Lets NOT Get Outraged Over Alec Bohm Saying He “F#*!ing Hates This Place”
A few keen twitter observers noticed something during Monday’s Phillies game. In the second inning a routine grounder was hit to Phillies third baseman Alec Bohm and he threw it over to first for the out. The Citizens Bank Park crowd cheered. But it wasn’t because of the fact that the Phillies recorded an out. It was because Alec Bohm had previously made 2 throwing errors and it was a sarcastic “Bronx” cheer. Then Alec Bohm turned to Didi Gregorius and said “I hate this F#*&ing Place.”….at least, that’s what it seemed.
A debate sparked whether or not it was “place” or “plays.” But Bohm did something that most athletes wouldn’t have. He owned up to it. Admitting that in the moment emotions got the best of him and he did in fact say “place.”
Does Alec Bohm actually "hate this place?"
— NBC Sports Philadelphia (@NBCSPhilly) April 12, 2022
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
I think the initial reaction is “You hate Philly? Well screw you bud! We hate you too.” But I kindly ask you to relax. Because as someone who was born & raised in this city, I probably say “I hate this F%#*ing Place” once a day. And I love this city. I am proud to be from this city. I love repping this city when I go out of town. But sometimes the city gets to you.
When I am sitting in horrible traffic at 11:30am on a Tuesday thanks to I-76 being the worst stretch of road known to man….I say it. When I drive down a street that is riddled with potholes and moon like craters…I say it. When I am paying a soda tax….I say it. Look the reality is, I say it. Because Philadelphia isn’t all sunshine and lollipops. There are some negatives about the city, but there are negatives about literally ANY place you live. That doesn’t mean that, at times, the elements don’t get the best of you.
You have also probably said it at your job. You could have the best job in the world! And playing baseball is certainly one of them, but that doesn’t mean that sometimes frustrations don’t get the best of you. If you have had a boss who you don’t like. Or a line of work that doesn’t suit you. OR you are just having a bad day and you cant make a routine throw to first, you might end up saying something like “I F*%#ing Hate This Place.”
So before you get ready to cast Bohm out. Look in the mirror. In the grand scheme of things its not that big of a deal. Bohm was a butcher in the field. He knows it, and we know it. We also knew that defense wasn’t going to be the Phillies thing. But Bohm also went 1-1 with 2 walks and looks like the guy who finished runner-up in the Rookie of the Year voting in 2020. His second walk started the rally that led to the Phillies 5 run 8th inning.
Before the 8th inning I was sitting there saying “I hate this F*%#ing team.” but then the bats came alive and I was saying “God I love this team.” And I imagine Alec Bohm has a similar feeling with the city of Philadelphia.
