Post by seaver41 on Feb 23, 2007 15:58:43 GMT -5
www.courierpostonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070223/SPORTS01/702230392
"I want to beat them more than anyone else."
More than you wife, Brett?
CLEARWATER, Fla -- This is starting to get just a bit silly, or as the New York Daily News put it, "Sillie Phillie."In volley five of the give-and-take between the New York Mets and Phillies, the Mets' reaction was characterized as "ho-hum and chuckles" to Jimmy Rollins' reassertion that the Phillies are the team to beat this year in the division.
The Mets, of course, have the upper hand, coming off a 97-65 record that gave them the title by 12 games over the second-place Phillies.
Rollins liked his team's offseason moves -- such as the trade for starting pitcher Freddy Garcia -- so much that he has said time and time again, the Phillies are the team to beat.
This hasn't fallen on deaf ears in Port St. Lucie, spring home of the Mets.
"The Phillies, they can come out and talk as much as they want," Mets third baseman David Wright was quoted as saying. "Until they prove it on the field, then it's just talk. Until somebody steps up out there and dethrones us, we're the defending National League East champs and we're going to act like it. As far as throwing out predictions and talking about it, talk is very, very cheap."
It is, especially since the season is still more than a month away.
The Phillies play the Mets five times in the first 14 games of the season, including New York's home opener April 9. If nothing else, at least the rivalry should add some juice to April.
"I hate the Mets," said Brett Myers, who made it clear it was more about the uniform than individual players. "I want to beat them more than anyone else. What we need to do is make sure none of their fans get in our building. We shouldn't sell tickets to Mets fans."
And while manager Charlie Manuel and seemingly the entire Phillies clubhouse still has no problem with Rollins' comments, the best reaction to the whole thing came from Chase Utley, who glazed over when the topic was broached.
"Our whole goal is to come out of spring training ready to play and no matter who we play, we'll take that mentality," Utley said. "You know, build on last year."
As for bulletin board material, Utley was his same old self.
"No."
And now the ball is back in the Mets' court.
Wall of Fame: Beginning today, fans can vote online exclusively at phillies.com for the next members of the team's Wall of Fame at Citizens Bank Park.
Voting ends at noon on Friday, March 23. Fans can select their top three choices from a 15-man ballot of Phillies alumni. A first-place vote is worth five points, second-place three points and third-place one point.
The 15 former Phillies who appear on the online ballot are: Pitchers Larry Christenson, Jim Konstanty, Ron Reed, Dick Ruthven, and Rick Wise; catcher Darren Daulton; infielders John Kruk, Fred Luderus, Juan Samuel and Pinky Whitney; outfielders Lenny Dykstra, Von Hayes, manager Gene Mauch and coaches Mike Ryan, John Vukovich. -- Michael Radano
The Mets, of course, have the upper hand, coming off a 97-65 record that gave them the title by 12 games over the second-place Phillies.
Rollins liked his team's offseason moves -- such as the trade for starting pitcher Freddy Garcia -- so much that he has said time and time again, the Phillies are the team to beat.
This hasn't fallen on deaf ears in Port St. Lucie, spring home of the Mets.
"The Phillies, they can come out and talk as much as they want," Mets third baseman David Wright was quoted as saying. "Until they prove it on the field, then it's just talk. Until somebody steps up out there and dethrones us, we're the defending National League East champs and we're going to act like it. As far as throwing out predictions and talking about it, talk is very, very cheap."
It is, especially since the season is still more than a month away.
The Phillies play the Mets five times in the first 14 games of the season, including New York's home opener April 9. If nothing else, at least the rivalry should add some juice to April.
"I hate the Mets," said Brett Myers, who made it clear it was more about the uniform than individual players. "I want to beat them more than anyone else. What we need to do is make sure none of their fans get in our building. We shouldn't sell tickets to Mets fans."
And while manager Charlie Manuel and seemingly the entire Phillies clubhouse still has no problem with Rollins' comments, the best reaction to the whole thing came from Chase Utley, who glazed over when the topic was broached.
"Our whole goal is to come out of spring training ready to play and no matter who we play, we'll take that mentality," Utley said. "You know, build on last year."
As for bulletin board material, Utley was his same old self.
"No."
And now the ball is back in the Mets' court.
Wall of Fame: Beginning today, fans can vote online exclusively at phillies.com for the next members of the team's Wall of Fame at Citizens Bank Park.
Voting ends at noon on Friday, March 23. Fans can select their top three choices from a 15-man ballot of Phillies alumni. A first-place vote is worth five points, second-place three points and third-place one point.
The 15 former Phillies who appear on the online ballot are: Pitchers Larry Christenson, Jim Konstanty, Ron Reed, Dick Ruthven, and Rick Wise; catcher Darren Daulton; infielders John Kruk, Fred Luderus, Juan Samuel and Pinky Whitney; outfielders Lenny Dykstra, Von Hayes, manager Gene Mauch and coaches Mike Ryan, John Vukovich. -- Michael Radano
"I want to beat them more than anyone else."
More than you wife, Brett?
