Maybe Bryce Harper is trying too hard to impress the team he grew up cheering for.
Saturday afternoon, Harper had a platinum sombrero. For those unfamiliar with the rare term, that means he struckout five times in a game.
Harper had the opportunity to tie or win the game in the 14th inning when the Washington Nationals and the New York Yankees were locked into a good battle.
The Yankees had taken the lead in the top of the inning on a Mark Teixeira two-run double.
With runners on first and second and two outs, Harper stepped up to the plate eager to be a hero.
He did not strikeout, but he grounded out on the first pitch, ending the game.
Talks about the possibility of the Yankees getting Harper, after his contract is done in Washington, have began circulating.
He is only 19-years old and will become a free agent by the time he is 26.
On his first face-to-face auditions, Harper has struggled.
Yankee pitchers have had their way with the rookie phenom. So far he has gone 1-11 in two games and has totaled six strikeouts.
Harper is a competitive player. Nothing would mean more to him than beating the best team in the history of sports, which he idolized.
He did not hit well, but he flashed some leather in the outfield and made a great diving catch.
With the last game of the series on Sunday afternoon, look forward to seeing how Harper bouncing back from probably the biggest failure so far in his career.
With Harper's struggles in the last couple of days and the possibility that he might wear a Yankee uniform, the saying "If you can't beat them, join them," has never been more appropriate.
