Bryce Harper’s return to Nationals lineup ends odd week, but not providing answers

Lurking behind the weekend dismissal of Jonathan Papelbon was a strange seven days for Washington Nationals right fielder Bryce Harper.

Following an 0-for-3 night with three strikeouts Aug. 6, his average dipped to its lowest point this season, a dismal .233. Harper is not the first player to see his average walk the plank a season after success, but the youngest unanimous MVP in history finished that night 97 points below his average from last season. The numbers had dwindled for months and he cringed after a swing that evening.

Harper did not play the next day or the one after. He missed five consecutive games because of what the team called a “stiff neck.” Each day he didn’t play, manager Dusty Baker had to work with constricted bench options. The Nationals hoped Harper’s neck would feel sudden relief, Baker explained. That meant they did not want to put him on the 15-day disabled list in case he popped up ready one morning before his sidelined time was up.

So, they waited.

Harper received treatment, including cupping therapy, a suction technique to help with pain, inflammation and blood flow that was vaulted into the public eye last week by the dark circles dotting Olympic swimmer Michael Phelps.

Then Friday, Tom Verducci of Sports Illustrated cited an anonymous source and wrote that Harper had a previously undisclosed shoulder problem that was affecting his power. Verducci first wrote about the 23-year-old Harper at length when Sports Illustrated put Harper on the cover as a 16-year-old prodigy.

Verducci’s report spurred Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo to quickly talk to reporters Friday afternoon at Nationals Park. He immediately refuted the information.

“Well, Tom Verducci is wrong,” Rizzo said then. “I just asked Bryce Harper and the training staff and our medical staff. He hasn’t had a right shoulder injury. He’s got a stiff neck. Yes, with cupping and yes with [Active Release Therapy], he and about 14 or 15 other players on the team on a routine basis, like we always do. The report is inaccurate.”

Harper did not play Friday or Saturday. When the initial lineup for Sunday’s 9-1 win against the Atlanta Braves was distributed, Harper was not in it. About 45 minutes later, he was hitting third in a revamped lineup.

“I was going to give him another day, but he came in and he told me he wanted to play,” Baker said. “I told him, ’No.’ Then he told me, ’Please.’ How do you tell a grown man [no] who says so politely that he wants to play? So, I put him back in the lineup. He actually sounded like a little kid when he said it.”

Harper said he felt well enough to help the team win Sunday. So, he asked to play.

“That was the biggest thing,” Harper said. “Was able to have a couple good ABs and have some success. Felt pretty good.”

He doubled to left field in his first at-bat for his lone hit of the day. He also scored twice, walked once and threw one of his common cannon shots to third from right field, which makes Baker think Harper will continue to play on the upcoming road trip.

“He’s good to go,” Baker said. “So, he cut that ball loose trying to throw out [Ender] Inciarte at third base. That was a great indicator that he had no apprehension about throwing or anything. Evidently, his neck is feeling better.”

After the game, Harper was provided a chance to address how he felt, Verducci’s report and his current pain level. He elaborated on none of the topics.

Asked what felt better today that allowed him to play, Harper said:

“Like I said, being able to come in, told Dusty I think I’d be able to help the team win today. I didn’t want to be in there if I didn’t think I could help the team. Was trying to do the best thing for this organization, for the team, that’s what I tried to do today.”

Asked directly if Verducci’s report was inaccurate, Harper said:

“I thought coming into today, I was able to help the team win and that’s what I want to do.”

Asked if he is pain-free, Harper said:

“I think coming in here, if I can help the team win and do everything possible to do that and play to the best of my ability, I think I’ll be OK. Like I said, I wouldn’t be in the lineup if I couldn’t help the team. I wasn’t earlier in the week. Today, I felt good, told them I could play and that’s what we’re going to do.”

With that, he was done answering questions and resumed packing.