Bryce Harper deserves a 'great ovation' from Nationals fans

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With Bryce Harper's first visit to Nationals Park since joining the Phillies looming, there's still uncertainty as to how Nationals fans will greet him during his first at-bat Tuesday night. 

But if you ask Tom Verducci, Harper deserves applause for his seven years of service in D.C. 

"I think it's gonna be mixed. He should receive a great ovation, the last seven years gave people a lot of thrills there, and I think first time up, he deserves to be thanked for the effort and the production that he gave Washington," Verducci told The Sports Junkies.

"After that he's a member of the Phillies, and you boo him like everybody else. But I understand it will be mixed. Part of it is people just like to be contrarian for something 'cool' about getting up there and booing. You get your picture on SportsCenter and have a dumb sign, I get that."

"But overall, I think the majority of fans will get to cheering this guy. Mixed, but mostly 60/40 cheers."

As for their own team, Verducci says Nats fans can't assume Washington will be just fine without Harper. 

"Don't just say we're ok without him, that we're not gonna miss him," Verducci told the Junkies. "When you have a fulcrum in your lineup, a guy who's going to draw attention like nobody else, you miss that."

"On a much bigger scale — because I'm not saying Bryce Harper did what David Ortiz did — the Red Sox cratered when they lost David Ortiz. Just having that guy in the middle of the clubhouse, the middle of the lineup, big personality, he's gonna grab a lot of attention, let other people just go about their ways — now the spotlight's gonna fall on other people." 

"Some will respond, some won't respond. That's just human nature."

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