The Phillies have their backs against the wall in the NLDS. The hitters are struggling. The pitchers are struggling. And, just when you think things couldn't get worse, the team's fans get dinged in The Athletic's latest "Best Playoff Ballparks" rankings ($).
Here's what the New York Times subsidiary had to say about the Bank:
We ranked the Phillies first last year, but because the blurb included a few old Philly fan tropes it drew immense reader feedback. So immense, in fact, that we wrote a whole story about it. That kinder, gentler fan base ran the gamut of emotions in Game 2: from booing Nick Castellanos to going bananas when he walked it off.
That’s the thing in Philly, man. It’s a jam-packed ballpark with all eyes locked in on the pitch, whether that’s a waste slider Castellanos waves at or a sweeper he hits to the moon. The passion in Philly is unmatched. As first base coach Paco Figueroa put it: “F— it.’ It’s Philly? You know what I mean?” Dropping Citizens Bank Park to No. 2 may be an unpopular move, but it’s less about Philly’s environment suffering than about the other guys’ showing out.
The publication crowned San Diego's Petco Park as the new number one playoff ballpark. The authors admit that they may be "prisoners of the moment," following an electrifying Fernando Tatis home run in game one of the Padres' wild card series against the Braves.
Petco is undoubtedly an incredible venue, and a postseason series against the hated Dodgers kicks everything up a notch.
But if the Phillies can bring their NLDS with the Mets back to Philadelphia for a winner-take-all game five? Something tells us The Athletic may want to reevaluate their top spot once again.
Here are the full rankings, from best to worst:
1. Petco Park (Padres)
2. Citizens Bank Park (Phillies)
3. Yankee Stadium (Yankees)
4. Dodger Stadium (Dodgers)
5. Kauffman Stadium (Royals)
6. Citi Field (Mets)
7. Progressive Field (Guardians)
8. Comerica Park (Tigers)
