Aaron Rowand

Long before I knew Aaron Rowand was going to break his nose while making the best catch I've ever seen, I had planned to fly home on the off-day between trips to Cincinnati and Milwaukee.

I'm glad I did.

I went to Citizens Bank Park today to see Rowand, who was speaking to reporters for the first time since making his catch on Xavier Nady's sure-fire extra-base hit with the bases loaded in the first inning last Thursday night against the Mets. He was wearing a splint on his nose, and both of his eyes were black from the fractured cheek and orbital bones he suffered.

But his sense of humor was unharmed.

Among other things, Rowand joked that he has "a face for radio" and said, "Believe it or not, I look pretty good today."

Say what you want about Rowand -- and according to one person who works for WIP, fans actually have called the station to say he shouldn't have made such a physical sacrifice to catch the ball -- I'll take him on my team any day.


And it's not because he hits .330 (he's a .283 lifetime hitter). Or because he slugs 30 homers (he's never hit more than 24) or drives in 100 runs (his career-high is 69 RBIs).

It's because of how he changes the culture of a clubhouse.

Rowand has routinely organized team get-togethers for bowling and laser tag. And, along with reliever Arthur Rhodes, he has sparked the Phillies' remote-control truck craze. Before batting practice at home, Rowand and several other Phillies often can be found racing remote-control trucks in the outfield. It keeps the mood light, and in baseball, that's important.

He's also been a pleasure to cover since spring training, when he showed up driving a pickup truck with 37-inch wheels. There isn't a more colorful character in the clubhouse than Rowand, whose wristbands bear the title "Beer Pong Champion," and nobody is more accountable either.

How hard did he hit the wall? Four days later, the imprint of his knee is still on the W.B. Mason sign in center field. But Rowand says he'll play May 27, the day he's eligible to come off the DL.

I wouldn't bet against him.