PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — Philly sports can be an emotional tailspin for fans and players alike, and Phillies third baseman Alec Bohm was the latest example of emotions getting the best of him.
Many have criticized Bohm’s defense since breaking into the major leagues in 2020, and Monday night showed why: He made three errors in the first three innings of a thrilling 5-4 comeback win over the Mets.
After the second error, Bohm successfully made a throw to first base, which was followed by sarcastic cheering from the fans at Citizens Bank Park. The NBC Sports Philadelphia telecast then caught Bohm mouthing, “I [expletive] hate this place.”
Postgame, he confirmed the comment and apologized.
“Emotions got the best of me,” Bohm said. “I said it. And do I mean it? No. And it’s a frustrating night for me, obviously. Made a few mistakes in the field. But these people, these fans, they just want to win. And, I mean, you heard it — we come back, they’re great.”
With a smile, Bohm indicated that he does indeed love this place.
Phillies manager Joe Girardi acknowledged that Bohm needs to improve defensively, but he also complimented him for his at-bats amid his most recent fielding woes.
“Put yourself in his shoes,” he said. “Think about what he was probably feeling out there.
“He’s a young man that has worked really hard and has to overcome some things, but it was not a fun situation to be, at the time.”
“Made some mistakes,” Bohm added. “Happens. Shouldn’t happen that much. I’m better than that. I know that. Everybody knows that. Bounce back from it.”