BY SCOTT LAUBERAnthony Reyes had allowed five runs on nine hits against the Phillies last June 22, lowering his record to 0-9 and hiking his ERA to 6.64. But as he trudged away from the mound that night at Busch Stadium, a ticket to the minor leagues awaiting the following week, a sellout crowd of red-clad Cardinals fans gave him a standing ovation.
That's the kind of unconditional support Jimmy Rollins wants.
As expected, Rollins phoned the "Best Damn Sports Show Period" yesterday to explain, but not to retract, his controversial comments Wednesday about Philly-area sports fans. (To listen to Rollins' full comments, click the link on the post below). He admitted that he chose his words poorly. Philly fans aren't "front-runners." To be a front-runner, you must root for teams that win, and as you know, neither the Phillies, Eagles, Sixers nor Flyers have won a championship since 1983. Rollins doesn't question your passion or loyalty. But he doesn't know why y'all booed Eric Bruntlett after only one start in April just because he made a pair of errors against the Mets. He couldn't understand why Tom Gordon took so much abuse from fans after one bad opening-day appearance. Sure, Rollins knows the history. He understands the frustration of long-suffering fans. But he doesn't really care that the Phillies have been to the playoffs once since 1993, or that they've won only one World Series in 125 years. To Rollins, none of that should matter when you're cheering on the 2008 Phillies.
And, with the Phils in a race to win their second straight division title, Rollins believes it's your job, as a fan, to offer positive reinforcement.
Agree? Disagree? Let's hear from you.
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The Phillies mustered two hits (two hits!) last night and were swept in a four-game series at Dodger Stadium for the first time since July 2-4, 1962. They also slipped into second place, a game behind the Mets. And they found out that Greg Dobbs (left quad strain) is banged up, just like Shane Victorino (lower back stiffness).
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Want a positive? Try Brett Myers. He allowed three runs in seven innings, struck out eight, and most impressive, didn't throw a tantrum when Charlie Manuel took him out of the game. In his last four starts against the Nats, Cards, Pirates and Dodgers, Myers is 2-1 with a 1.95 ERA. In five starts since his return from the minors, he has a 2.48 ERA and has allowed 20 hits in 32-2/3 innings.
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Here's a preview of the weekend series at San Diego, home of Ron Burgundy:
PHILLIES (64-57) at PADRES (47-74)
Tonight, 10:05: LHP Jamie Moyer (10-7, 3.81) vs. RHP Greg Maddux (6-8, 4.12)
Saturday, 10:05: RHP Kyle Kendrick (10-7, 4.74) vs. RHP Chris Young (4-4, 4.74)
Sunday, 8:05: LHP Cole Hamels (9-8, 3.32) vs. RHP Cha Seung Baek (4-6, 5.12)
Hot: Moyer has allowed three runs or fewer in 12 consecutive starts, the longest such streak since by a Phillies pitcher since Milford’s Chris Short had 23 in a row in 1967; Phillies 2B Chase Utley has six hits in his last 17 at-bats; Padres LF Chase Headley is 13-for-30 during his nine-game hitting streak; Padres 1B Adrian Gonzalez leads the team with 28 homers and 89 RBIs.
Not: Phillies 1B Ryan Howard has one hit in his last 15 at-bats; Phillies LF Pat Burrell is stuck in a 2-for-28 slump; Padres 2B Tadahito Iguchi is 2-for-26 since coming off the disabled list; Padres SS Khalil Greene went on the disabled list Aug. 1 with a fractured left hand.
4 comments:
When the first snow falls, Rollins will be "injured" and will have to take some time off. Up yours to Phillies fans
I have no problem at all with Rollins' comments. Philadelphia has far too many fans who take a kind of sick delight in finding an athlete's weakness and abusing him for it. When called on the stupidity of that, they defend their right to be abusive with all manner of twisted logic.
People only defend what they want to keep, so I long ago gave up expecting them to change in favor of avoiding them as much as possible.
He has a point, albeit poorly communicated. He should also understand that boos come across louder but they don't represent the entire fan base. I know it won't happen but it would be cool if the team, and Jimmy in particular, got a round of applause instead of boos when they come home to play the Nats. It would be so unexpected it might actually spark something.
When the first snow falls, I am throwing a snowball at your stupid face.
The phils will not be facing Chris Young on Saturday, he just went on the DL.
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