Hustling Harper Hobbled

Bryce Harper did his human pinball routine last night, not once, but twice sliding into the wall in right field to catch fly balls. He appeared to injure his knee and was limping, but convinced trainers he could stay in the game.

Harper has made a name for himself by playing every game like his hair is on fire. In his eight-year career, he's missed 166 games due to injury. That's more than a full season of missed games.

It's no secret that Harper is struggling to get hits. He went 0-2 last night with two walks, dropping his batting average to .219. He's just 7-42 this month, good for a .167 average and an OBP of .315. Between the offensive struggles and the crashing into walls, a day off or two might be in order.

But Phillies manager Gabe Kapler thinks otherwise. "Unless I have a good reason, or I think this is really going to serve him well, I’m not going to do it," Kapler told MLB.com. "It’s got to be rooted in something rational. I don’t have a good reason to not have him play tomorrow’s baseball game and the next day’s baseball game and the next day’s baseball game. He always gives us our best chance to win."

Harper has always had cold streaks as a hitter. Phillies fans are just getting to experience it first-hand.