What Goes Around Comes Around: Garrett Stubbs Gave The Diamondbacks All The Motivation They Needed By Talking About Celebrating In The Pool At Chase Field
First off, let me just start this blog out by making it abundantly clear that I love the shit out of Garrett Stubbs. I think he's huge for this team despite actually playing very little. And personally, I don't have any issue with what he said about "bee-lining it" for the pool.
Here's the full quote from the Philadelphia Inquirer.
If the Phillies do what they came here to do — win two of three games and clinch a second straight National League pennant — they’re planning to add a wrinkle to their customary celebration.
Who’s ready to take a dip?
“I’ve seen that pool before, so I know exactly where it is,” backup catcher/team DJ Garrett Stubbs said Wednesday, referring to the famous natatorium beyond the right field fence at Chase Field. “If we take two here against Arizona, we’ll be bee-lining it for the water.”
Listen. In retrospect, do I wish he just stuck to the Castellanos script here and said the team is still just focused on picking up 6 more wins? Of course I do. But part of what makes this Phillies team so special is that guys are allowed to be themselves, and Garrett Stubbs' true self is taking a cannon ball in that pool and probably ending up butt ass naked.
Unfortunately it backfired. And considering the way the Phillies have been turning borderline throwaway quotes into the ultimate fuel for motivation this postseason, you have to tip your cap to Arizona for doing the same thing here. It's not like the Phillies are the only team who are allowed to take shit personally. Arizona heard the quote, clearly it riled up the manager enough to bring it up in this postgame press conference, and now we have a 2-2 series.
The only thing is that while I'm sure this is somewhat bulletin board material for Arizona, it sure as shit isn't the reason they've been able to tie up this series. Like when Orlando Arcia fired up Bryce Harper, Harper immediately came out the next night and launched 2 balls into orbit right in his face. We had a clear action and consequence there. I don't think the Diamondbacks are necessarily playing pissed off baseball right now to get back at the Phillies, the Phillies are just pissing these games away. Sanchez forgetting that there was only 1 out, Kerkering walking in a run, Kimbrel completely blowing up. But if telling themselves they have a chip on their shoulder because Garrett Stubbs wanted to jump in the pool after clinching the series is going to keep them motivated for the rest of the way, then so be it. Because you know the Phillies would be doing the exact same thing right now.
At the end of the day, it's a best-of-3 series now with the Phillies still having 2 games at Citizens Bank Park. Last night was demoralizing for sure, but it's just a brand new series now. Nothing more, nothing less. Sure would be nice for the fellas to come back home with a 3-2 lead though. And at the end of the day, celebrating at Xfinity Live is way more ideal than jumping in that disgusting pool.