Atlanta Braves manager Brian Snitker is keeping his family away from Citizens Bank Park when his team plays the Philadelphia Phillies.
Appearing on 92.9 The Game’s The Steakhouse show, he said his family won’t go to games in Philadelphia anymore because of how they were treated during last year’s playoffs.
“It is Philly by far, where we’re going, that is by far the most hostile crowd,” Snitker said. “I know after the playoffs last year, my wife’s like ‘I don’t care what you guys are doing, I’m not going back there.’ … It’s rough there. And they don’t seem to mind, either, quite honestly. It was rough on them all last year to the point where it was concerning.”
Snitker went on to say he’s told his wife “don’t wear anything with Braves on it” when they’re going to a game in Philadelphia because there’s “inappropriate stuff being said around the children and things like that and nobody seems to care.”
The Braves and Phillies play each other 13 times during the regular season. They have also squared off in the NLDS in each of the past two years, with Philadelphia winning in four games both times.
Orlando Arcia and Ronald Acuña Jr. were seen engaging with the crowd at Citizens Bank Park during Game 4 of the NLDS last year. Acuña made a “zip it” gesture with his mouth after an Austin Riley homer.
Arcia was seen pointing to his ring finger at one point in reference to Atlanta’s 2021 World Series title.
Emotions were running high for both teams and fanbases throughout that series. Braves fans threw debris on the field in Game 1 at Truist Park after Sean Murphy was called for catcher’s interference to plate a run for the Phillies in their 3-0 win.
The Philadelphia fanbase has been the source of many controversies over the years. Former outfielder J.D. Drew had batteries thrown at him during a game against the Phillies in 1999.
These are extreme examples of fan behavior that probably don’t represent the majority of people, but it can make things difficult for others in the stands.
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