PHILLY SPORTS CORNER- PHILLIES

- More Bryce Harper..

- Harper will wear # 3 with the Phillies. Nice gesture not to wear his 34, as Hall of Famer Roy Halliday wore 34 and it may be retired by the Phils down the road. The last Phillie tow ear 3 was Jeff Francour in 2016. There's a long list of Phillies to have worn 3, most borderline major league players. The most noted was Hunter Pence . Others tow ear 3? Allen Iverson and Babe Ruth. Harper jerseys go on sale today after the 2pm news conference.

- Harper idolized Mickey Mantle. Ironically, Mantle retired 50 years ago to the day Harper signed with Philadelphia. The Mick had two bad knees and a bad back. He just couldn't do it anymore. Mantle was great but probably would've been even greater if he didn't have the chronic injuries.

- Harper will make $5,000 each time he steps to the plate this season. My friend Syeve Trevelise jokes "What if Harper keeps stepping in and out of the batters box?" Cha-ching!

- Reports are that Harper has been texting recently with Mike Trout and Steelers' running back Levion Bell. It's great that Harper is recruiting players in all sports to join him in Philly. I would love to have both. Fans are going nuts now with Harper ( 180,000 tickets sold in less than 48 hours since the signing0- imagine Trout in Philadelphia?

- One negative; Harper is a Cowboy fan  ( since age 5). Hopefully he attends a few Eagles games next fall, hooks up with Trout, and abandons Dallas for the Birds.

- My only fear this season is Manager Gabe Kapler. Don't over-think things, Gabe. Don't screw it up. Don't over-manage. Less analytics. Less shifting. Less stupid bullpen moves. Less late-inning surprise moves whereas he runs out of players and is forced to pitch position players in extra innings.

- What song will Harper walk to the plate to? If it's a Beatle song, I say "Money (that's what I want)." Steve Trevelise  says "Carry That Weight."

- Looks like Harper will play right field. But is Andrew McCuthen a better right fielder? Tickets in the right field stands at Citizens Bank Park are selling out fast and are going for six times the normal price on the secondary market. If Harper does move to left field, chances are most of his home runs will end up in the right field stands.

- Apparently the over/under totals on Harper and how many home runs he hits this season are set at 33. I would go over. At CBP he should hit at least 40.

- The Phillies were a good team before Harper. Now they have the potential to be great. Not only does he make the team better and may be the missing piece to put them over the top, Harper's presence for the next 13 years- through MVP seasons, championship seasons- should entice other free agents to join the Phillies and win a ring or two.

- The only disaster that can happen is injury. No one can predict that. luck will have a lot to do with this contract. Staying healthy will be key for Harper. He is only 26 and should just be  entering his prime years. By the time he is older, either moving him to first base could be an option 9 we will deal with where Rhys Hoskins plays some other time), or maybe the Designated Hitter will be in the National League.  Nothing to worry about now, least of all not to dampen the excitement of the moment and years to come. Savor it and enjoy it, as phillies' fans have suffered long enough.

- Owner John Middleton was treated like a rock star in Clearwater yesterday during the Phillies Grapefruit league game. Fans were asking for autographs and thanking the owner again and again. Middleton deserves it. With that one move he not only changed the direction of his ball club and also changed the perception of ownership. When he spoke of spending "stupid money" he lived up to his word. Middleton wasn't all-talk and no action.He not only instantly made the Phillies contenders for the foreseeable future, he locked in excitement and fun for Philly baseball fans. i have no doubt not that Middleton won't stop here but will continue to spend and especially will seeking the Big Fish in two years- Mike Trout.