In the “give credit where due” department, here’s a shout out to those Philadelphia fans people love to hate so much.

During the miserable conditions Saturday at Game 3 of the World Series, they waited until 10:06 p.m. for the game just to start - the latest start time in the history of the Series. And no one had left when it ended at 1:47 a.m.

Rays fans did basically the same thing during Game 2 of the American League Championship Series against Boston in that epic that didn’t end until 1:35 am., except that no one had to sit out a 91-minute rain delay at the Trop. We’ll get that in a moment. In the meantime though, George Vecsey of The New York Times had this interesting piece about Philly fans and their devotion.

It’s a kind of passion you can easily sense when you’re here. While there are a few chowderheads here, just like there are at the Trop, the atmosphere generally is very good. You have to give them high marks for originality for chanting “EEEEE-va, EEEEE-va” whenever Rays rookie Evan Longoria comes to bat. Or, “MELLLL-vin, MELLLL-vin” when one Melvin “B.J.” Upton takes his turn at the plate.

Rays manager Joe Maddon grew up about 90 miles from Philly and chuckled when relaying a back-and-forth he had with fans here prior to Game 3.

“I think it’s really humorous, actually. Down by the dugout I had a good time with a bunch of guys sitting up in the stands. I was actually giving a guy a hard time for drinking Coors Light in Philadelphia we went back and forth with that, and I said where’s the Schmidt’s? At least some Rolling Rock. Don’t be going with Coors Light. It’s so unfashionable for a Philly dude. So I was all over him about that, so we had a good time,” he said.

“I mean really, I mean the biggest part is my families. If we could do something about that, throwing mustard packs at my granddaughter is not very cool. The other part about it I’m good with.
If you want to be vociferous with us, I am fine with that. If you want to have arguments about the Coors Light versus Rolling Rock, I’m good with that, but leave the families alone.”

Mustard packs? See heads,chowder above.

I REALLY LIKE Philly’s Citizens Bank Ballpark and can’t help but wonder what it would look like plopped down in the middle of Hillsborough County somewhere, but I must admit I missed the Trop during that long rain delay Saturday.

I was actually stunned during Game 2 in St. Pete to come out after the game and find it had rained hard. Didn’t notice while it was happening.

Word maestro David Whitley of The Orlando Sentinel came up with this ode de’ Trop. Eagle-eyed readers will remember him as a former Tribune columnist before he moved to the suburbs of Orlando.

ONE LAST THING... Dedicated follower Jesse Atreau sent this note along about a column I did Sunday, bemoaning the late starts and finishes to the Series.

“Although I agree with your column, it isn’t the only issue to be raised concerning television coverage of the postseason. MLB in all it’s wisdom apparently elected not to show any ALCS games on broadcast television. As a result, Rays fans, Red Sox fans, and American League fans in general who do not have cable or satellite weren’t able to watch any of the ALCS games. I considered that to be the blatant discrimination of people without cable or satellite and sent MLB a very heated e-mail expressing my opinion on the matter.”