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The Philadelphia Inquirer relays an interview Phillies SS Jimmy Rollins conducted for the April issue of Men’s Journal.
Rollins, when asked if the Phillies are still the team to beat in 2008, as quoted by Men’s Journal…
“That wasn’t a one-year thing. It’s still gonna ring true in 2008, and every year I’m with the Phillies. We’re going to win; it’s gonna come down to who wants it more, and we want to win more than the Mets do. Truthfully, I don’t worry about anybody in our division, or anybody in our league for that matter. I’m not worried about getting into the playoffs, because that part is accomplished. We’re a playoff team now. Our next goal is to win the World Series.”
…last season, when rollins originally declared that the Phillies were the team to beat, i thought it was major mistake - but you have to give him a ton of credit for backing up his statements and playing at an mvp level…however, these comments, in my opinion, are mostly made to fire up his team’s fan-base, than a direct shot at the Mets…that being said, i’m tired of all the talk, Carlos Beltran’s rebuttal included, let’s just play the games and see how this all plays out…if nothing else, it should be a fun season…
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agreed may the best team win….:: cough ::. mets
Play Ball
Why does Rollins continue to open his mouth? I know the reporter had to ask the question for him to answer it, but is this guy really this arrogant? Let’s get things straight, the Phillies didn’t win the division last year, the Mets handed it to them, if it wasn’t for a major collapse, the Mets would have easily won the NL East in 07. How can he honestly say that the Phills want it more then the anyone else or that he’s not worried about anyone else in the NL? I guess Rollins somehow forgot about being swept in the first round of the playoffs last year.
look man, Im one of the biggest homers around, but the excuse that the mets handed them the division and that they didnt win it is very weak. Makes us look like terrible sore losers. The Phillies spanked us down the stretch and played as well as they had to to win the division. They won it, fair and square. Lets drop the excuses and go out there and win this division without anymore predictions and arrogance. 2008 is a brand new season.
amen. i dont like the excuse that we lost it, they didnt win it. we were terrible at a time that they played great.
also take into consideration that their month of april was HORRENDOUS. We created a huge gap between us and them by the time May came around.
The Phillies didnt win because of the collapse…rather, the Mets collapse gave the Phillies an opportunity to win the division, and their inspired play down the stretch (however unsustainable it may be, given Manuel’s usage of his bullpen) is what sealed the deal.
It is wrong to say the Phils won solely becuase of the Collapse. HOWEVER, the two events are related, as had the Mets played just 1-2 games better down the stretch, then the Phillies would have had no shot to win, despite doing all that they could
Of course, Phils record would have had them in a three way tie for the WC had the Mets managed 2 more wins, or a 4 way tie for the WC had the Mets managed one more win.
“We want it more, which is why we didn’t bother getting any decent pitching in the offseason.”
I admire Jimmy’s passion, spirit, and swagger. His team’s starting rotation and bullpen, a tad less so.
For all those worried about the Mets holes, consider that a lot has to go right for the Phillies to repeat. One of those things is for Rollins to have another lights out season. His numbers were well above his career averages in ‘07, and you have to wonder if he’s capable of doing that again.
You can pretty much say the same thing about Pat Burrell, although we all know he’s gonna torch the Mets at some point this year (if no one else).
They’re counting on Shane Victorino to be their everyday center fielder, something he has not yet done at the major league level.
And you also have to wonder if they can have Cole Hamels pitch on 0 days rest, every day. Because otherwise, they’re relying on Brett Myers (who knows?), Jamie Moyer (ancient), and I don’t even know who else at the back end.
To be honest…I wish that Rollins was playing for us. I’d move him to 2nd and the team would be rocking. I like his attitude and pompousness. His arrogance. Reminds me of me when I was a young college wrestler.
Too bad he is a Philly and too bad even if he were to become a free agent that he has burned all the bridges between Philly and Shea/Citi field.
I like him.
I hope you enjoyed your career year Jimmy. See ya April 8th!!!
My question is that he says that they are the team to beat and that they are a playoff team because that is already accomplished. Would that same logic not have worked for the Mets last season? So in essence the Mets were the team to beat last year and the Phillies beat them. This season the Phillies are the team to beat and the Mets will beat them.
“every year I’m with the Phillies”
So he’s basically saying, the team in which he plays is the best?
What about all the other seasons that he played with the Phillies? Was he just not trying? I guess the fact that Utley and Howard are on the team really means nothing.
That’s exactly what he’s saying. He reminds me of Kolbe Bryant in that he’s all about himself. Thanks to all the Mets who talk the team up more than themselves!
I agree,” Let’s Play Ball”!
in all seriousness, someone please remind me of their pitching staff beyond cole hamels. rollins may have been able to hit lawrence and williams and chan ho but things will change when johan and pedro take the hill.
let’s not forget about the incomprable jamie moyer
And, Mr. Anna Benson had a good four innings against minor leaguers a couple of days ago. He could be the #5.
they have no pitching and won the division by one game…then got swept in the playoffs….and now they are going to win the division every year guaranteed…he is nuts…
I would not be surprized if the Phillies do not even make the playoffs this season. Suspect pitching, lack of depth and many players having career years last year. Sounds like a below standard year waiting to happen. Plus when they start losing again Manuel will be gone.
Carlos was clearly joking and his challenge was said in jest. Without hearing Rollins, it’s hard to say but it sounds to me his words are overly arrogant.
Rollins does deserve some credit for backing up his claim last year, but it did take a big collapse by the Mets for it to happen. This year Rollins will end up with a whole lot of egg on his face and will have to eat his words.
Rollins did not back up his comment. He said the Phillies were the team to beat. That is just not true. The Mets lead the division for the entire season and lost it on the last day. So to me the Mets were the team to beat and the Phillies beat them. Not only that, the team that won the previous year is always the team to beat until someone does. Just as the Phillies are currently the team to beat this season, and the Mets will beat them.
our pitching is much, much better than theirs, but we have some serious question marks on offense. if alou doesn’t get healthy and delgado continues to suck the phils could be closer than we think.
still, i think we are a clearly better team. thought that (and continue to think that) re: last year too, though.
The Phillies could easily say they won the divison, just as we say we “lost” it. Bottom line is we didn’t play like we were capable of, Philly did. And Philly reaped the reward of it. Congrats to them for that.
I don’t knock Rollins for saying what he says. Put yourself in his position, you would think the same thing. You might not “say” it but you’d certainly “think” it. The only difference is that he’s telling people exactly what their team thinks. I have no problem with that.
Doesn’t matter if we talk, Philly talks or Atlanta talks…it’s just that….talk. Until September rolls around everyone can say whatever they’d like. Everyone still has to go out and back it up. Last year Rollins did, so he can say what he wants.
I’d say the Mets have done more to show they want it this year.
They got the best pitcher in baseball.
Wright cut his promotional activity to focus on baseball, and Jose’s repeated his ‘all business’ claim often enough that we have to believe that, as of right now, he means it.
This is a team that wants it real, real bad.
All the Phillies have done to show they want it is let Rollins shoot his mouth off and acquire a black hole at 3rd, a washed-up closer and some pieces of patchwork to try to make up for the huge loss of Rowand.
I just love to hate Rollins. His comments verge on the absurd. I so look forward to kicking his a** on the field. But you know what, he will have some bulls*** remark to dismiss what just happened on the field.
Let’s get this show on the road! Too bad this isn’t hockey, the gloves would be on the ice to start the game.
Considering how much teams change from year to year, due to trades and free agency, it makes no sense to consider a team a “playoff team” before they clinch a playoff spot because there’s no guarantee that anyone makes the playoffs even if they made it the year before. This is especially true for the Phillies, who did little to improve their team, and actually took a step back by letting Rowand walk and not resigning Lohse.
The point is: everyone just shut up and play the damn games.
J-Hole is a homosexual….
grow up dude.
who da f are you?!? I’ll say what I want – screw you!!!
i really hate the phillies. theyre pieces of trash and so are their fans. ill probably be wrong but id love nothing more than for them to finish in 3rd place and for the universe to go back to normal where the mets and braves battle for the east.
it won’t be fun if the phils win the division an the mets are outside lookin in again. It will only be fun if they win. sorry…
Jimmy Rollins is focusing on the world series…. he’s never even won a playoff game.
It’s almost like the Phillies and their fans dont even care about anything but the Mets. They were swept last year, haven’t won a playoff game, since what, 1993?
They don’t care about getting whiped out by Colorado, the season was an utter success to them because they finished 1 game above the Mets. For such a confident bunch, those are some pretty shallow expectations.
now, of course it’ll be sweet to win the division, but can we get a brawl first in april? this guy needs to get punched in the mouth, a la ray knight.
Ya know what kills me? He focuses on the Mets. That has got to piss off the Braves. I think that the Mets have a lot more to fear from the Braves this season than the Phillthies. And don’t think that Larry, or Smoltz, or even Glavine won’t use the Rollins stuff to fire the Braves up.
The media has created a monster in Jimmy Rollins. Congratulations guys.
Now I just hope the Mets actually deliver against these knuckleheads this year.
So they were the team to beat in 2007 after not having made the playoffs in 14 years. Now, since they made the playoffs, they will always make the playoffs, simply because they’ve done it one time. Interesting logic.
No Rollins is right. the playoffs is like a club…once you are in, you are always in…right?
They accomplished that part.
Maybe this year they will win a playoff game.
Whatever – its not worth even reacting to. i’m just glad Rollins is so attuned to the Mets clunhouse that he knows how bad we want it. Then again, who could want it more than firecrackers like Pat Burrell?
Yeah, ok Rollins..you guys really wanted it more in the playoffs getting swept out by Colorado..that team had no business in the playoffs last year..they were pushed in by a historic collapse…Yes, the Phillies will be tough this year..but, watch the Braves..they have a good team
lol o j-roll. shouldn’t your next goal be to win an NLDS…