maybe thats why they have the 3rd worst home record in baseball, only arizona and washington are worse at home, both in last in their division.

.............................................................................................
Pete's reply: You might have something there.

Peter,

I disagree with you in this instance. I do not believe that the Philly fans are being "spoiled". It's like that all the time there! If you come out with a bad performance like the Phillies did tonight -- on the heels of being swept by the Blue Jays -- the fans are going to get on the home team. It really doesn't matter what the Phillies did recently. If there are fundamental errors by the Phils (popping up a bunt, gaffs by Howard on Jones' foul ball and the left fielder on Huff's fly ball to left), then the crowd will get on them. That's just the way it is there.

But tonight was a great win for the O's!

But I definitely agree with you that the young O's have never ever played under that kind of pressure.

Being an Eagles fan (Baltimore didn't have football when I grew up), I will say that the majority of Philly fans are supportive of their team. But there is a very vocal group that seems to expect perfection every game, and is ready to sweep the team under the rug when the don't see it. I've never understood it, but it's just the way things are there.

Contrary to your observation, the fans in Philly have been very supportive this year with very little emotion-boos- other than overwhelming support. They are averaging over 43600 a game, highest in NL in the worst recession in decades. Give the fans credit and blame the players for not getting into it every game and putting out 100%. I live in Massachusetts and watch every game on MLB. Have taken my 15 and 21 yr old children to CBP this year. They are Phils fans not Red Sox.

Makes me harken back to the monstrosity that was the Vet , let's say the summer or '96 -- last place team, astroturf cranking up to about 110 degrees, you and 15,000 of your closest friends watching the Expos. I still remember a couple opening day games at the Vet where the Phils were about 20K short of a sell-out and fights breaking out amongst the teens were the big excitement.

Pete,

The fans have laid off the booing as much as possible this year, but the play of the past few weeks has been atrocious and can't go unnoticed. Phillies fans are passionate, win or lose. Say what you want, but there is no way that they would sit around and let Angelos get away with what he's done the last 10 years like Orioles fans have. Seems like they have become apathetic. That's one word you would never hear associated with Philly fans.

And a note to Will. Camden Yards is a beautiful stadium, yet is empty most of time now. The Vet was a 65,000 seat stadium, so 20,000 short of a sellout is still 45,000. What is the Orioles average attendance these days? 20,000.

Pete,

I love Philly fans almost as much as Philly columnist. They let it all out and wear everything on their sleeves. There is no pussyfooting around, no sugar coating, no apologies. Philly fans EXPECT professional athletes to perform like a professional and they love winners. Tolerance is well understood in Philly, I laugh when Sonny Jergersen talks about throwing 4 touchdowns and getting booed out of the stadium! These are the same fans that snowballed Santa!

Pete,

Conversely, the O's fans have been too docile for too long with the pathetic effort to improve the club prior to AM. Even with AM, his failure to land some decent starting pitching prior to this season (Eaton & Hendrickson) and not bringing up some much better younger talent after spring training, there wasn't enough outrage from the fan base or the media covering the team!

...........................................................................................
Pete's reply: That might be because the guy knows what he's doing and when to pull the trigger on moves and callups. I think you have to consider the possibility.