Bryce Harper somehow made Dodgers fans like him before Phillies showdown

The Los Angeles Dodgers are facing off against the Philadelphia Phillies in what may be the biggest obstacle in their path to repeat as champions. Sure, the Milwaukee Brewers finished the season with a league-leading 97 wins, but the Phillies weren't far behind, tallying 96 victories in their own right.

Moreover, the Phillies might be the most star-studded roster outside of the Dodgers in the entire field, with the likes of Bryce Harper, Kyle Schwarber, and former Dodger Trea Turner among just a few of the big names and formidable threats Philadelphia will run out in an effort to down the Dodgers.

However, while tensions should be running high in anticipation of the NLDS showdown, one of those stars showed an incredible amount of respect to Los Angeles, delighting fans in the process.

Bryce Harper's hat-tip to the Dodgers will have fans finding it hard not to like him ahead of the NLDS showdown against the Phillies

A clip of Harper speaking to reporters back in April has resurfaced, in which he was asked his feelings on what the Dodgers' spending sprees and dominance in the Asian market mean for baseball in the big picture.

Harper began by saying, "I feel like only losers complain about what they’re doing," before going on to compliment the organization and what they've built. "Guys want to play there," he added while also sharing some kind words for the city of Los Angeles, specifically the food and the culture.

The Dodgers' big spending ways came under fire after yet another offseason of extravagant spending, with whining and belly-aching coming from all sides, including from opposing fans and even Hal Steinbrenner, owner of the New York Yankees, who almost certainly never spent lavishly in the offseason to secure titles. No way. Never done that.

The baseball world further lost its mind when the Dodgers came away victorious in the Roki Sasaki sweepstakes. After all, since Sasaki was considered an amateur free agent (meaning, apart from his signing bonus, which is limited by the international bonus pool, he would have to sign a standard minor-league deal), the Dodgers' financial might was unlikely to come into play.

It didn't matter. The Dodgers came away victorious anyway, even without the benefit of their deep pockets. That goes directly to Harper's point; more than money, the Dodgers have built something that players want to be a part of. Now, if you have a problem with that, go out there and beat them and find a better way to build sustainable success. We'll be here waiting.