The Philadelphia Phillies’ fan base is widely regarded as one of the most passionate in all of sports.
Known for their intensity, Phillies fans are also recognized as one of the toughest crowds to play in front of, unafraid to boo their own players when they’re not performing well. On Tuesday night, the fans directed their boos at Rob Thomson for not bringing in Jhoan Durán with a five-run lead.
Durán’s strong performances since joining the Phillies have generated a lot of excitement among the fans, and they were eager to see him pitch. While they were booing Thomson on Tuesday, their recent boos have been aimed at Max Kepler.
The 11-year veteran is having a tough season, but he managed to deliver two hits, two RBIs, and a home run in Tuesday night’s game. After enduring so many boos throughout the year, Kepler addressed the fans following the victory.
“I think it’s their love language,” Kepler said of fans booing, per the Inquirer’s Scott Lauber.
Kepler is currently slashing just .204/.295/.366, and his struggles have been one of the factors behind the Phillies’ decision to trade for Harrison Bader at the deadline. Earlier in the season, Kepler expressed frustration over his playing time, but he’s since adapted to his new role, which mainly involves facing left-handed starters.
“At this point I’ve accepted it,” he said, per Lauber. “It’s a collective thing moving forward. We want to win ballgames, and I’m going to do whatever I have to do to be a part of this puzzle. I think everyone in that so-called platoon is accepting of that and understanding of that.”
Kepler may not be having his best season, but if he can make any sort of positive impact the rest of the way, fans will quickly start cheering him on.
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