Alec Bohm wins back Phillies fans after declaring, 'I hate this f**king place'
Alec Bohm is the Philadelphia sports fan experience right now.
A day after announcing that "I hate this f***ing place" then promptly offering a mea culpa, the third-year Phillies infielder is now a fan favorite. Because Philadelphia.
The saga started in Monday's game against the New York Mets. Bohm had brutal day in the field, committing three errors in the game's first three innings.
E5, E5, E5 • Alec Bohm commits an error in *each* of the first three innings tonight
Roll the tape 🎥😬 pic.twitter.com/2fBVOBzkT0— MLB Errors (@mlberrors) April 12, 2022
When he successfully converted a routine out later in the third, Phillies fans responded with a Bronx cheer. Bohm was in no mood for the sarcasm and appeared to share his candid feelings with teammate Didi Gregorius. A broadcast camera also caught his message (:12, below), and lip readers quickly got to work.
Phillies fans gave Alec Bohm an ovation after making a routine play at third 😅
He made two errors right before this play. pic.twitter.com/YmsQpSsV2Q— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) April 11, 2022
"I hate this f***ing place" was the the consensus conclusion. Bohm confirmed the declaration after the game while offering a candid mea culpa to Philadelphia in a postgame interview.
Does Alec Bohm actually "hate this place?"
Doesn't sound like it.
"Look, emotions got the best of me. I said it. Do I mean it? No. It's a frustrating night for me, obviously. ... These people, these fans, they just want to win. ... I don't mean that." pic.twitter.com/Q7VZ2aBoAg— NBC Sports Philadelphia (@NBCSPhilly) April 12, 2022
"Look, emotions got the best of me," Bohm told reporters. "I said it. Do I mean it? No. It's a frustrating night for me, obviously. I made a few mistakes in the field.
"Look, these people, these fans. They just want to win. And you heard it. We come back, they're great. I'm sorry for them. I don't mean that. Emotions just got the best of me."
Forgive the lazy sports cliché, but that adds up to a home run answer. He owned his poor play. He owned his comment. He gave the fans their due. And it all came off as completely genuine.
Phillies fans were watching. And we he took the plate on Tuesday against the Mets, he got another ovation from the crowd — this time, sarcasm free.
Alec Bohm receives a standing ovation from Phillies fans a day after saying “I hate this f**king place” pic.twitter.com/gbpwEA3p9L
— The Base Hit (@the_basehit) April 13, 2022
That's how you win over Philly sports fans. Way to turn that one around, Alec.