As part of the celebration for their 125th anniversary, the Phillies unveiled their new “alternate uniforms”. Jimmy Rollins, Cole Hamels, and Robin Roberts were at today’s press conference, along with the Phillie Phanatic, modeling the new uniforms.
The uniforms are a take on the 1940’s Phillies jerseys with a modern touch. In 1946 when the Phillies dropped the “Blue Jays” monicker, they introduced cream uniforms with a blue and red cap. In 1950, the Phillies introduced the red pinstripes, something they have been known for.
“It has been a while since we wore a uniform at home that didn’t feature pinstripes,” David Buck, the team’s senior vice president for marketing and advertising sales, said. “We believe the fans will love them. It is fitting that we bring back a uniform style from their rookie season because they have been two giant icons in our history,”
The giant icons Buck is referring to is Roberts and Richie Ashburn. Sixty years ago, both Hall of Famers made their Phillies debut, in the spring of 1948.
The uniforms will …
J’ded Perspective
Last off-season Jimmy Rollins made headlines, most notably in Philadelphia and New York, when he said that the team to beat in the NL East wasn’t the Mets, it was the Phillies. Rollins followed his prediction up with an MVP season, leading the Phillies to a late surge and their first Division Title since 1993.
Last night the reigning MVP was on Comcast SportsNet’s “Monday Night Live”, and made a new prediction; 100 wins.
“We’ll win probably 100 games . . . 100 games will get us to the playoffs,” Rollins told Comcast SportsNet last night
Rollins also ensured the fans that last season’s playoff berth wasn’t a fluke, and they should expect more from this team this year and beyond.
“There’s going to be fireworks, I know that much . . . and I plan on another celebration, but not just one,” the MVP added. “I don’t plan on giving up that title of NL East champions, I know that much. I don’t know if we can make a run like …
Patriots-31, Eagles-28. I never thought the day would come where an Eagles loss of any variety was not heart-breaking, but I guess anything can happen in the game of football.
Sunday night’s thriller had a Super Bowl atmosphere. It was under the lights, it was nationally televised, it was an extremely tight game, John Madden was in the booth, Bill Belichick was eating his hoody strings, and Andy Reid was sporting his pinkest face to date.
The favorite? An undefeated, explosive, fear-striking, child-scaring, 52-man New England Patriots team that many have dubbed the greatest of all time. The underdog? A disappointing, injury-riddled, stagnant, emotionless, Donovan McNabb-less Philadelphia Eagles team that was on the wrong side of the largest spread in NFL history. If I were a betting man I would not know what was more likely to occur – a Patriots demolition or a crazed Andrea Kremer rushing the field to pounce Tom Brady. (For those of you who don’t know, Andrea Kremer is the NBC sideline reporter who looked like …
Via Scott Lauber of the Wilmington News Journal:
PHILADELPHIA — Jimmy Rollins is defined by a radiant smile, oozing confidence and a self-assured swagger. Now, he has a new nickname, too.
MVP.
Rollins, the Phillies’ shortstop, was named National League Most Valuable Player today in a close vote by the Baseball Writers Association of America. He received 16 first-place votes and 353 overall points, while Colorado Rockies slugging left fielder Matt Holliday got 11 first-place votes and 336 points.
Milwaukee Brewers slugger Prince Fielder finished third with five first-place votes and 284 points. Phillies first baseman Ryan Howard and second baseman Chase Utley finished fifth and eighth, respectively, in balloting that ended on the final day of the regular season.
Rollins is the fifth Phillies player to win the NL MVP, following Chuck Klein (1932), Jim Konstanty (1950), Mike Schmidt (1980, 1981, 1986) and Howard (2006). It marks the first time teammates have won back-to-back MVP awards since San Francisco’s Jeff Kent and Barry Bonds in 2000 and 2001.
He’s also the first NL shortstop to be named MVP since Barry Larkin …
J’ded Perspective
It only took three weeks, but left wing Simon Gagne has finally been diagnosed with a concussion.
Gagne’s injury occurred when he collided with Panthers defenseman Jay Bouwmeester on October 24th. Gagne was initially diagnosed with “dizziness” and missed eleven days. He returned for two games against the Rangers and Penguins, where he was marginally effective. In the game against the Penguins he collided with Gary Roberts. After the game, Gagne was again feeling the dizzy and was shut down.
“We’ve treated this like a concussion all along,” General Manager Paul Holmgren said. “In saying that, we did a number of tests with Simon and looked into a number of different things. The fact that his symptoms have remained constant with varying degrees, lessening over the last few days, it was not fully diagnosed as a mild concussion to me and Simon, until today.”
Gagne has been seeking advice from former Flyer, Keith Primeau regarding his return. Primeau was forced into retirement due to multiple concussions and still suffers from post-concussion …
The BUZZ in Philly
Charlie Manuel, the often made-fun-of and questioned manager of the National League East Champion Phillies, finished in 2nd place in the Manager of the Year voting, announced today by the Baseball Writers Association of America.
Arizona’s Bob Melvin won the award with 19 first-place votes (119 total), while Manuel received seven (76 total).
Manuel led the injury-riddled Phillies to 89 wins and a playoff appearance for the first time since 1993. He signed a two-year contract extension last month.
Jon Buzby is a nationally-syndicated columnist who also writes The BUZZ in New York at www.hotstovenewyork.com. He can be reached through his website at www.jonbuzby.com.
In a season where seemingly every game has been of the must-win variety, the Philadelphia Eagles responded with a hard fought triumph Sunday in the nation’s capital. The 33-25 victory over the Redskins improves the Eagles record to 4-5, where they now lay on the bubble of the NFC wild-card race.
Brian Westbrook was his usual extraordinary self on Sunday, accounting for 48% of the Eagles total offense. His 183 scrimmage yards were the fifth highest total of his career, and his three touchdowns could not have meant more to this struggling unit. The stellar running back gave the Eagles an early 7-0 lead with a 4-yard touchdown reception to cap the game’s opening drive. He again gave the Eagles a lead with 3:16 to play in the fourth quarter on a magnificent 58-yard run-and-catch TD and sealed the deal with a 10-yard touchdown run 58 seconds later. The 58-yard reception, which was full of broken tackles and nifty jukes, provided the much needed spark for this often listless …
J’ded Perspective
The Philadelphia Inquirer is reporting the Phillies have reached a multi-year deal with relief pitcher JC Romero. The terms of the deal have not yet been announced.
Romero was the most consistent reliever in the Phillies bullpen last season. After being picked up off of waivers from the Boston Red Sox, Romero posted a 1-2 record with a 1.23 ERA in 51 appearances.
General Manager Pat Gillick said pitching was the number one priority this off-season, and so far the 2008 pitching staff is shaping up. Wednesday’s trade for Brad Lidge gives the Phillies the ability to move Brett Myers back into the rotation. With Romero back in the fold the back end of the Phillies bullpen will consist of Lidge, Romero, Tom Gordon and Ryan Madson. This is a far cry from the likes of Geoff Geary, Jose Mesa, and Antonio Alfonseca.
Good job by the front office retaining Romero. So far I think all the fans like what they are seeing.
J’ded Perspective
Earlier in the week when the Gold Glove Awards were announced, two Phillies were honored. Shortstop Jimmy Rollins and centerfielder Aaron Rowand both won the gold gloves at their defensive positions. Yesterday the Silver Slugger Awards were announced and the Phillies continued to pick up off-season hardware. Rollins and second baseman Chase Utley were both given the award, recognizing the best offensive player at their position.
This is the second time Utley has won the award. Despite missing a month with a broken hand, Utley put together a fine season. He hit .322 with 48 doubles, 22 home runs, and 103 RBI’s; Utley’s production easily passed any other second basemen in the league.
Rollins had one of the best all-around seasons in modern baseball history. He hit .296 with 38 doubles, 20 triples, 30 home runs, 41 stolen bases and 94 RBI’s. He was the third player to go 20-20-20-20 in a season, and set records for runs scored (139) and extra-base hits (88) by a shortstop.
Is the MVP next for …
Phillies fans must hope they don’t see a whole lot of this in 2008.Now this is what a GM meeting is supposed to be like! Finally a blockbuster deal.
ESPN is reporting that the Phillies have added a new closer – and no, it isn’t Mariano Rivera. Four years after acquiring Billy Wagner from the Houston Astros, Philly has reeled in his replacement in Houston, trading for Astros closer Brad Lidge in a five-player swap.
Philly also receives infielder Eric Bruntlett, while sending outfielder Michael Bourn, right-hander Geoff Geary and minor league third baseman Mike Costanzo to Houston. The Astros intend to insert Bourn as their center fielder and leadoff hitter – a tall order for a kid with just 127 major league at-bats.
The move was a smart one for Philly. Faced with a paper-thin starting rotation and complete lack of viable options on the free agent or trade market, Lidge will now supplant Brett Myers as closer while Myers returns to a …
It has not been an easy season for the Eagles’ Sean Considine. The 3rd year Strong Safety out of Iowa was placed on the Injured Reserve list Wednesday morning, with an apparent shoulder injury. Considine will be replaced on the 53-man roster by another safety out of Iowa, rookie Marcus Paschal.
Considine, who suffered the season ending injury in Sunday night’s debacle of a loss to the Dallas Cowboys, has been ineffective in 2007. The starting spot that former Eagle Michael Lewis held down for many years became Considine’s midway through last season after Lewis gave up a few big plays at the hands of the New Orleans Saints.
Since taking over as the starting safety job in Week 7 of the 2006 season, Considine has appeared to be over his head. Although he ranked 3rd on the team last year with 107 tackles, he does not look like he is physical enough to be an NFL starter. He has exhibited poor tackling technique and was referred to by former Eagles linebacker-turned analyst Ike …
The BUZZ in Philly
Phillies’ shortstop Jimmy Rollins and center fielder Aaron Rowand were named winners of the Rawlings Gold Glove Award. Both won the award for the first time after years of being considered among the best at their respective positions.
Rollins finished third among National League shortstops with a .985 fielding percentage. He committed only 11 errors in 717 chances and ranked second in assists (479) and third in putouts (227) and double plays (110).
Rowand led NL center fielders with 11 assists and only committed two errors in 405 chances.
Rollins is the fourth Phillies shortstop to win a Gold Glove Award, joining Bobby Wine, Ruben Amaro Sr. and Larry Bowa (2). Rowand is the third Phillies outfielder to win a Gold Glove, joining eight-time winner Garry Maddox and Bobby Abreu.
The gold glove will certainly help Rowand during his free-agent negotiations.
Jon Buzby is a nationally-syndicated columnist who also writes The BUZZ in New York for www.hotstovenewyork.com. He can be reached through his website at www.jonbuzby.com.
