It’s not quite the Orlando Arcia comments about Bryce Harper during the NLDS, but that probably won’t stop the 45,000+ Philadelphia Phillies fans that plan to pack Citizens Bank Park for NLCS Game 2 Tuesday from taking a remark from Arizona Diamondbacks starter Merrill Kelly personally.
Kelly met with the media Monday at Citizens Bank Park, prior to Game 1 of the NLCS. Arizona’s Game 2 starter was asked whether previously pitching in both the Korean Series and World Baseball Classic would help to prepare him for a raucous environment in Philadelphia, as the Diamondbacks try to advance to the World Series.
“Yeah, I think so. Go back to the Korean series that you were talking about, obviously their fans are — they cheer a little bit differently than we do,” Kelly said. “Each offensive player that comes up to the plate, they have their own fight song.”
“So in the Championship Series, it was about 30,000 people in Seoul, about 15,000 of it at a time would be singing in unison for whatever hitter was up, and they don’t stop until the next hitter comes up.”
Kelly — who pitched for Team USA in the 2023 World Baseball Classic — then discussed the environment at loanDepot Park in Miami after Trea Turner hit a go-ahead grand slam against Team Venezuela in the quarterfinals, and how that may compare with a postseason game at Citizens Bank Park.
“Then going into the WBC game, yeah, I think that — I haven’t obviously heard this place on the field, but I would be very surprised if it trumped that Venezuela game down in Miami,” Kelly continued.
“When Trea hit that grand slam, I don’ think I’ve ever experienced — at least baseball-wise, I don’t think I’ve ever experienced an atmosphere like that so I hope that this isn’t louder than that.”
Kelly’s comments weren’t really offensive in any way, but teams — and fans — will find any comment and use it as extra motivation this time of the year. Harper and Phillies fans did that with Arcia’s comments, and there’s a chance those same fans will enjoy it a little extra if Kelly struggles Tuesday night.
It should be pointed out again that these comments were made before Game 1, and it’s possible that as Kelly watched Kyle Schwarber and Bryce Harper ambush Zac Gallen in the bottom of the first inning, he realized he underestimated just how loud Citizens Bank Park gets in the postseason.
In any event, after the clip of Kelly’s comments went viral Tuesday morning, the aforementioned Turner was asked to weigh in on what his former USA teammate had to say.
“I mean, both loud. I think domes are a little different. Sometimes they’re pretty loud just because of the roof being closed,” Turner said when asked to compare the two environments.
“But as far as atmospheres, I think this one is just different,” Turner continued. “It’s a little more hostile and a little more engaging. I think he can maybe tell you after tonight what it’s like, but I wouldn’t put anything past our fans. Our fans have been unbelievable. They’ve been great. I don’t know what decibels mean, but I guess we did something cool or AC/DC concert level decibels the other night.”
The other thing to consider is that while the environment was unquestionably electric at the World Baseball Classic, it often featured factions of fans from different countries. There won’t be any factions Tuesday at Citizens Bank Park — if 1% of the fans in attendance are rooting for the Diamondbacks, that would be a surprise. And as Turner said, there’s probably more hostility from Phillies fans towards visiting teams than there was from any opposing fans in the World Baseball Classic.
After Harper responded to Arcia’s comments with a two-home run performance in NLDS Game 3, the Diamondbacks have seemingly gone out of their way to avoid giving any bulletin-board material to the Phillies so far in the NLCS. What they failed to consider is that even if they don’t say anything particularly offensive, Phillies fans will probably find something to take personally in a Michael Jordan-esque way.
And the way things are going for the Phillies right now, Turner will probably hit a grand slam off of Kelly at some point in Game 2, sending Citizens Bank Park into an uproar.
“I would just wait and see and we’ll see what he says after [the game],” Turner joked about Kelly.
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