Ever since the Phillies won the NL East divisional race two years ago, many Philadelphia players have succumbed to a glorious ego-trip of epic proportions.
A young Jimmy Rollins shot a cameo for the movie, but his scene was deleted after early critics mistakenly thought Rollins was "the jerk" referenced in the movie's title.
It all started just prior to the 2007 season, as Jimmy Rollins declared the Phillies “The team to beat.” At the time this was a very brash statement, with the Mets as reigning divisional champions. As it turns out, Jimmy was right, with the Phillies going on to claim the NL East title in ’07 before being embarrassingly swept by the red-hot Rockies in the first round of the playoffs.
In 2008 the Phillies clearly were the team to beat, as any reigning division winner should be, and they proved so by going on to win the division outright. In a mid-October playoff game against the Brewers, Shane Victorino hit a home-run and trotted around the bases with his pointed towards the sky. Following the game, teammates posted a photo of Shane running the bases with the words “J. Reyes” above it. The growing Philly egos led to a World Series championship only a week or so later. On October 31st, 2008, while celebrating the Phillies’ 2008 World Series Championship Rollins was quoted as saying “We can talk about the New York Mets. They brought in that great pitcher, Johan Santana, but they forgot that it takes more than one player to bring home a championship.” Philadelphia cockiness reached its pinnacle in early December ’08 when Cole Hamels labelled the Mets “choke artists” during an interview on WFAN.
I changed my mind, it's all priceless.
In last night’s back-and-forth duel between the NL East leading Phillies and the Wild Card leading Mets, another Philadelphia finger made an ego-filled appearance. After touching home plate following a go-ahead two-run homer, Jimmy Rollins shushed the masses of booing Mets fans. It turns out the home run was all for naught, as the Mets regained the lead soon after, and went on to win the ballgame. Francisco Rodriguez celebrated in his usual style with clapping and fist pumps following a tense save effort in the 9th inning, which led to a scowl from on-deck batter Shane Victorino.
I’m really not sure what goes through Philadelphia players’ heads during these moments; perhaps nothing at all. I’ve never heard a Mets player comment on Philly celebrations, but anytime a Met shows emotion on the field the Phillies are up-in-arms.
What do TRDMB readers think – should Victorino or Rollins get beaned by Pelfrey in tonight’s effort? Would an act of retaliation serve any servicable purpose?
46 comments
metsfan4decades
6/10/2009-10:49am at 10:49 am (UTC -4)
Rollins, of all people with his about .228 avg., should be the last Philly putting his foot in his mouth – again….
I wouldn’t want to risk Pelfrey getting ejected for beaning someone (and apparently umps are well within their rights to do that w/o a warning, which I never knew)…..
rustyjr
6/10/2009-10:49am at 10:49 am (UTC -4)
Great observation prismo – and remember Cholly Manuel was almost fired during the 07 season
billydeewilliams
6/10/2009-10:50am at 10:50 am (UTC -4)
Whether or not they “deserve” to be beaned, it’s not going to happen, and I don’t necessarily think it’s a bad thing. I’m so bored of the Phillies acting like they’re the victims when anything happens. I’d rather the mets just let it slide and win ballgames.
trs86
6/10/2009-10:52am at 10:52 am (UTC -4)
Great write up. And yes Rollins needs to be beaned for the crowd incident. Not the play at 2B.
metsgirl31
6/10/2009-10:53am at 10:53 am (UTC -4)
Agree…that shushing thing was wholly inappropriate.
rustyjr
6/10/2009-11:00am at 11:00 am (UTC -4)
Well j-blow is classless anyway so what did u expect?
metsgirl31
6/10/2009-11:01am at 11:01 am (UTC -4)
I know…shouldn’t be surprised…but the double standard ticks me off…if one of our players did that it would be the biggest deal.
darknova306
6/10/2009-11:24am at 11:24 am (UTC -4)
We’re in NY, that makes us the enemy to everyone, so these double standards are going to happen. The Phillies know that they’re second class and that no one outside their market pays the slightest attention to them, so they act like victims and stay completely obsessed with us. They’re the little brother trying to earn the respect of his big brother. Sad, really…
metsgirl31
6/10/2009-11:27am at 11:27 am (UTC -4)
True…I used to live near Philly and I often refer to it as the armpit of this country. Can’t blame them in a way for feeling inferior. But still enough is enough…
There's Always '09
6/10/2009-11:15am at 11:15 am (UTC -4)
J-LOL? He’s a joke. He’s horrible. Had one great season in a bandbox. Look at his numbers. Stuff the ballot box for Hanley.
prismo
6/10/2009-10:55am at 10:55 am (UTC -4)
I purposely left out the play at 2B – it was a clean play. Dirty at the same time by its nature, but clean by the rules. I would expect Mets players to do the same in his position during that play.
mrose
6/10/2009-11:03am at 11:03 am (UTC -4)
exactly, but I still think it doesn’t hurt to brush him back… give him a bit of a scare for both incidents, mainly the shushing. But the play at 2b is a clean play, so is a brush back, both are part of the game, both COULD injure another player
Mr North Jersey
6/10/2009-11:08am at 11:08 am (UTC -4)
I understand the frustration with Rollins but isn’t it better to let sleeping dogs lie?
mrose
6/10/2009-11:10am at 11:10 am (UTC -4)
honestly, its not just this… its victorino’s taunting, and shoving, its Utley leaning into balls..
and it is the double standard.. you are probably right, as none of this will fix anything
CaseStreet
6/10/2009-11:15am at 11:15 am (UTC -4)
That’s not what Real Men would do!
metsgirl31
6/10/2009-10:52am at 10:52 am (UTC -4)
The rational side of me says don’t throw at anyone, just continue to beat up on them on the scoreboard where it counts. But sooner or later they have to stand up to this kind of crap…Rollins’ stunt last nite really ticked me off…if one of our players did that what do you think the response of the Phillies would be? It’s just enough already with this childish crap…they need to get over themselves. Although his shushing the crowd did make the comeback victory that much sweeter…
There's Always '09
6/10/2009-10:54am at 10:54 am (UTC -4)
Caption this photo contest. I’ll start:
“This is what my bat has done all season.”
There's Always '09
6/10/2009-11:05am at 11:05 am (UTC -4)
“Don’t tell anyone I suck this year. I want that free trip to St. Louis.”
CaseStreet
6/10/2009-11:00am at 11:00 am (UTC -4)
Depends how hard Pelf is throwing.
Vicky looked like her head would explode.
darknova306
6/10/2009-11:02am at 11:02 am (UTC -4)
I fully believe Rollins should be plunked for that. On the other hand, it’s sweeter to just go out there and win. How great would it be to sweep with a roster of fill-ins for injuries while the Champs are at full strength (minus a lousy closer). Not getting my hopes up, as I still think we’re sunk by July, but man that would be sweet to accomplish this week.
darknova306
6/10/2009-11:07am at 11:07 am (UTC -4)
Anyone else see those pitches Feliciano threw last night? That DP grounder was on a “grit”ball, and I think he got Ibanez on an “edge”ball. He mixed in a “heart”ball, too, which is always good to see. :p
There's Always '09
6/10/2009-11:11am at 11:11 am (UTC -4)
Interesting. I thought Utley hearts balls. 8)
dirtysanchez
6/10/2009-11:08am at 11:08 am (UTC -4)
dont think they need to peg anyone but this is what pisses me off. The phillies celebrate just about as much as anyone but yet we get the bad wrap with reyes. This kinda stuff really grinds my gears as announcers still talk about that is where the rivalry started.
Kingman 26
6/10/2009-11:10am at 11:10 am (UTC -4)
Great post Prismo….
Gotta say though, how much we would we love them if they were our team….
CaseStreet
6/10/2009-11:10am at 11:10 am (UTC -4)
You know who should get plunked?
Ass-Cole Hamels
Choke on That!
http://www.nypost.com/seven/06102009/frontback.htm
mrose
6/10/2009-11:11am at 11:11 am (UTC -4)
anyone have a pic or screencap of Vicky being annoyed when frankie got the save?
There's Always '09
6/10/2009-11:13am at 11:13 am (UTC -4)
did that really happen? i’m happy about that. been saying all season, i can’t wait until k-rod points to the sky after beating them. perfect.
metsgirl31
6/10/2009-11:14am at 11:14 am (UTC -4)
He was staring so hard he wasn’t blinking…looked like he wanted to burn a hole right thru KRod…it was a thing of beauty.
There's Always '09
6/10/2009-11:16am at 11:16 am (UTC -4)
Wonder if he was all smiles and laughing when J-Troll did the shushing. Can’t wait to light up Hamels tonight.
CaseStreet
6/10/2009-11:16am at 11:16 am (UTC -4)
I think he was constipated.
metsgirl31
6/10/2009-11:17am at 11:17 am (UTC -4)
Good one…
mrose
6/10/2009-11:16am at 11:16 am (UTC -4)
wow…vicky should remember the time he stood on home plate, or when he raised his arm rounding 1st after a grand slam against sabathia in the playoffs, or i’m sure the countless other times he has celebrated
There's Always '09
6/10/2009-11:22am at 11:22 am (UTC -4)
Phillies are allowed to do it. They play the game the right way. They are the epitomy of class.
If Reyes did this in Philly, it would be all over ESPN, Phillies players, Francessa, The Post…etc, etc, etc. He would be getting ripped.
metsgirl31
6/10/2009-11:24am at 11:24 am (UTC -4)
Exactly my point…the double standard is nauseating at this point. That’s why they have to make some kind of statement in my opinion. Although a sweep or even 2 out of 3 would make a pretty good statement too.
There's Always '09
6/10/2009-11:23am at 11:23 am (UTC -4)
Nobody wants to play “Caption That Photo”?
mrose
6/10/2009-11:27am at 11:27 am (UTC -4)
i’m just thinking of a good one
lol
saltygary
6/10/2009-11:33am at 11:33 am (UTC -4)
I slit the sheet, the sheet I slit, and on the slitted sheet I sit.
There's Always '09
6/10/2009-11:33am at 11:33 am (UTC -4)
“Rollins couldn’t wait to get to the dugout to smell Feliz’s butt”
rustyjr
6/10/2009-11:39am at 11:39 am (UTC -4)
Brokebsck phillies?
There's Always '09
6/10/2009-11:45am at 11:45 am (UTC -4)
It would be so nice to take the next two from these guys.
rustyjr
6/10/2009-12:00pm at 12:00 pm (UTC -4)
I think we can win tonite with pelt and we did get redding for this reason – his dominance over the philths
tkfj
6/10/2009-11:38am at 11:38 am (UTC -4)
I will laugh if Jimmy Dean Rollins and his asz muppet Shawn Prictorini get beaned today. I will laugh even harder if either one of them got hurt. They are just so damn pathetic I might wet myself in the process.
GravediggerHebner
6/10/2009-11:39am at 11:39 am (UTC -4)
I’m not a fan of beanings, but I’m a huge fan of brushbacks. Maybe it’s a semantics thing. The Mets tend to beat the Phillies head-to-head anyway, and I still can’t believe they’re throwing 3 straight lefties at the Mets. The Mets crush lefties. But even if the Mets sweep, we all know damn well that the calendar will eventually turn to September and there will still be lots to prove. I enjoy every victory over these insecure hypocrites. But until the season ends with us ahead of them, it means little in the grand scheme.
There's Always '09
6/10/2009-11:49am at 11:49 am (UTC -4)
Maybe Rollins was wrong. Maybe one player can win a game by himself!
Santana got the win and a big RBI
CaseStreet
6/10/2009-11:50am at 11:50 am (UTC -4)
Interesting read about Carlos’ cousin:
http://www.baseballprospectus.com/unfiltered/?p=1306
There's Always '09
6/10/2009-11:55am at 11:55 am (UTC -4)
Nice that he went to Boston. I don’t mind them.