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The remaining members of the 2008 Tampa Bay Rays, returning to the SCENE OF THE GRIME tonight to play the hapless Phillies – ostensibly a ball club, which is a shell of its former 2008 self – spoke to Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Tribune about their memories of the 2008 World Series. As you might have guessed, they whined quite a bit about the fans, the weather, their accommodations, and the general existence of October.

Rocco Baldelli:

It didn’t seem like the people of the city were happy that their team was in the World Series. It seemed like they were more happy and excited to take out their anger on the opposition and to degrade us.

They were lined up on the street “gesturing” at us. Many, many gestures. They were banging on our bus.

And, to say the least, I don’t think our family and friends who were at the games were able to enjoy it as much as they should have been able to.

Crying baby meter*: 6– tears, audible noises, but overall retains control of motor skills and bodily functions… mostly:

Photo: Creative Commons, Beth on Flickr

WAHHHH WAHHHHH – farrrrrt –

Photo: Creative Commons, Beth on Flickr

 

Bullpen catcher Scott Cursi:

It was a very passionate crowd for the Phillies. I’m trying to be politically correct. It was a tough crowd. They were on us from batting practice until the last out was made. There was a kid by the bullpen cursing at us and there was a cop there just laughing. There were a lot of colorful metaphors from the fans.

Crying baby meter: 2– upset, maybe a little bit hungry, but you could still bring him into a restaurant without other diners getting upset, or even noticing:

Dat boi cawed meh a bawd wwod

Dat boi cawed meh a bawd wwod, n chawly bet meh

Photo: Creative Commons, Hannah on Flickr

 

Pitching coach Jim Hickey:

My ex-wife was there and she was appalled at the behavior of their fans, especially toward ours. At one point she went to get the security guard, who was actually an on-duty police officer, and he laughed at her and didn’t help at all.

The fans lived up to their belligerent level. They revel in that type of thing. They wear it as a badge of honor, but it really ought to be a source of embarrassment to them.

Crying baby meter: 9– borderline freak out, can’t handle the noises, mom embarrassed, dad just wants to golf for the afternoon, probably gonna cry himself to sleep… until he cries himself awake five minutes later:

AHHH  AHHH AHHHH WAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

AHHH AHHH AHHHH WAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

Photo credit: Creative Commons, Djuliette on Flickr

 

Evan Longoria:

The heartbreak sticks with me the most. The hardest part of it, aside from the losing, was the way we had to do it. It was a little bit easier for them because they were home, and when we had all the weather issues, there we were out of a hotel and we were moving and there was some uncertainty as far as what the plan was.

Crying baby meter: 4– discomfort, probably shit himself, doesn’t like being called “Eva”:

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but but but that’s not my name WAH

Photo credit: Creative Commons, Rachel on Flickr

 

Marc Topkin, the guy who commissioned this dumb story:

Equally stunning was the rude way they and, more so, their friends and family in the stands were treated by some of Philadelphia’s finest fans.

Crying baby meter: 10– total collapse, bawling, rapid breathing, doomed to a middling career at best trudging up tired clichés, too old to be doing this:

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Please read my article on the Rays’ return to Philly WAHHHHHHHH WAHHHHHHHHH WAHHHHHHHHHHHHS;ODFJDSKAFJHAK;SFJ;KSJF;DSAKHJKGHERNJKVNJRWAHHHHHHH

Photo credit: Topkin’s mother Creative Commons, Mahalie on Flickr

Cover image (@phillyballer197), via Glen Macnow

Meanwhile, Longoria wondered where he could get breakfast today:

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I’m disappointed it took until about the 20th response for this:

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All 10 people at the game tonight will greet him with that moniker, I’m sure.

*Gonna need to learn how to decipher these. Tips welcomed. Please and thanks.