Underperforming Phils need to hear it from fans
Like many other onceuseful tools, there is one used by a robust portion of the Philadelphia sports media that has become useless if not asinine.
Rolled out 100 percent of the time for going on six decades, it is the ice-breaking question to any player just arrived in town via a draft, trade or free-agency bribe. Typically blurted out from behind a mischievous smirk, it never varies in tone, and it goes exactly like this: “What have you heard about the fans of Philadelphia?” Because the athlete didn’t request the question, he will go along with the dance as if part of his contact. “Well,” he’ll say, “I know they can be tough on you if you are not doing the job but are good and loyal and …”
On and on it goes, every time — every single, bloody time.
Many years ago, the dialogue wasn’t dumb because it was relevant.
But in 2023, it’s dumb, has been dumb for most of this century, and gets dumber every time Kyle Schwarber, for one, strikes out without hearing a single grumble.
Philadelphia fans don’t boo any more, not really, not enough. And Phillies fans top the list for excessive tolerance, as they have not booed anyone wearing a pinstriped uniform since Jonathan Papelbon gave them a rude gesture in 2015. Last year, in a reaction that was laughable to anyone with a deeper knowledge of the team history, Alec Bohm was offended because there was some grumbling from the fans about his defense. But a day later, after being caught ripping the city and then apologizing for his language, he was forgiven.
He had no idea.
The man had no idea of what it once was like. None.
But that’s Philadelphia sports in the 21st century — a little complaining here, the occasional hassle there. Or it least it has been that way since the stadium complex was reimagined and fans dutifully followed the rules including, among other rights-infringements, textratting on one another for being too ornery and being forbidden to drape the odd bedsheet sign from an upper deck railing.
It doesn’t mean it has to stay that way.
And it especially doesn’t mean it has to stay that way when the Phillies return to Citizens Bank Park Monday night after a rotten road trip that sent them into a fight to remain out of last place.
Never in the modern history of Philadelphia pro sports — beginning with the treatment of Dick Allen, a team-last, defensive liability — has an outfit more deserved three hours of nightly verbal outrage from a fan base resting on crumbling reputation for being tough. Not that it could ever happen, but that ridiculous rotisserie team assembled by Dave Dombrowski could be nohit in a World Series game and barely be made to hear a primal scream for a lineup change.
In particular,
Schwarber is exactly the kind of athlete who used to need noise-cancelling headphones to shut out the hissing — a one-dimensional, swing-for-thefences, home-run threat who can’t field and too often strikes out. Nick Castellanos did hear it a little for 162 games of disappointment last year, but it was nowhere near the treatment Mike Schmidt may have expected for going 0-for-4 on his way to the Hall of Fame.
Nor are Phillies fans alone in their new timid ways, as no group has been hit harder with Stockholm syndrome than Sixers fans. Joel Embiid has been a such a turnover assembly line late in games that it has cost two coaches their jobs, yet rather than boo him, the fans spend all night responding to carnival barkers with microphones and mindless scoreboard prompts to chant, “MVP.” They didn’t even give it to capital-L loser Ben Simmons until the last game he ever played in a Sixers uniform, and even that was mild.
Howie Roseman has done enough in recent years to spare any player the abuse Donovan McNabb once heard just for being drafted, so the Eagles are properly treated with dignity. The Union, too, has been successful lately, so the closest thing to dissatisfaction the players might hear is, “Hey, Union, we want three points,” an attitude-coated reminder from the River End leather lungs that a draw won’t cut it.
Ironically, the only fan base that still responds to failure with classic Philadelphia ire is the one that for decades was incorrectly branded as obedient to the organization. With John Tortorella conceding that his team has earned every grunt of criticism, Flyers fans will boo three times a night, four if there is overtime, five after most shootouts.
Phillies fans should pay attention to that behavior
and mimic it at once.
Schwarber needs to hear boos after every strikeout.
Trea Turner needs to hear boos every time he is backed into an 0-2 count.
Aaron Nola needs to hear boos with every hanging curve ball.
Brandon Marsh needs to hear boos whenever he breaks back on a ball instead of in.
The bullpen needs to hear boos every time it can’t produce a shutdown inning.
Rob Thomson needs to hear boos every time he
pulls a starting pitcher just because some vague data suggests it is right.
Should he ever appear in public, Dombrowski needs to hear boos for assembling a $261 million roster with maybe two acceptable starting pitchers.
Guess what: It might help.
So make Philadelphia fans fans irate again.
Either that or tell the press to retire that tired question.