Dawkins on Bryce: He's another rock star

CLEARWATER, Fla. -- It started with the Phillies, Brian Dawkins said.

The Philadelphia Eagles legend arrived at Spectrum Field early Saturday morning with challenges in mind. Phillies manager Gabe Kapler invited Dawkins to speak to his players after listening to him motivate the organization’s top prospects in January at Citizens Bank Park. Dawkins spoke for about 30 minutes, like only Dawkins can speak -- enthusiastically and emotionally. He talked about responsibility, sacrifice, work ethic and being the best versions of themselves.

Dawkins then reminded the Phillies that they had a parade down Broad Street in 2008, his first taste of ultimate victory in Philadelphia.

“That feeling, that sense that it could happen, it started here,” Dawkins said. “Like the so-called curse was knocked off Philadelphia. It started here. Understand that. But in order to get what you’ve never got, you’ve got to do what you’ve never done.”

“We were all ready to run through the brick wall,” Rhys Hoskins said.

Dawkins can motivate. He is persuasive. It is why the Phillies included him in a video during their recruiting pitch to Harper in January in Las Vegas. It is why they had him address the crowd before Harper made his Phillies debut in a Grapefruit League game against the Blue Jays on Saturday.

Dawkins wore a red Phillies jersey. No. 20. It had “Dawkins” above the number. It had “Schmidt” below it.

“He’s another rock star, right?” Dawkins said about Harper. “But you know it’s not just the guy, it’s the talent. You can see it. I saw that. I’m pretty sure the baseball-savvy individual knows it more than I do that he’s a phenomenal, once-in-a-generation type of player. So he’ll come here with his teammates and bond. That’s one of the things I challenged them with, truly bond with one another, so that they can go and give this Philly base something to really cheer about.”

Dawkins sees some football player in Harper, too.

“His emotions,” Dawkins said, when asked why he likes Harper. “That’s one of the things that drew me to him. His emotions. The way he plays with his emotions. Some people don’t like it. I guess there’s an unwritten rule in baseball, certain things you’re not supposed to do. He challenges those things, stepping outside, playing the way I would think a football player would play, if they had a chance to go out there and play and they weren’t all of a sudden held back by certain rules or whatnot. That’s what I see.”

And Dawkins' advice to Harper about playing in Philly?

“Just be him,” Dawkins said. “You’ve seen what he is. You’ve seen the energy that he plays with. He doesn’t throw guys under the bus. He doesn’t blame other people for the mistakes that happen on the clay out there. That’s what Philly is. If you go out and do what you’re supposed to do when it comes to those things and don’t blame other people for your mistakes and you take responsibility for things, they’ll love you.

“You have to be able to filter stuff. You have to be able to have a strong mindset when it comes to those things. And when you get older, you have a better understanding of, 'If I didn’t run out to first base and they booed me, well, yeah, you didn’t run out to first base.' You think they’re going to clap? Yeah, they’re going to boo you. If you understand that, if you don’t do what you’re supposed to do and you continue to not do what you’re supposed to do, they’re going to boo you. But if you go out, make a mistake and then correct that mistake and you ball out, they’re not going to boo you for that. Some of this is kind of common sense, and that I think people just want to pile on Philadelphia about.”

Jake the Snake

Jake Arrieta ran up a high pitch count in the second inning of Saturday's 8-7 loss to the Blue Jays, forcing him to throw about 15 pitches in the bullpen to finish his work. He allowed three hits, two runs and one walk in 1 2/3 innings. He struck out three.

Arrieta hit 94 mph on the ballpark radar gun several times. His fastball averaged 92.9 mph last season.

Arrieta was asked about free agent Dallas Keuchel, who remains unsigned. A source said recently that the Phillies are not expected to sign him, unless they can get him on a one-year deal.

“I would love to have him here,” Arrieta said. “He’d make us better. That’s for sure. No question about it.”

It's all good

Blue Jays pitcher Matt Shoemaker knocked down Hoskins with a pitch in the third inning after Hoskins crushed a two-run homer over the tiki bar in the first. Hoskins said something to Shoemaker, who signaled for Hoskins to get back into the batter’s box.

They cleared the air after the inning.

“A little emotion,” Hoskins said. “Obviously, just flashbacks from last year a little bit. Everybody gets competitive. I tried to tell their first-base coach and [first baseman Justin Smoak] that, 'Hey, I know he’s not trying to hit me. Pass that along for me. It’s all good.'”

Postgame moves

The Phillies optioned infielder Arquimedes Gamboa and right-hander Adonis Medina to Double-A Reading. Philadelphia reassigned Infielder Malquin Canelo, catcher Deivy Grullon, first baseman/outfielder Austin Listi, outfielder Mickey Moniak and left-hander JoJo Romero. There are 55 players remaining in Major League camp.

Up next
Aaron Nola, who will make his second consecutive Opening Day start later this month, faces the Orioles at 1:05 p.m. ET in Sarasota on Sunday. Josh Rogers will pitch for the O's.