Yes, Bryce Harper says, he was irked in October when Dave Dombrowski said this about him: \u201cHe didn\u2019t have an elite season like he has had in the past. And I guess we only find out if he becomes elite [again], or if he continues to be good.\u201d<\/p>\n
You might recall that the Phillies first baseman wore a wore a T-shirt that said \u201cNot elite,\u201d an image that went viral on social media over the holidays. That indicated that Harper was indeed affected by the Phillies president\u2019s comments.<\/p>\n
On Sunday in Clearwater, Fla., Harper got a chance to address the issue ahead of the Phillies\u2019 first full-squad workout of spring training today. \u201cFor Dave to come out and say those things, it\u2019s kind of wild to me still,\u201d Harper said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe big thing for me was, when we first met with this organization [in 2019] it was, \u2018Hey, we\u2019re always going to keep things in-house, and we expect you to do the same thing,\u2019\u201d he added. \u201cSo, when that didn\u2019t happen, it kind of took me for a run a little bit. I don\u2019t know.\u201d<\/p>\n
You don\u2019t air your dirty laundry in public, right? So might Harper use Dombrowski\u2019s critique as motivation? He says he\u2019s plenty motivated on his own, but don\u2019t be surprised if Harper channels all of this into an MVP-worthy season. Here\u2019s more from Scott Lauber. <\/a><\/p>\n Harper also weighed in on the criticism these days of the Dodgers and their record-setting payroll. He points out that Los Angeles is doing plenty more right than just buying players \u2014 \u201cthey draft, they develop, they do it the right way.\u201d In addition, he talked about the \u201cjuggernaut\u201d that is the NL East, expectations for a few Phillies rookies, and more. <\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Jim Swan, @phillysport<\/a>, sports.daily@inquirer.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n If someone forwarded you this email, sign up for free here<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u2753What kind of season do you expect out of Bryce Harper this year? Email us back for a chance to be featured in the newsletter<\/a>.<\/p>\n Did Nick Castellanos take a swipe at Rob Thomson? You decide. <\/p>\n Released last week, Castellanos signed a one-year deal with the San Diego Padres, but the Phillies will be paying the bulk of his $20 million salary. <\/a><\/p>\n Reporters talked to the outfielder Sunday at Padres camp in Peoria, Ariz., and Castellanos was effusive in his praise of new San Diego manager Craig Stammen, a 13-year veteran of the major leagues. \u201cHe\u2019s a player. He\u2019s done it,\u201d Castellanos said. \u201cHe\u2019s put on spikes. He\u2019s grinded. He\u2019s felt the feeling of success, and he\u2019s also felt the feeling of when the game doesn\u2019t go your way. There\u2019s a lot of respect in that.\u201d<\/p>\n Thomson never played in the majors. Here\u2019s what else Castellanos had to say. <\/a><\/p>\n Now that Tyrese Maxwey knows what it takes to win the three-point shooting contest during NBA All-Star Weekend, the Sixers point guard says he\u2019d like to try again. Maxey was eliminated after the first round Saturday night as Portland\u2019s Damian Lillard captured the title. <\/p>\n \u201cI just wanted to see what it was going to be like my first time,\u201d Maxey said. \u201cI\u2019ll definitely come back and try to win it, for sure.\u201d<\/a><\/p>\n Maxey had better luck in the All-Star Game, which actually was a three-team tournament. Minnesota Timberwolves star Anthony Edwards was named MVP of the Stars team, which included Maxey and cruised to the championship<\/a>. <\/p>\n Isabeau Levito\u2019s Olympic chance is here at last and the 18-year-old skater from South Jersey says she wants to enjoy every minute at the Milan and Cortina Winter Games. \u201cAnd obviously skating my best,\u201d she says, \u201cbut I can already feel like I will. So that\u2019s really what I\u2019m really striving for.\u201d Ellen Dunkel profiles Levito as she prepares for the short program on Tuesday. <\/a><\/p>\n Here\u2019s today\u2019s TV schedule for the Olympics. <\/a><\/p>\n The Union are set to begin their 2026 season on Wednesday with a Concacaf Champions Cup match at Defence Force F.C. in Port of Spain, Trinidad (6 p.m., FS2).<\/p>\n Here\u2019s everything you need to know about their season, from offseason newcomers to this year\u2019s competitions to how to watch all of it. <\/a><\/p>\n Goalkeeper Andre Blake is beginning his 13th season with the Union. He has to be wondering whether he\u2019ll ever win a title here or make the World Cup with Jamaica. <\/a><\/p>\n The Union showed off their \u201cworld-class facility\u201d in Chester last week in a tournament featuring some top soccer academies from Europe. <\/a><\/p>\n NFL sources say the Eagles are considering trading receiver A.J. Brown, even though such a trade would carry severe salary-cap ramifications; about $16 million, minimum.<\/p>\n Trading him would be crazy.<\/p>\n The Eagles should not even entertain offers for Brown. He is 28. He is driven. He is dedicated. He is irreplaceable. He\u2019s spent the last four years making quarterback Jalen Hurts look good. That\u2019s got to count for something. More from Marcus Hayes. <\/a><\/p>\n Sports snapshot<\/p>\n On this date<\/p>\n Feb. 16, 1970: Smokin\u2019 Joe Frazier won the world heavyweight title with a fifth-round knockout of Jimmy Ellis at Madison Square Garden in New York.<\/p>\n We compiled today\u2019s newsletter using reporting from Scott Lauber, Lochlahn March, Gina Mizell, Ellen Dunkel, Marcus Hayes, Jonathan Tannenwald, Owen Hewitt, Ryan Mack, and Matt Breen. <\/p>\n By submitting your written, visual, and\/or audio contributions, you agree to The Inquirer\u2019s Terms of Use<\/a>, including the grant of rights in Section 10.<\/p>\n Thanks for reading Sports Daily. I\u2019ll see you in Tuesday\u2019s newsletter. \u2014 Jim<\/p>\n