some other time. I'm telling myself that yes, this is real and just happened in this game.

[zambonir]

I felt the same way. I was in disbelief that it had even happened. Time froze and then the person next to me was hugging me.

Whereas the Vic and Matt Stairs hers in LA, I went absolutely nuts both times. Had a better view of those too I guess.

[Patchmk88]

Bryce Harper’s Game 5 Home Run Was a Master Class in Hitting

Cool analysis of Harper's at bat. It was the first time anyone hit a homerun off of Suarez's sinker all year.

[zambonir]

I haven't had the time or energy to really soak up all the post-game coverage but has there been much talk about the fact that Melvin didn't go to Hader there?

[schillingfan]

I read that San Diego fans went nuts on Twitter.

[EastFallowfield]

The bits of sports talk TV I watched yesterday had a lot of 'why no Hader' commentary.

Melvin said he was hoping for Hader for 4 outs, guess he's locked into the 'closer has to get the last out' mode of thinking, but if Hader really could only go for 4 outs I mighta had Harper be one of those and take my chances with another pitcher to get a couple outs from the bottom of the Phils' order.

(He also said they just came up one inning short when asked about their NLCS loss, which was weird when you only win once in a best of 7).

[andyb]

guess he's locked into the 'closer has to get the last out' mode of thinking,

Yep. He could have pitched Hader in the 8th and somebody else (or at least gone batter by batter in the 9th).

One of the most refreshing things about Thomson is his willingness to go to any arm to "close". Heck we had Nelson close a game because he was rested and the other options were not. Seranthony and Alvarado are being deployed against the most important parts of the opposition lineup. Sometimes they can go more than 3 outs. Often they can't. Score one for Thomson over Melvin here.

[VoteForKalas]

The Harper home run set to the music from one of the most iconic scenes from Moneyball. Incredible
https://twitter.com/Phillies_Muse/status/1584336410751819776

Imagine Harry making that HR call....

[VoteForKalas]

I haven't had the time or energy to really soak up all the post-game coverage but has there been much talk about the fact that Melvin didn't go to Hader there?

Yes, but Melvin's logic was pretty strong. Suarez had been excellent all season and as mentioned above no LHB had hit a HR off him all season. Hader had not completed 6 outs before and they needed Suarez to get 2 outs in the 8th before they would put Hader in to get the last 4 outs.

There has been some other discussion of walking Harper to get to Castellanos who is not very disciplined and would be more vulnerable to grounding into a double play. In essence, do not give the best player, Harper, the chance to beat you and go after the weaker hitter.

[el-pietro]

But that would involve 2 men on with no outs. Even if you get the DP then theres a man on third in a 1 run game. I think people are generally underestimating Robert Suarez. On the other hand Hader didn't pitch at all in the three games in Philadelphia.

[zambonir]

Yeah Robert Suarez is terrific, including against lefties, but he was in his second inning and had faced four batters and there was also the weather. I would have gone with the fresh arm and traditional platoon advantage and then seen what happened. But maybe they were afraid of Hader facing Castellanos and Bohm.

[VoteForKalas]

But that would involve 2 men on with no outs. Even if you get the DP then theres a man on third in a 1 run game. I think people are generally underestimating Robert Suarez. On the other hand Hader didn't pitch at all in the three games in Philadelphia.

Or a man on 1B with 2 outs....more than one way to get a double play

[el-pietro]

True, but its equally likely they get 1 or 0 outs.