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Joe Girardi on Bryce Harper leading off: ‘I wouldn’t do that’

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Bryce Harper is entering his second season with the Phillies. (Kyle Ross/Icon Sportswire)

As Gabe Kapler desperately searched for a replacement for Andrew McCutchen at the top of the lineup after his torn ACL, he experimented with Bryce Harper as a leadoff hitter eight times during the 2019 season, much to the chagrin of some members of the fanbase.

Kapler’s successor, Joe Girardi, said Friday that McCutchen won’t be ready for Opening Day in Miami on March 26, leaving him with the same problem that Kapler dealt with in his final months as Phillies skipper.