The Philadelphia Phillies Are Everything We Want The Eagles To Be

In the last 96 hours, we have witnessed the Phillies advancing to their second World Series. As many years—and with an Eagles loss to a team run by a man who still uses an overhead projector at press conferences—never has it been more clear.

The Phillies are everything the Eagles are not.

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Kobe Bryant Doesn’t Like The Phillies

There seems to be an uproar lately surrounding Kobe’s baseball allegiance. If you follow sports at all, you know that the Los Angeles Dodgers are playing the Philadelphia Phillies in the National League Championship Series.

At the Dodgers’ home games, Kobe can be seen on the sideline next to the mayor, cheering for…the DODGERS.

If you know Kobe, you know that he was born and partially raised in Philadelphia/the Greater Philadelphia area. To Philadelphia fans, this is treason of the highest degree. How can one of the most famous sons of Philly turn on them?

In a recent article on Philly.com by John Gonzales , Kobe’s treason can be blamed on his massive ego, or maybe on his “Hollywood” persona. According to Gonzales, “Bryant gave a very large, very public middle finger to Philadelphia.”

However, let’s not forget that there are two sides to every story. Let’s not forget February 10, 2002. You don’ t remember February 10, 2002? It was the NBA All-Star game in Philadelphia. 

Of course, Kobe Bryant was participating. But not only did he participate, Kobe dominated. Every time Kobe touched the ball that game, he dazzled. Every time Kobe touched the ball, he put on the show. Every time Kobe touched the ball, he was booed by the crowd.

Yes, booed by his home city of Philadelphia. 

The city of Philadelphia betrayed and embarrassed Kobe in front of his fellow NBA players and the nation. They ruined his 31 point, five rebound, five assist performance.  

When asked if it hurt his feeling Kobe simply said, “I don’t know, I mean, I don’t know what to say. It was something that I can’t really describe the feeling that I have when it happened. I’m happy to win MVP in Philadelphia. The booing was just hurtful.” 

So why would Kobe “turn” on Philly? Maybe because Philly turned on him first. Maybe Philadelphia put the metaphorical middle finger first. Don’t blame Kobe for not representing the city that chastised him.

Would you lovingly embrace a dog that has bitten you? No. Scars don’t heal easily. Kobe is embracing the city that loves him…Los Angeles. LA loves Kobe to no end. They buy his t-shirts and defend him to the grave.

Philly had their chance to show Kobe the same love and chose to do the complete opposite. Philly had their chance to hold on to one of their most prized asset. Instead they let Los Angeles take him.

You missed your chance Philly. Get over it.

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Love or Hate, Boo or Kiss: Titletown Rules In Philly

Welcome to Philly, the city of Brotherly Love.

Wait, the city of Brotherly Love, not after the year of 1968 when they booed Santa Claus, becoming notorious for their infamous boos among four major pro sports teams. Fans booed merely anyone who underachieves or criticizes their city and even their own teams.

At halftime of the Philadelphia Eagles game, Philly fans’ booed and hurled snowballs at St. Nick on a snowy day at Franklin Field and watched the last-place Philadelphia Eagles finish the season 2-12, losing to Minnesota. In today’s era, Philly fans’ continues to lack some class. When dislikable athletes remains healthy, they’ll shout out disgruntled boos.

For example, former Eagles quarterback Jeff Garcia absorbed a couple of hits that made him daze and confuse, when fans were apparently upset after not getting injured badly. For maintaining good health, it drew booes, as ungenerous Philly devotees badly wished Garcia suffered severe injuries to be replaced by their backup quarterback A.J. Feely.

There have been a number of athletes who have faced scrutiny and criticism, obviously Donovan McNabb’s name is mentioned as a primary target of criticism, getting booed for inconsistency. As a response, he sorely ripped Philly fans, and referred to them as ungrateful supporters when he brought much to the Philly organization.

Notice, you are described as the City of Ungratefully Love and the City that Booed Santa. But, at the same time, fans who craves back-to-back triumph with another championship banner. It’s well-deserving for a town, embracing and explicating true sporting passion. And lately the feverish crowd has been lovely and loyal to the Philadelphia Phillies.

A town filled with pride and dignity, is known for the Liberty Bell, known for Rocky climbing the steps of the Philadelphia Museum of Arts, and known for Philly cheesesteak eateries at nearly every corner.

Last year, it was a town known for its reprehensible championship droughts. For the first time since the 76ers won the NBA championship in 1983, a major franchise in Philadelphia won a title.

Teams in all four major sporting leagues had at least a championship appearance in this century, but failed winning a championship in 100 consecutive seasons. That was suddenly snapped when the Phillies dominated and shocked the world, ending an atrocious drought. Once again, the frenzied citizens have something worth celebrating after the Phillies are en route to make its second World Series appearance.

Unstoppable dominance absolutely has removed memories of a 15-year relapse. As usual, the Phillies are the closet major pro sports team to maintain poise and uplift humanity. Just a year ago, clinching a title restored joy back in a town, where fans supported its major sporting teams through fragile times.

But now, the hangover is over, as a double dose of glory reappears in what is considered to be the greatest championship appearance in history. The 76ers and Eagles were the last two teams to come close at winning it all.

First, the Sixers advanced to the 2001 NBA finals, a sensational playoff run, led by Allen Iverson. But the run ended in five games against the dominant Los Angeles Lakers. Then, McNabb led the underdog Eagles to the Super Bowl in 2004 against New England, losing a heartbreaker on the grandest stage. Following a downfall, they came close to making a Super Bowl appearance in 2002, when they played Tampa Bay in the NFC Championship.

But unfortunately, the Buccaneers’ defense played superb and shocked the Eagles for the win. Before that, the Philadelphia Flyers loss to New Jersey in 2000 after having a commanding 3-1 lead in the series. The Devils won the game late in Game 7, breaking the hearts of a championship-starved town.

Although booing all four of their major pro sports teams, still the loyal crowd deeply falls in love with all four of their major pro sports teams. They aren’t booing now, but are cheering, eager to witness another championship before the century comes to a closure.

Yet again, the Phillies gives a die-hard community opportunities to hold a long-awaited parade down Broad Street, where fans will show aggressively cheer proudly without needing boos as a message to mend its performance level. Yes, a rowdy bunch booed teams before at games and after games.

Usually, when fans boo teams, it’s true signs of love. After all, it’s the City of Brotherly Love.

The best sports fans in America, I might add.

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Philadelphia Phillies Are One Step Closer to the World Series

The Phillies continue on their quest Wednesday to be the first National League team to win back-to-back World Series since the Big Red Machine of the Cincinnati Reds in the mid-70’s.

They are one win away from getting back to the World Series for that second straight year. Former Phillies starter Vicente Padilla, and the somewhat snake bit Los Angeles Dodgers, remain standing, just barely, in their way.

After a devastating blown save and blown game by 100 mph pitcher Jonathan Broxton on Monday night, the Dodgers are hanging on by a thread.

Manny Ramirez was quoted saying, “The Phillies have just been playing better.” He is 100 percent correct about that no doubt.

This Phillies team has one characteristic which separates themselves from any other team, at least, in the National League East. When bad things happen, at least on the outside, they do not get flustered. They bounce back as quickly as it’s done and move on in the right direction.

That point was proved here in the NLCS a day after Chase Utley made a crucial throwing error that cost the Phillies a shot at Game Two. They came right back in Game Three and put an 11 spot on the board.

They hope to close out this series on Wednesday with their former ace Cole Hamels on the hill. I do believe that having Cliff Lee has taken some of the pressure off Hamels. It’s nearly impossible to top Hamels’ performance in the 2008 postseason and I truly believe he has put a lot of pressure upon himself to do just that.

He had a very short offseason this year, being in demand for interviews, commercials, and the like. He started a major controversy when he called the Mets “choke artists” on a New York-based radio show. He then struggled through spring training and opened the year with a couple of injuries that I believe plagued him throughout the season.

We didn’t get to see the vintage Hamels until after Lee was acquired at the trade deadline. Since then, Cole has had a number of games that clearly resembled 2008.

He is in a great position to put the Phillies over the top tonight. Ryan Howard, Jimmy Rollins, and Jayson Werth have been clutch in this NLCS and unless Padilla can repeat his best games with the Dodgers in 2009, this baby is going to end on Wednesday.

I love Joe Torre. He actually said his team was not in such a bad situation. He basically said if the Dodgers can win on Wednesday, the Phillies will have to come to us in our home park.

Yes, and face Pedro Martinez and, if necessary, Lee again. Yes, Joe, the Dodgers are in real great shape.

Prediction: My bad, I guess I wasn’t a true believer as I picked the Dodgers in Game Four. I came close, but close doesn’t get it done in the world of predictions and otherwise. So tonight, I do believe, Phillies 9, Dodgers 5, and barring any miracles from the Angels, it will be the Phillies and the Yankees in a Turnpike Series, first one of those since 1950.

Yes, I was around for that.

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Philadelphia Phillies: Can They Have Their Cake and Eat It Too?

This was the last stat I saw on the Phil’s odds of winning this series: In NLCS history, 20-of-29 teams that led the series 2-1 went on to win.

 

Those are good stats. Better than mine. My numbers make me a goddess in like some other universe—one where the ratio of guys to girls is 10 to 1. And every guy is snow-blind.

 

Hey, aren’t those are the odds in Alaska? No wonder Sarah Palin is so popular. She has big boobs and can group words together to make a sentence. She struggles with logical thought, but no one’s even noticed. She’s living proof that after eight years of No Child Left Behind, we’ve eliminated the need for reasoning altogether.

 

Whoa, did I just say that?

 

Hey, everything there is to be said about the Phils has already been said, so I might as well drag Sarah into it. Why not? She wants to be a part of everything else. I heard she even offered to speak on behalf of New Jersey gubernatorial candidate Chris Christie.

 

New Jersey? Isn’t that a continent?

 

No, but I think I can see it from here.

 

Enough of that. Let’s hit the highlight reel.

 

Remember this line in the first inning: “(Randy) Wolf allowed only one home run in the regular season.”

 

Well, welcome to Citizens Bank Park.

 

Just a few pitches later, Ryan Howard sent a long ball over the CBP wall that gave him and Jimmy Rollins the right to prance across the plate to put the Phillies on the board in the first, up by two. And it gave Wolf a dinger for his postseason stats as well. I love efficiency.

 

Then for the first three innings, we saw Joe Blanton as the workhorse. As I’ve said before, even the Amish are looking at him. But he looks more like he belongs in a starring role of Knocked Up than on a major league mound throwing pitches. And with Andre Ethier, Manny Ramirez, and James Loney stacked up in the lineup with a history of success against him, he definitely had a long row to hoe.

 

In the fourth, with his zone getting smaller and smaller as home plate umpire Ted Barrett suffered from tunnel vision (don’t even get me started on the officiating), I thought Charlie Manuel might go to the pen. Even Joe Torre knows you can’t swing at Joe Lumber when he’s low, but if you take that part of the zone away, what’s left is something that gets hit into play. And that’s what happened to Matt Kemp in the fifth.

 

Dodgers up by one.

 

But then in the sixth, Shane Victorino showed off with a stand-up triple, becoming an RISP for Stone Cold Chase Utley to use as an RBI and shake Wolf’s confidence with Howard coming to the plate. Howard was there to prove that falling for the breaking ball is a thing of the past when he walked and closed the door on Wolf’s night after only 88 pitches. Chalk another one up for Little Ryan Riding Howard.

 

Then, as if it wasn’t bad enough that Blanton had to face Manny Ramirez with a man on base in the seventh, Ethier’s blocked stolen base attempt gave Manny the chance to foil the Phil’s hopes again in the eighth against Ryan Madson. If Mad Dog has his eye on the closing position, he’s definitely following in the footsteps of Brad Lidge by creating nail-biters. I know he started and ended the eighth with a K, but does he have to give me agita in between?

 

Bottom of the eighth. Note to self—kill Sherrill. I also found out my kid can hide a peanut in his bellybutton. If that’s the case, I’ll bet Jonathan Broxton could lose a pretzel stick in his. At least his sideburns are slendering.

 

Then the ninth. When’s the last time we saw Brad Lidge come in to not only close the game, but to bail out Scotty Eyre? I’m not gonna blow a gasket looking for that stat, but I will say this: It’s refreshing to see Lidge as the Lights Out Lord instead of the Two-Run Ruin.

 

An 18-minute top of the ninth could definitely be blamed for Broxton’s meltdown. If it was planned, it was strategic. And speaking of bellybuttons, I’ll bet Matt Stairs could hide a hot dog in his. Stairs was as instrumental in busting Broxton’s balls in this year’s Game Four as he was in last year’s. Stairs’ base on balls set Eric Bruntlett on base to pinch run and to become the first of two runs needed to win on Jimmy’s line drive to right. If Broxton’s 100 mph fastball can’t ensure a game, who ya gonna call?

 

We know that feeling. The Phillies go-to guy blew 11 saves this year.

 

So the wavering strike zone soon forgotten, the Phillies sit as pretty as the Yankees going into Game Five. What are the odds they win?

 

With Rollins playing a dual role as the lead-off batter and the walk-off hero, Howard vying to break Lou Gehrig’s consecutive RBI postseason record, Victorino and the boys sugaring the field with hits, and Charlie so thin we can almost see his chin, can we possibly check Game Five off the list?

 

It depends on who says this the loudest: “I want it.”

 

And Cole Hamels will be responsible for the “I”. Personally, I haven’t been impressed with Hamels’ performance this season and that goes for more than just his hurling. I know he pitched 227 innings in the 2008 regular season and he could be suffering from a phenomenon coined by a Sports Illustrated writer whose name now escapes me.

 

I also know his performance last year earned him his first juicy major league contract and a condo in Liberty Place that has a view of Citizens Bank Park for that new baby of his, but I also know games are won one pitch at a time—not by getting frustrated, and whining and apologizing about it later.

 

Both Pedro Martinez and Cliff Lee proved that maintaining your cool and keeping hitters off kilter is key. Hopefully Hamels comes to the park Wednesday night ready to drop the ‘tude and use his changeup as the frosting on the cake instead of the batter.

 

Here’s hoping the Phillies can have their cake and eat it too.

 

See you at the ballpark.

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Philly Fans Dont Want To, But They Should Stop and Smell the Roses

From 1983 to 2007, the city of Philadelphia had 99 chances at a season that ended in ultimate glory, and season after season they fell short. Four times they made it to the championship round—once in all four major sports—and could not get the job done.

Championship memories in Philadelphia for two generations amounted to a walk-off World Series winning home run for the opposing team, the decimation of the so called “Legion of Doom” in a four-game sweep on the ice, our best baller who does not like practice, triumphantly stepping over, not Kobe, not Shaq, but the “great” Tyrone Lue, and finally our courageous QB blowing chunks in front of hundreds of millions of people on the way to a Super Bowl loss.

And that was just the last 26 years.

The grand history of Philadelphia sports goes something like this. The Phillies, Philadelphia’s longest tenured team, are the losingist franchise in professional sports history. The cities most beloved team, the “Iggles”, has yet to win a Super Bowl. The 76ers and the Flyers both had their share of success in late 70’s and early 80’s, but neither has recaptured that magic since.  

With all this said, it is but a testament to how special this Phillies team really is. Sports is about memories and the camaraderie that is shared between fans, whether it be family members in front of the home TV, or complete strangers at a bar.

This Phillies team—with the way they play and the way they win—has a great chance to go down as the greatest team this city has ever had. The last 14 months of Phillies Baseball have produced more of these special moments than some Philadelphia fans have had in half a lifetime.

Starting with coming back against the Mets to win the division two years in a row, to tearing through the playoffs last year on route to a World Series Championship, to this year’s numerous ninth inning comebacks, these Phillies have a knack for the dramatic and for winning.

For a fan, that’s a wondrous combination.

When you break this team down individually, you will find terms long not associated with this franchise. Terms such as “A top five player in baseball and the game’s best second baseman,” or “The league’s preeminent RBI and HR king of the last four years,” and how about “Former MVP and multiple Gold Glove winning shortstop.”

And let’s not forget the person that may be the most beloved figure during this magical run, their steady as she goes, ah shucks, just take it one game at a time manager, Charlie Manuel. Charlie, who started from Day One with scorn from the fans in the wake of the Phillies not hiring Jim Leyland instead, and those who did not take to his southern draw and southern nature. He has now morphed into a manager who pushes all the right buttons and has a team that quite literally goes to war for him.

Please understand this is all said before this Phillies team has finished writing its legacy.

They are currently one win away from the World Series, with their next probable opponent being the Kings of Baseball; also known as the New York Yankees. On top of that, they are also trying to become the first team to repeat since the Yankees of the late 90’s, and the first National League team to do it since the Reds of the 70’s. This is some very historic territory these Phillies are treading in.

Even if they fall short this year, this team is built to win titles for the next two to three years. When it’s all said and done and the core of this team leave its primes, the Philadelphia fan base could have very well experienced the greatest era in sports history the city has ever seen.

So Phillies fans, take one moment and relish all this team has already given you.

Be thankful for all the memories you have shared, and the players you will never forget. Also, look forward with a sense of pride and confidence knowing your team can get it done, and has gotten it done. Above all, this team loves playing the game, and the fans love them for it all the more.

So to these phantastic Phillies we say, thank you so much, good luck, and go get ’em.

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Phillies: Eerily Familiar, Predictably Resilient, Phils On The Brink Yet Again

Can someone take their finger off the replay button? Last year is over.

Sure, it was a great run. We get it. It was a run even Dr. Seuss couldn’t have conjured up in his wildest dreams.

The golden left arm of Cole Hamels, backed by the indelible offensive onslaught pushed the Phillies to a level unseen in Philadelphia in over a quarter century.

The clincher was magical. The parade was dizzying. The feeling was indescribable.

But that’s all over. That was last year. That kind of run doesn’t just happen every year. A performance such as that cannot, or at least should not, be feasibly replicated.

Somebody forgot to tell that to the Phillies.

This team overcame the laxity of a comfortable September. This team ignored the calls for panic in the bullpen. This team put the clamps on the hottest team going into the playoffs. And now this team is poised to prove all the “experts” wrong, again.

They said the Dodgers had the hotter starting pitching, more consistent lineup, and stouter bullpen. They said Joe Torre had the moxie to keep his team firing on all cylinders. They said this team simply had too much talent to fold.

It was believed that the bullpen would be the Phillies’ undoing. It was believed that their streaky bats would disappear at the hands of two Phillies castoffs. And it was believed that Charlie Manuel wouldn’t be able to pull the rabbit out of his hat again.

They were wrong.

Thus far, Cliff Lee has been every bit the pitcher the fans clamored for at the trading deadline. The bats—for the most part—have been strikingly consistent.

Charlie Manuel has orchestrated his band to a nearly perfect tune. Heck, if Brad Lidge continues on his current path of success, it could be the single greatest postseason turnaround in the history of the sport.

Everything has fallen into place beautifully. Ruben Amaro looks more intelligent every day.

One day, Cliff Lee is throwing a complete game gem in Game One of the NLDS, the next day, Ben Francisco, a throw-in in the Lee deal, is making what could have amounted to be one of the most significant catches in the Phillies’ postseason history.

All of this is so familiar though. It all seemed to work out so well last year…too well. I bet few could have predicted a similar ride.

But that’s exactly what October has been this year, possibly even better up to this point.

So, to those of you who shake this off as yet another lucky streak, I beg you to look again. This sustained, continued success is no accident.

The fact that Matt Stairs started Game Four’s rally is no coincidence. That Chan Ho Park has played an integral role, good or bad, in this series is no mistake. Everyone is here for a reason; everyone plays a role.

And to those fans who still fear absolute acceptance of having a true winner in this town: stop! Stop doubting. Stop worrying.

These are not the ’04 Eagles. They aren’t the ’01 76ers. This isn’t the ’93 Phillies.

This is the 2009 Philadelphia Figthin’ Phillies; a team full of character, leaders, and oozing with resolve.

So, we thought the ride this team took us on last October was the end of an unbelievable season. But is it possible that it was only the beginning of a run the likes of which Philadelphia has never seen before?

Is it possible that last year was simply the first in a long line of success stories?

It may very well be, but even if it’s not, enjoy the ride. They rarely come this often.

 

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Rollins wins it, Charlie calls it!

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Phillies Look To Raise Curtain On World Series, Avoid Tinseltown

Just when you thought the Phillies could not make things any more exciting, drama struck again Monday night in Game Four of the 2009 NLCS.

It has been a parade of “Can you top this?”: The unlikely 5-4 NLDS Game Four victory this year against the Rockies highlighted by Ryan Howard’s two-run, two-out ninth inning double or last year’s dramatic Game Four NLCS 7-5 win featuring Matt Stairs’ two-run eighth-inning home run in 2008.

Dodgers‘ closer Jonathan Broxton entered the game in the eighth inning of Game Four Monday to record the last out, then got the Phillies’ Raul Ibanez to ground out for the first out in the ninth inning.

Innocent enough.

He was throwing heat, 99 to 100 MPH and the Dodgers held a 4-3 lead.

Then something magical happened for the Phillies.

Enter Stairs, who is not nearly the slugger he was last season, to face Broxton. Sure enough, I knew TBS would show the dagger, a bomb of a home run Stairs launched against Broxton last postseason in Los Angeles.

Stairs must have been inside Broxton’s head, because he walked Stairs, who hit .194 this season with five home runs and 17 RBI.

What happened next, prompted my one friend to text me: “Wow.”

Broxton hit catcher Carlos Ruiz on the leg, putting runners on first and second. Eric Brunlett was on second as he pinch ran for Stairs.

After pinch hitter Greg Dobbs, lined out softly to third for the second out, the top of the order was up for the Phillies.

The stage was set and up came Jimmy Rollins.

One of the MLB Network commentators said after the game that Jimmy loves Jimmy. Hey, if you can perform, so what?

Perform Jimmy did. With two outs.

Rollins stroked a 1-1 Broxton pitch into right center. The ball skipped quickly to the wall and you knew, just knew, both runs would score. Game over.

Phillies win 5-4 and now hold a 3-1 series lead.

“You knew it was getting in the gap,” said Dodgers’ reliever George Sherill of Rollin’s game-winning double, in an LA Times Sports story.

How desperate is it for the Dodgers, facing a 1-3 hole?

As Dylan Hernandez of the LA Times wrote:

“Reporting from Philadelphia – Win – or else. Or else the Dodgers will end their season on Wednesday. Or else they won’t play another game at Dodger Stadium until April. Or else Jonathan Broxton will head into the winter with another October meltdown to ponder.”

Wow. Remember how heavyweight fighter Mike Tyson could not beat Evander Hollyfield in the ring? This has a similar feel to it. The Phillies might have just gotten into Broxton’s head.

“Just throw the cheese,” an exuberant Ricky Botalicco said on Comcastsportsnet Philadelphia after the game about Broxton facing Stairs.

Looking ahead, Cole Hamels (1-0 6.75 ERA in NLCS) faces Vincente Padilla (0-0 1.23 ERA) in Game Five in Philadelphia on Wednesday.

The Phillies must get to Padilla, knock him out to get as many of the Dodgers bullpen pitchers in the game. Because as good as the Dodgers bullpen is, Padilla may be better.

However, this is Philly and we have been known to rattle pitchers in the past. As is the case with Padilla, rattling pitchers can be even easier when the pitcher has pitched in Philly before in his career.

If the Phillies win Wednesday and the Yankees advance, C.C. Sabathia could come back into town. Remember last year’s playoff with the Brewers and Shane Victorino’s grand slam against Sabathia?

But I am getting ahead of myself.

The Phillies have three games to win one. They most definitely would like to repeat last year’s five-game series win over the Dodgers and not have to go back to Los Angeles.

But this is baseball and anything can happen.

Ryan Howard has been red hot and he became the first player in Major League history to record an RBI in seven consecutive playoff games in the same year.

The Phillies have not only wrestled away home-field advantage from the Dodgers, they have shortened their National League season to having to win one game in the last three.

Sound familar? The end of the regular season in the National League East this year?

What happened there?

As always has usually been the case for this team in the past two seasons, the Phillies took care of business.

Expect no less with a chance to go to their second straight World Series.

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Jimmy Rollins Lead Phillies in Historical Walk-Off Win Over LA Dodgers

 

With swagger in his step, Philadelphia Phillies shortstop Jimmy Rollins made the on-field interview rounds following his walk-off double in Game Four of the NLCS. That familiar confidence seems to never leave the 2007 NL MVP—the pivotal hit that plated two runs against the Los Angeles Dodgers explains why.

With that hit, the Phillies defeated the Dodgers 5-4 and lead the NLCS three games to one.

Rollins and the Phillies became the third team in history that won a game with an extra-base hit when they were one out away from the loss—for once, it was the Dodgers on the losing end of the game.

The only other two teams to do it were the 1988 Dodgers (Kirk Gibson hit a home run off of Oakland A’s Dennis Eckersley in Game One of the World Series) and the 1947 Brooklyn Dodgers (Cookie Lavagetto hit a double and broke up Bill Bevens no-hitter in Game Four of the World Series).

On Monday night, with Dodgers closer Jonathan Broxton on the mound, Rollins was the last hope. As he stood at the plate, Phillies manager Charlie Manuel looked at Dodger Jim Thome and pointed to the outfield, indicating the longest-tenured Phillie was about to hit it that direction. Manuel may have called it, but it was Rollins who had a plan.

“Really it was funny, right before he threw it, I’d say hit a ball in the right center field gap,” Rollins said during the post-game press conference. “Kemp was playing me slightly to left center. Ethier was squeezing, I was like, ‘hit the ball in the gap right over Broxton’s head, that’s at least one run.’ And it went all the way to the fence, so we were able to get two and a victory.”

The team punctuated the victory with the obligatory dogpile with the Alameda, Calif. native Rollins curled up at bottom of the group, celebrating and protecting himself at the same time.

“Only thing I didn’t want to do was get crushed, so I just kind of went in fetal position and started throwing punches, and whoever got hit, got hit,” explained Rollins. “Ben Francisco did a pretty good job of throwing his arm around my neck and restraining me, so I think I caught the worst of it. So it’s a lot of fun, but that’s what we do.”

As the stadium erupted with cheers for the defending Champs, fans in bars, homes, and across various forms of social media rejoiced in unison with the Phillies.

(continue reading…)

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