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Thursday, November 05, 2009

Philadelphia’s Jimmy Rollins: Phillies are still better than New York Yankees

said the man with a .296 (!) OBP this season.

Jimmy Rollins did a lot of talking before the World Series opened last week, predicting a Philadelphia triumph in five games, six at the most. Now that the Yankees have made him look ridiculous, about the only thing New Yorkers want to hear Rollins is how he’d like his crow served.

...As for eating crow? “They were the better team this series,” Rollins said Wednesday night. “Do I think we’re the better team? I really do. They just executed. I think we weren’t playing bad, but they were playing that much better. ... They got the hits, we didn’t. It’s that simple.”

Rollins didn’t back up his words, hitting just .217 in the Series, but he is hardly the only one responsible for Philadelphia’s failure to repeat as champions. Ryan Howard had a two-run homer Wednesday night, but hit .174 for the series with a record 13 strikeouts. Shane Victorino hit .182 and scored only three runs.

The team batted .227 and its ERA was 5.37.

Repoz Posted: November 05, 2009 at 12:00 PM | 75 comment(s) | Login to Bookmark
Related News: General, NY Yankees, Philadelphia

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1. John (You Can Call Me Grandma) Murphy Posted: November 05, 2009 at 12:12 PM (#3379330)

The Yankees were the better team during the season and also during the postseason. Sorry, Jimmy.

2. RB in NYC (Now with New Running Goal!) Posted: November 05, 2009 at 12:24 PM (#3379333)

Keep talking, Jimmy. Knock yourself out. Really. Go ahead.

3. Jose Can You Seabiscuit Posted: November 05, 2009 at 12:26 PM (#3379336)

I'm always fascinated when people get irritated at comments like this. This is exactly how I would want my players to feel after a series like this, confident in themselves while at the same time acknowledging that they were outplayed.

4. John (You Can Call Me Grandma) Murphy Posted: November 05, 2009 at 12:35 PM (#3379340)

I'm always fascinated when people get irritated at comments like this. This is exactly how I would want my players to feel after a series like this, confident in themselves while at the same time acknowledging that they were outplayed.

I'm not a Yankee fan, so I have no reason to be irritated. As a Met fan, I have my own problems to deal with, Jose. :-)

I just think it's funny that Rollins thinks the Phils were the better team when the regular season stats suggest otherwise. If the Yanks had lost the series, however, I could understand them feeling that way.

5. AndrewJ Posted: November 05, 2009 at 12:46 PM (#3379343)

As I posted on another thread, there's plenty to like about the Phillies in 2010. Adding a 40+ save reliever in the offseason to a pitching staff of Lee, Happ, Hamels, Blanton, Kendrick and Drabek -- and beefing up the bench a little -- they have a very good shot at making it three straight pennants...

6. Quiet Flows the Don Taussig Avenger (Edmundo)

Posted: November 05, 2009 at 01:07 PM (#3379351)

7. Famous Original Joe C Posted: November 05, 2009 at 01:10 PM (#3379352)

Rollins is wrong, of course, but he uses these pronouncements to inspire himself. His ploy seems a bit obvious to me but if it works for next year, then fine. I'm sure he knows just how bad of a regular season and post-season he had.

Right. He's not saying "well, I know I've done the analysis, and the Yankees had a better Pythagorean winning percentage this year..."

8. Jose Can You Seabiscuit Posted: November 05, 2009 at 01:14 PM (#3379353)

I'm not a Yankee fan, so I have no reason to be irritated. As a Met fan, I have my own problems to deal with, Jose. :-)

Sorry, I wasn't referring to you or RB specifically, neither of you seemed particularly irritated, my comment was more to the sports radio crowd that you know is going to freak out. Same thing happened in Boston last year when Lackey made some similar comments. Not really sure why people feel this need to be universally praised. Who cares? The Patriots fans around here ##### endlessly about "lack of respect", hell, just keep winning and who cares what other cities think?

9. The Yankee Clapper Posted: November 05, 2009 at 01:24 PM (#3379362)

“Do I think we’re the better team? I really do.”

Some Atlanta Braves expressed similar sentiments in 1996 but subsequent events ended such talk. Might happen again unless Rollins goes the full-out "Baghdad Bob" route. Still, the Phillies might well tack on a couple more NL crowns.

10. joeysdadjoe Posted: November 05, 2009 at 01:55 PM (#3379377)

Rollins gets away with this because the Mets collapsed past the Phillies going down twice.

These weren't the Mets

11. Weekly Journalist Posted: November 05, 2009 at 01:58 PM (#3379380)

Jeter got his dig in during the post game show. I thought they were buddies.

12. Weekly Journalist Posted: November 05, 2009 at 02:00 PM (#3379384)

I think the 96 Braves really were the better team. Easily.

13. BillP Posted: November 05, 2009 at 02:03 PM (#3379388)

I don't have a problem with him saying it, just that it's clearly false in this case. Obviously, the best team doesn't always win a 4-7 game series. If the situation were reversed and the Phillies had won, Derek Jeter wouldn't have said this, but if he had, he'd be right.

14. RB in NYC (Now with New Running Goal!) Posted: November 05, 2009 at 02:05 PM (#3379390)

I think the 96 Braves really were the better team. Easily.

Me too. And the '99 Braves were hardly bums themselves.

I think Jeter's shot on Rollins (about what the Yankees heard before the Series) was pretty subtle, it could have been aimed at anyone. Its interesting that Jeter seems to have some MJ in him, personality-wise. He's not quite to that level, but it exists.

15. OsunaSakata Posted: November 05, 2009 at 02:15 PM (#3379398)

Its interesting that Jeter seems to have some MJ in him, personality-wise. He's not quite to that level, but it exists.

Does Jeter have a gambling problem? Will he quit baseball for two years to play in the D-League?

16. Big Train Posted: November 05, 2009 at 02:15 PM (#3379399)

Of course Jimmy Rollins feels this way. Good for you.

17. RB in NYC (Now with New Running Goal!) Posted: November 05, 2009 at 02:18 PM (#3379402)

Does Jeter have a gambling problem? Will he quit baseball for two years to play in the D-League?

No, but post-baseball he might pull a reverse Drew Henson and enroll to QB at Michigan

18. rLr Is King Of The Romans And Above Grammar Posted: November 05, 2009 at 02:32 PM (#3379419)

Its interesting that Jeter seems to have some MJ in him, personality-wise. He's not quite to that level, but it exists.

Republicans buy spikes, too.

19. rLr Is King Of The Romans And Above Grammar Posted: November 05, 2009 at 02:34 PM (#3379422)

Jimmy Rollins believes that the Phillies are better not despite the absurdity of such an assertion, but because of it.

20. Moneyball can't buy you love (Joey B.) Posted: November 05, 2009 at 02:35 PM (#3379425)

Yeah, and Pedro "Child of the Yankees" Martinez is still a great pitcher, too.

21. rLr Is King Of The Romans And Above Grammar Posted: November 05, 2009 at 02:37 PM (#3379426)

Yeah, and Pedro "Child of the Yankees" Martinez is still a great pitcher, too.

When his fastball is better than 85, he can do some things. When it isn't, not so much.

22. Foghorn Leghorn Posted: November 05, 2009 at 02:39 PM (#3379429)

The season series finished 5-4, with Brad Lidge puking on his shoes three times. Rollins has a pretty good point.

23. hokieneer Posted: November 05, 2009 at 02:45 PM (#3379435)

Its interesting that Jeter seems to have some MJ in him, personality-wise. He's not quite to that level, but it exists.

Now I've heard everything.

Jeter's "dig" was a cliche thing "predictions say this, we proved them wrong", that someone on every championship team will inevitably say. I didn't even think it was a jab at anyone, esp Rollins, until every talk radio station on my way to work this morning were connecting the semi-transparent, greyed out, and nonexistent dots for me.

If that's Jeter's idea of a shot at Rollins, then he has a little Ewing in him, not MJ.

24. Tom Nawrocki Posted: November 05, 2009 at 02:47 PM (#3379439)

Philadelphia’s Jimmy Rollins: Phillies are still better than New York Yankees... in bed!

25. rLr Is King Of The Romans And Above Grammar Posted: November 05, 2009 at 02:48 PM (#3379440)

The season series finished 5-4, with Brad Lidge puking on his shoes three times. Rollins has a pretty good point.

Was Brad Lidge not a member of the 2009 Phillies?

26. Moneyball can't buy you love (Joey B.) Posted: November 05, 2009 at 02:50 PM (#3379442)

When his fastball is better than 85, he can do some things. When it isn't, not so much.

And if you can't get your fastball above 85 on five full days rest after only pitching around a fifty inning season, you're pretty much worthless.

27. Smiling Joe Hesketh Posted: November 05, 2009 at 02:50 PM (#3379444)

When his fastball is better than 85, he can do some things. When it isn't, not so much.

Is it me, or did Pedro look like he had the flu last night? Laboring heavily in the first inning, looking pale...looked like he was battling some kinda bug. And he never got really warmed up and his pitches were a lot slower than they were even in Game 2.

28. Dr Stankus and the Semicolons Posted: November 05, 2009 at 02:53 PM (#3379445)

Hey Yankees... you can take your apology and your trophy and shove 'em straight up your ass!

29. RJ in TO Posted: November 05, 2009 at 02:57 PM (#3379448)

And if you can't get your fastball above 85 on five full days rest after only pitching around a fifty inning season, you're pretty much worthless.

Let's see:
1) You started by claiming by no one was scouting Pedro
2) Then you started insisting that, while people may be scouting Pedro, no one would actually sign Pedro
3) Then, once someone signed Pedro, you insisted that he'd never make it back to the majors
4) Then, once he made it back to the majors, you insisted that he'd never be able to pitch effectively in the majors
5) Then, once he pitched effectively in the majors, you kept insisting that he couldn't actually keep pitching effectively in the majors
6) Then he had two good starts in the playoffs.
6) Then (but only after it happened) he had a bad start in the world series, after two other good starts in the playoffs, and you suddenly came rushing back in with your whole "Pedro sucks! I knew it all along!" routine.

Tell me, why should we take you seriously on this topic?

30. Smiling Joe Hesketh Posted: November 05, 2009 at 02:58 PM (#3379450)

Hey, look, the ignore function!

31. SoSH U at work Posted: November 05, 2009 at 03:00 PM (#3379454)

Its interesting that Jeter seems to have some MJ in him, personality-wise. He's not quite to that level, but it exists.

I'm having a hard time seeing a Jeter Hall of Fame speech quite like Michael's. As much as I used to worship Jordan when he was at North Carolina, it's hard to see him now as much more than a pretty big dick. I don't see any of that in Jeter.

32. rLr Is King Of The Romans And Above Grammar Posted: November 05, 2009 at 03:09 PM (#3379469)

As much as I used to worship Jordan when he was at North Carolina, it's hard to see him now as much more than a pretty big dick. I don't see any of that in Jeter.

Steroids have shrunken Jeter's genitals.

33. Quiet Flows the Don Taussig Avenger (Edmundo)

Posted: November 05, 2009 at 03:15 PM (#3379477)

Is it me, or did Pedro look like he had the flu last night? Laboring heavily in the first inning, looking pale...looked like he was battling some kinda bug.
Yeah, I thought so too. Not to be too disgusting, but it sure looked like he was swallowing mucus and he definitely wiped his nose on his sleeve at least once. If Victorino hadn't misplayed Jeter's flyout, maybe the inning would have been clean. I had a bad feeling about the game from pitch 1, Matsui's single pretty much put me in a dark mood for the rest of the game.

34. Hang down your head, Tom Foley Posted: November 05, 2009 at 03:18 PM (#3379479)

Rollins is one transvestite prostitute away from becoming Dave Stewart Junior.

35. rLr Is King Of The Romans And Above Grammar Posted: November 05, 2009 at 03:18 PM (#3379482)

Yeah, I thought so too. Not to be too disgusting, but it sure looked like he was swallowing mucus and he definitely wiped his nose on his sleeve at least once.

Fox showed him hocking a monstrous loogie off the back of the mound in the second or third inning. He did not look well.

36. Jose Can You Seabiscuit Posted: November 05, 2009 at 03:23 PM (#3379485)

I expect Jeter's HoF speech to be spectacular in its dullness. Jordan had some moments throughout his career where you could see his dickishness and he was never afraid to talk a little trash to an opponent if provoked. Say what you want about Jeter but other than the fist pump he's always been pretty vanilla.

37. Bring Me the Head of Alfredo Griffin (Vlad) Posted: November 05, 2009 at 03:31 PM (#3379496)

<i>"Rollins is one transvestite prostitute away from becoming Dave Stewart Junior."<?i>

Aren't we all?

38. Harveys Wallbangers

Posted: November 05, 2009 at 03:42 PM (#3379513)

And if you can't get your fastball above 85 on five full days rest after only pitching around a fifty inning season, you're pretty much worthless.

I find this puzzling given the likes of Jamie Moyer among others who have made a career out of not throwing hard.

Pedro had the stuff to get by last night except one guy in the lineup had him squared up. That and the umpire's strike zone was all over the place. Pedro, like any veteran pitcher, can exploit a known or defined zone. West's erratic "this is a strike now it's not" presented an additional challenge.

I think Pedro would make a great once a week pitcher a la Ted Lyons. And in today's game with nobody reallyl having four or five guys hogging the rotation for various reasons a smart team could make it work. You could have a guy who gets 20 odd starts with quality output.

39. Greg Goosen at 30 Posted: November 05, 2009 at 03:43 PM (#3379514)

I was disappointed Rollins didn't make the final out. But don't worry, Jimmy. Every reference book/website will show that the Yankees were your daddy.

Is there ever a baseball HOF speech that anyone remembers? Maybe Ted Williams in 1966 calling for Satchel Paige and Josh Gibson to be inducted.

40. Smiling Joe Hesketh Posted: November 05, 2009 at 03:44 PM (#3379516)

Hell, Harvey, weren't your Brewers interested in him this year? Maybe they can carry out your plan for him in 2010 if he's got any interest. His physical state is always a question mark, but he's shown enough in 2009 to probably make him worth the risk.

41. SoSH U at work Posted: November 05, 2009 at 03:47 PM (#3379523)

Is there ever a baseball HOF speech that anyone remembers? Maybe Ted Williams in 1966 calling for Satchel Paige and Josh Gibson to be inducted.

Wasn't Ryne Sandberg's surprising in its Grumpy Old Mannishness?

42. Harveys Wallbangers

Posted: November 05, 2009 at 03:50 PM (#3379528)

Joe:

Note my stipulation of it being a smart team........

43. rLr Is King Of The Romans And Above Grammar Posted: November 05, 2009 at 03:52 PM (#3379532)

Is there ever a baseball HOF speech that anyone remembers? Maybe Ted Williams in 1966 calling for Satchel Paige and Josh Gibson to be inducted.

Phil Rizzuto rambled on endearingly in his charmingly incoherent style.

44. Best Regards, Larry Mahnken (Dewey is a slacker) Posted: November 05, 2009 at 03:54 PM (#3379535)

I could probably write Jeter's HOF speech today, send it to myself by certified mail, open it on the day he's inducted, and be pretty close to what he says.

He's going to talk about following your dreams and believing in yourself.

45. rLr Is King Of The Romans And Above Grammar Posted: November 05, 2009 at 03:58 PM (#3379541)

He's going to talk about following your dreams and believing in yourself.

Is he a My Little Pony?

46. Juan V is the mustard of your doom! Posted: November 05, 2009 at 03:59 PM (#3379544)

Should I deposit the hopes that were once on Rickey's speech on Ichiro's?

47. Kurt Posted: November 05, 2009 at 04:28 PM (#3379575)

If that's Jeter's idea of a shot at Rollins, then he has a little Ewing in him, not MJ.

Actually, my first reaction to this was that *Rollins* reminded me of Ewing. Ewing's insistence at the end of evey year that the Knicks were still better than the Bulls was...oddly charming.

48. snapper (history's 42nd greatest monster) Posted: November 05, 2009 at 04:32 PM (#3379578)

Phil Rizzuto rambled on endearingly in his charmingly incoherent style.

I was there that day, absolutely hilarious speech. Pure Scooter.

49. zack Posted: November 05, 2009 at 04:32 PM (#3379579)

I don't know if Pedro was sick or not, but he looked exactly like the pitcher that Met fans have known since 2006. He has his good days, but most of the time he was throwing junk that was more or less effective but would be absolutely crushed once or twice a game.

I remember someone once saying that, a right-handed pitcher has to throw at least 85 to stick in the majors, which I've always held to be true, but can't remember the source.

50. RB in NYC (Now with New Running Goal!) Posted: November 05, 2009 at 04:33 PM (#3379581)

I'm having a hard time seeing a Jeter Hall of Fame speech quite like Michael's. As much as I used to worship Jordan when he was at North Carolina, it's hard to see him now as much more than a pretty big dick. I don't see any of that in Jeter.

No, and Jeter manages to keep that bit of his personality under wraps a lot more than MJ, probably because it isn't as large as Michael's.

But I think it definitely exists, it's the stuff like freezing out A-Rod after the GQ article, or not being willing (so the story goes) to play nice with whathisname in Toronto after the shoulder injury. And even his little comment to Ken Rosenthal after the ALCS. Jeter has some of that "You're with me, or aganist me" view, unrelated to the rationality of it, that MJ had.

51. rconn23 Posted: November 05, 2009 at 04:39 PM (#3379594)

"Is there ever a baseball HOF speech that anyone remembers?"

Bob Uecker's HOF speech says hello.

52. RJ in TO Posted: November 05, 2009 at 04:45 PM (#3379611)

or not being willing (so the story goes) to play nice with whathisname in Toronto after the shoulder injury

Ken Huckaby.

53. NJ is feeling better Posted: November 05, 2009 at 05:03 PM (#3379640)

54. RB in NYC (Now with New Running Goal!) Posted: November 05, 2009 at 05:22 PM (#3379676)

And the "I've never watched a World Series we weren't in because it makes me sick" thing.

Exactly, and I'm not condemning Jeter for this (anymore than I'd condemn MJ or Rollins, even when they end up sounding like an ass and stupid respectively) because that's probably a big part of why he's Derek Jeter. But I'm surprised other people don't see it.

(Thanks, Ryan, I was sure someone would tell me that without my having to look it up. Ait't Primer grand?)

55. Matt Garza smells it deep (Mr. Tapeworm) Posted: November 05, 2009 at 05:31 PM (#3379693)

He's going to talk about following your dreams and believing in yourself.

Personally, I think Jeter will list all the models/actresses/singers he's bedded and say, "Bam! Now *that's* a Hall of Fame career, #######!" Then he'll simply leave the podium.

56. His Clutchness, The Just Pasha Diving Jeter Posted: November 05, 2009 at 05:45 PM (#3379714)

(partial list on profile)

Bam! Now *that's* a Hall of Fame career, #######!

57. jwb Posted: November 05, 2009 at 10:09 PM (#3380102)

And he can have Warren Beatty present him!

58. AndrewJ Posted: November 06, 2009 at 12:40 AM (#3380283)

Is there ever a baseball HOF speech that anyone remembers? Maybe Ted Williams in 1966 calling for Satchel Paige and Josh Gibson to be inducted.

Besides the aforementioned Uecker speech, I recall Tom Seaver gave a very touching, short speech and Richie Ashburn gave a great rambling ad-libbed one. Mike Schmidt's speech was overlong, but in the first five minutes he asked the Phillies fans to forgive him for his attitude towards them during his career, and the 20,000+ on hand were willing to do so.

Rickey's speech last year was funny.

Ozzie Smith's (2002) had not one but two awkward metaphors (1: his playing career being similar to The Wizard of Oz; 2: the contents of a baseball).

59. Blastin Posted: November 06, 2009 at 01:11 AM (#3380325)

Randomly, about the Hall of Fame.

I was wondering this with a friend just now.

Can anyone think of a WS winning team that didn't have a single HOF-er (or future one with recent teams)?

2009: Rivera, Jeter, A-Rod, at the very least, and probably a couple others when all is said and done.
2008: Probably Chase and Ryan if they keep it up.
2007: Manny, Schilling (maybe...)
2006: Pujols, etc.
2005: Was Thomas on the roster? If not, this might be the answer. Unless Buehrle...

Anyway. Thought I'd kick the question out there.

60. Gonfalon Bubble Posted: November 06, 2009 at 01:11 AM (#3380326)

61. AndrewJ Posted: November 06, 2009 at 01:16 AM (#3380329)

Can anyone think of a WS winning team that didn't have a single HOF-er (or future one with recent teams)?

The '90 Reds? The '88 Dodgers?

62. Blastin Posted: November 06, 2009 at 01:17 AM (#3380330)

Wasn't Sutton on that Dodger team?

63. Juan V is the mustard of your doom! Posted: November 06, 2009 at 01:20 AM (#3380332)

The '90 Reds?

Hopefully not.

64. Gonfalon Bubble Posted: November 06, 2009 at 01:20 AM (#3380334)

Can anyone think of a WS winning team that didn't have a single HOF-er (or future one with recent teams)?

The '97 Marlins' best hopes lay with Kevin Brown and Gary Sheffield, so they're a decent bet to become the most recent answer. Barry Larkin's potential screwing may elevate the '90 Reds. Sutton was on the '88 Dodgers.

65. Blastin Posted: November 06, 2009 at 01:20 AM (#3380335)

As far as the Reds, that depends on what one thinks of Barry's chances. I like them.

66. Blastin Posted: November 06, 2009 at 01:21 AM (#3380337)

Random queries on a Friday morning. Yeah, seems like it may be the Marlins if Sheff doesn't do it, and the Dodgers before that.

67. Gonfalon Bubble Posted: November 06, 2009 at 01:27 AM (#3380343)

Save for the managers, the book seems closed on the '84 Tigers and the '81 Dodgers.

68. An Athletic in Powderhorn Posted: November 06, 2009 at 01:27 AM (#3380344)

Unless I'm missing someone, the '81 Dodgers. Though Scioscia has a good chance to make it as a manager.

69. Blastin Posted: November 06, 2009 at 01:38 AM (#3380352)

There certainly aren't any in the 70s with the Reds, Reggie, Rollie, and Stargell taking care of most of that. It makes perfect logical sense, I just found it interesting to look at.

70. Blastin Posted: November 06, 2009 at 01:43 AM (#3380353)

Save for the managers, the book seems closed on the '84 Tigers..

Mr. Winningest Pitcher of the 80s would really, really big to differ. He hopes.

71. Quiet Flows the Don Taussig Avenger (Edmundo)

Posted: November 06, 2009 at 02:28 AM (#3380371)

I don't think anybody from the 2008 Phillies will make it, both Utley and Howard got late starts.

72. Srul Itza Posted: November 06, 2009 at 02:39 AM (#3380376)

Rollins has a pretty good point.

Yeah, but if he keeps his hat on, you hardly notice it.

73. Argu!!!! SATAN!!!! (Sessile Fielder) Posted: November 06, 2009 at 03:06 AM (#3380391)

I find this puzzling given the likes of Jamie Moyer among others who have made a career out of not throwing hard.

Moyer is left-handed. As zack said above:

I remember someone once saying that, a right-handed pitcher has to throw at least 85 to stick in the majors, which I've always held to be true, but can't remember the source.

Pretty much true.

74. Vaux, A.B.D. Posted: November 06, 2009 at 04:09 AM (#3380426)

Couldn't Whitaker get in through the Veterans' Committee? (whatever form it has in 15-20 years)

75. Dock Ellis on Acid

Thursday, November 05, 2009

Philadelphia’s Jimmy Rollins: Phillies are still better than New York Yankees

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