In the world of baseball, this era might be called the Los Angeles Dodgers era. At least that’s the big buzz! Many have given them the crown of “evil empire”—a title that was with the New York Yankees before. They have the megastars after all from Shohei Ohtani, Mookie Betts, Freddie Freeman, and more. And the payroll? It is leaving many front offices dizzy almost. But not everyone is buying into the Dodgers hype. At least not Philadelphia Phillies owner John Middleton.

Joining the Phillies show podcast, Middleton was asked the burning question—how does his team stack up against the Dodgers? His answer was eye-opening: “I’ll remind you we did beat them both in the series last year. And not by a little.” And this line wasn’t tossed out easily by him.

This line is coming from a man who has watched his club rise from the ashes of the 2010s. Since becoming the controlling owner in 2016, Middleton has seen the rebuild firsthand. And now he feels that the team is good and competitive. And he was clear, “To be the best, you have to beat the best.” The message is written on the wall—they are a threat.

Middleton, although, is realistic; he knows the mountain is steep. He is not unaware of the financial powerhouses that the Yankees, Dodgers, and Mets are. He admitted, “It’s difficult.” But he also reminded everyone that, even though these teams have resources, money isn’t everything. The Yankees he highlighted had the biggest payroll for 15 straight years starting in 1981. But yet they failed to win the division or make it to the postseason. So yes, money helps, but it’s not everything.

For Middleton, what matters more is building the right roster, developing talent, and keeping the guys healthy when the games start to count. Look at the Yankees now, for example, so many injured players. So luck has to be beside a team to succeed. Money isn’t the full proof way. That’s the formula the Philadelphia Phillies are banking on. And the team’s awesome last season is proof that the Phillies are close to achieving ultimate greatness. For now, the Phillies are not flinching. Not the owner, not even the players!

Bryce Harper shuts down Los Angeles Dodgers hate

While Phillies owner John Middleton is reminding everyone of the Phillies’ greatness, Bryce Harper, their cornerstone, isn’t losing sleep over the LA empire. Sure, the Los Angeles Dodgers are everything fans love to hate—a team loaded with stars, and plenty of money, and they are MLB’s Avengers. But while the rest of the league is groaning, Harper could be least bothered.

“I don’t know if people will like this, but I feel like only losers complain about what they’re doing,” the Phillies slugger said. This no-fear mindset is the same thing that John Middleton displayed. Both of them get it; the Dodgers are the standard. But instead of complaining about the market size and payroll, the Phillies too have tried to match up. They have Harper, they have Kyle Schwarber, J.T. Realmuto, Nick Castellanos, Zack Wheeler, and Aaron Nola. So yes, they have spent, and if one does, the results come.

Harper furthersaid, “They’re a great team, they’re a great organization — that’s why guys want to go there and play.” And where is the lie? It’s not about money. Roki Sasaki, for example, had a salary cap; he could have gone anywhere. But he chose the Dodgers. Why? Exactly the reason Harper cited, “They’re at the mecca of kind of the world of everything… they’re going to continue to get guys… they’re doing what the Dodgers do.” So in the end, there is no envy but respect and, of course, motivation.

If you are a Phillies fan, don’t be surprised to see them both in an October matchup yet again. Do you feel confident in the team now? Let us know.