06/07 Phillies Offseason Thread

[ice grillin you]

dont believe the stubhub prices for the opener..that is not a true indication of the market...if you wanna go to the opener just check the parking lot pre game and youll find tickets at fair prices

other than perhaps playoffs no baseball game will ever have a super high price tag

[SunMo]

http://www.philly.com/mld/philly/sports/baseball/16744087.htm

gotta love JRoll

Rollins not backing down from his prediction
He says it again. "We're the team to beat."
By Todd Zolecki
Inquirer Staff Writer

CLEARWATER, Fla. - He said it. He meant it.

So Jimmy Rollins repeated his proclamation, saying yesterday that the Phillies - a team that hasn't made the postseason since 1993 - is the team to beat in the National League East.

Not the New York Mets.

Not the Atlanta Braves.

The Phillies.

"We're the team to beat. I can't put it any other way," Rollins said at Bright House Networks Field after the team's first full-squad workout. "Look at our team and what we're bringing. Look at the improvements we've made. You look at the rest of the division."

Bold? Absolutely. Especially because the Mets barely broke a sweat to win the division by 12 games last season, and the Braves won 11 consecutive NL East titles before that. But Rollins said he made that statement because of the Phillies' pitching. If everybody stays healthy, the Phillies could have a rotation of Freddy Garcia, Brett Myers, Cole Hamels, Adam Eaton and Jamie Moyer. Jon Lieber remains with the team, but he could be traded before the April 2 season opener against Atlanta.

Of course, the bullpen remains a question mark.

Even so, Rollins' words have made their way to New York and Atlanta. He isn't worried.

"If they needed motivation to play this game, then they are playing the wrong game," the Phillies shortstop said. "The Mets had a chance last year to go to the World Series. They made it to the playoffs. They won the division. Congratulations, but last year is over. They can take that any way they want, but I'm just stating a fact.

"Their staff is a little older. We've seen those guys. It's going to be a battle, but we have the edge. Youth. Our pitchers are more intimidating than their pitchers. Last year, they had Pedro [Martinez] and [Tom] Glavine - you know he's going to find a way to win. You know he's still going to do that. But the youth and attitude of our pitchers gives us the edge."

Teammates haven't been bothered by Rollins' words.

"Take him in the back room and beat him up a little bit?" Rollins said. "Shoot, I haven't heard that one yet. But there's no reason to hear that, because if you're afraid, I don't want you on this team anyway. You know, you can't be scared out there and win."

First baseman Ryan Howard isn't scared.

Not one teammate has said publicly that he wishes Rollins hadn't made the statement, which he first made last month in Philadelphia. Yet some maintain that the Mets have to be considered the favorites after what they accomplished last season.

Others, like Howard, insist Rollins isn't really saying they're the team to beat. They say his words have a deeper meaning and motivation.

"The teams that are in the playoffs every year expect to be there," Howard said. "That's what he means. As a team, we have to expect to be there and believe that we can be there. I don't think that he's trying to come off cocky or anything like that. But I understand the message, and he also understands that message, because everybody sets out to win the World Series every year. But it's the teams that believe it, that expect that of themselves, that get there."

"It's more of a confidence thing within ourselves," centerfielder Shane Victorino said. "Not so much that he's trying to put himself out there to say we're the best. You've still got to go with the Mets. I think he's trying to get the confidence up in the clubhouse to say, 'We belong there.' We know deep down inside that we want to be there and we need to be there. Jimmy knows best."

So, Jimmy?

"I want to put that pressure on them and myself," he said.

Rollins has put himself in a unique position. If the Phillies play as well as he thinks they can play, fans will look back at his declaration as the words that set the tone for a championship season.

If the Phillies have another bad April and just miss the postseason again? Well, Philadelphians have a long memory.

Either way, those words won't die any time soon.

[Seabiscuit36]

I cant believe i'm saying this, but i cant wait for baseball

[SunMo]

i say it every April, and i say, "i can't wait for football" by May when they go 8-17 in April

[ice grillin you]

jimmy is the black frank white


farg new york

[rjs246]

I can't wait for football.

[SunMo]

lacrosse sucks

[rjs246]

Ha. In a baseball thread that is mighty ironic.

[SunMo]

then stay out of the baseball thread!

[rjs246]

No.

[SunMo]

you make a compelling argument...best friends?

[rjs246]

Forever!

[Rome]

You going opening day? I might have free tickets, won't know till the end of the week though.

Nope.  Not this year.  We're saving up for a real vacation this summer, so all the Philly trips are off for now.

I'm going to several spring training games this year, though.  That will hold me over for a while.

Rome, are you going to the one on March 11 against the Tigers.  My wife and I will be there.

Nope.  Going to the Astros/Phils game in Kississmee the day before.  I'm going to the Red Sox/Phils game on the 22nd and possibly the Yanks/Phils game on St. Patty's Day too.

[Rome]

I forgot to mention that I love what Rollins is doing.

Keep talking, Jimmy.   

[NGM]

I cant believe i'm saying this, but i cant wait for baseball

<---- Yup.