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Cristopher Sanchez and Bryson Stott Enjoyed The Onion’s Field of Dreams Joke
By Matt Schultz
Published:
First things first: The Onion posted this joke during the Field of Dreams Game:
That’s good stuff. Credit where it’s due: whoever wrote this did a very nice job. It’s a fun scene to imagine, it’s a perfect Photoshop, well done all around. The Onion is pretty good. Think we can all agree on that — including Cristopher Sanchez, who seemed to be laughing about the headline that featured his photo on Bryson Stott’s Instagram story:
Which Sanchie then shared on his own Instagram story:
All of this has led me to conclude the following: The Phils are back. The vibes are high. Look at these guys. Look at them laughing and having a good time here on the bus.
Think about what had to transpire for this photo to become a reality:
The Phillies were coming off a great win at an awesome/strange event, and after a long day filled with way-more-than-usual press obligations, Cris was unwinding on the bus. His AirPods were in, he was mindlessly scrolling on his phone, and then he stumbled upon a good joke. What happened next is crucial: did Sanchie merely look at the headline and chuckle to himself and keep on scrolling? Did he gatekeep his glee? Did he wall himself off, act as an island, opting for solitude rather than interacting with his team?
No. Presumably, he turned to Stott and said, “Bryson, I found something on my phone that brought me some joy, which isn’t always easy to come by in this life. And because you’re my teammate and friend and I want the best for you — just as I know you do for me — I’d like to share what I’ve found so you may experience some joy as well.” He said all that to his translator who then said it to Stott.
Then Stott turned and saw The Onion’s post on Cris’ phone. Then Stott probably laughed heartily for 90ish uninterrupted seconds, tears filling his eyes, which, in turn, made Sanchie laugh hard again too. At this point, I’d guess the entire Phillies bus joined in and began laughing as well — the coaches, the bus driver, the bat boys, all roaring and slapping each other’s backs and shoulders and clomping their feet while craning their necks to see Cris’ screen.
Then, once Stott finally caught his breath and wiped the tears from his eyes, he snapped a photo of Sanchie posing with his Onion headline and threw it up on Instagram — making sure to tag Cris so he could share the post on his own story.
This is good. This is important. These guys are buddies. Everyone’s having fun. The best teams always seem to be the ones that like hanging out and have good vibes, and thanks to The Onion, that’s what the Phils are now. The Phillies are about to go on a tear. They may win the next twenty games. Everyone agrees:
Matt Schultz is a comedy and sports writer from Philadelphia. He’s written extensively for ClickHole, The Onion, and Conan O’Brien’s Team Coco. His work has been featured in Vulture, Deadspin, The A.V. Club, Paste Magazine, and other publications. Much of his sports journalism can be found on college basketball websites that don’t exist anymore (PhilaHoops Heads rise up…) email: M.Schultz@sportradar.com