Last season, Phillies infielder Alec Bohm had a horrendous game against the New York Mets in which he committed 3 errors. After his second error, Bohm was caught saying “I f*cking hate this place,” in reference to the booing Philadelphian crowd.
After the game, Alec owned up to what he said and apologized to the fans and to the city. He didn’t start the next day but would pinch-hit in the 8th inning. When he came up to bat, the Philly phaithful welcomed him to the plate with a standing ovation.
Alec Bohm worked hard to never repeat that 3 error performance since. In 2023, he’s committed just 3 errors in 51 games at 3B.
Trea Turner could be in for a similar ovation come Friday night against the Royals.
Phillies fans need to pick Trea up
On Wednesday night, Trea Turner had one of the worst games of his career. He went 0-5 at the plate with a walk and 2 runs scored. He stranded 5 Phillies on the base paths and erased another on a double play. On the field, Turner misplayed a ball that would’ve ended the game with the Phillies winning 8-7.
Fans were not happy, to say the least. But after the game, Trea Turner spoke to the media and put the loss entirely on his shoulders, owning it. “Obviously I’m the reason why we lost that game,” said Turner.
The following day, it came out that Turner was in the batting cages until midnight, doing what he can to improve.
Phillies fans saw that Turner was honest and trying and are now pushing for him to get a loud ovation on Friday night.
Notable Phillies’ personalities even added their support to the growing movement like Alex Carr, John Foley, and Jack Fritz.
For baseball fans of a certain age, some might remember what Dodgers fans did for Gil Hodges in 1952. Hodges had one of the worst World Series performances of all time, going 0-21 and losing to the Yankees.
The Brooklyn fans responded with love for their All-Star 1B. In his book The Boys of Summer, Roger Kahn wrote, “The fans of Brooklyn warmed to the first baseman as he suffered his slump. A movement to save him rose from cement sidewalks and the roots of trampled Flatbush grass. More than thirty people a day wrote to Hodges. Packages arrived with rosary beads, rabbits’ feet, mezuzahs, scapulars.” Hodges responded in 1953 by hitting a then career-high .302. While not the World Series, Trea Turner could use a similar boost.
Fans have already started a show of support by donating to the Jimmy V Foundation for Cancer Research. The charity is one that Trea Turner personally supports. The movement was started by Reddit user u/phillyeagles540. Most people are donating in multiples of 7 for Trea Turner’s number. 100s if not 1000s of dollars have already been donated. People are sharing the movement on Twitter (now X) with the #InTreaWeTrust.
Trea Turner is a career .294 hitter with an .820 OPS. He’s currently hitting a season-low .235. A little confidence boost and a few kind words can go a long way. And on Friday night, Trea Turner is going to learn what it means to be a Philadelphia Phillie.
Photo Credit: AP Photo/Matt Slocum
